Ara: History Untold has always promised a fresh take on the 4X strategy genre—and now it’s delivering on that ambition in a big way. Version 1.4, dubbed the Living Strategy Update, is now live on Steam and Xbox Game Pass for PC, introducing a massive slate of improvements shaped directly by player feedback. From AI overhauls to performance gains and smarter citizen automation, this is the biggest leap forward for the game since launch.
If you’ve been on the fence about diving into Ara’s layered, historically inspired world, now is the time to try it. And if you’re a returning player, prepare for a significantly improved experience across the board.
Living Strategy View and Smarter Play
The standout addition is the new Living Strategy View, now the game’s default perspective. This innovative hybrid mode blends Ara’s richly detailed Living World camera with the broader tactical layer, making it far easier to manage your empire without constantly shifting perspectives. It’s more immersive, more usable, and reflects the developers’ commitment to reducing friction without compromising depth.
The result? Whether you’re expanding a fledgling city or leading a globe-spanning empire, everything flows better. Unit orders, resource tracking, and even citizen management are now more streamlined.
Better AI, Faster Turns, Less Micromanagement
Ara’s AI has always aimed to offer a meaningful challenge—but now it actually delivers. Version 2.0 of the Strategy AI Player brings smarter long-term planning, resource optimization, and more aggressive behavior in the late game. AI opponents are finally playing to win, and you’ll need to adapt your strategies accordingly.
Behind the scenes, improvements to simulation speed and GPU performance make for much faster turn times and more stable late-game sessions. Players on older systems should see a noticeable difference. And for those tired of micromanaging every shop, house, and factory? The citizen simulation system has been overhauled. Citizens now pull from your inventory intelligently based on their needs, leaving you free to focus on strategic decisions. You can still direct behaviors via in-game Policies, but the busywork is finally optional.
New Battle Viewer and Gameplay Tuning
Combat in Ara has often been a weak spot—but version 1.4 introduces a major course correction. The new Battle Viewer explains combat results in a clear, tactical way. You’ll know why you lost a skirmish, how terrain or unit synergy played a role, and what to change next time.
Meanwhile, a slew of balance changes, new map generation rules, and UI polish round out the update. Resource placement is more intelligent, Earth map scenarios have been refreshed, and dozens of community-reported bugs have been squashed.
A Perfect Match for the Untold Scenarios DLC
This update pairs perfectly with the new Untold Scenarios DLC, which brings handcrafted campaign-style challenges to the game. Together, they make Ara feel more complete, more dynamic, and more deserving of attention in a crowded strategy field.
You can find out more about the new scenarios and what makes them different in our dedicated coverage.
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