Transforming an Island into a Airship in Sandbox Survival "Aloft," Major Update "Bloom & Blight" Completely Revamps World Generation System
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/732/G073268/20251106069/
Editorial Department: S.K.Y | 2025/11/06 11:14 (UTC)
Funcom and Astrolabe Interactive have launched the major update “Bloom & Blight” for the PC sandbox survival game Aloft, available now in its Early Access version on November 5, 2025.
This update marks the largest overhaul yet, completely refreshing multiple aspects of the game—including world generation, ecosystem recovery, technology trees, exploration elements, and combat systems. To accompany the release, a new trailer has also been unveiled.
Aloft is a cooperative sandbox survival game set on floating islands. Players transform these islands into airships and journey across the skies to restore ecosystems ravaged by “Bright,” a phenomenon resembling an infection. Since its Early Access launch in January 2025, the game has received two major updates: “Critters & Wonders” and “Puzzles & Pyrologics.” However, this latest update, Bloom & Blight, stands out as particularly ambitious. According to developer Astrolabe Interactive, the goal was to “improve nearly every aspect of the game and give players’ journey purpose and meaning.”
Key changes include a complete overhaul of the world-generation system. Previously, island generation relied heavily on randomness and unpredictability; now, dynamic worlds emerge from a new system centered around “Life Saplings.” Certain islands begin as barren wastelands ravaged by decay, and players must manage three vital metrics—Funga (fungi), Flora (plants), and Fauna (animals)—to restore balance. The spread of decay is now more visually intuitive, with massive “Life Trees” rising skyward, creating awe-inspiring landscapes that significantly enhance immersion during exploration.
The progression system has also been dramatically revised. The previous complex and ambiguous unlock mechanism has been replaced with three clear technology trees: Knowledge, Sailing, and Research. By collecting anomalous decay samples and knowledge stones, players can advance research to unlock new tools and upgrade their airships.
New tool and weapon tiers have been introduced: “Windstone” and “Serrated Bone.” These additions make combat more strategic—Windstone enables attacks manipulating wind currents, while Serrated Bone efficiently slices through infected enemies in close quarters.
Exploration and movement have also been enhanced with the introduction of “Wind Lanes”— high-speed travel routes that utilize air currents, making inter-island journeys smoother. Additionally, two new infected species have been added as enemies: Sportox, which disperses spores to temporarily disable players’ gliders, and Floglade, a swarm-based enemy that attacks in groups.
These additions elevate combat from mere survival into more tactical engagements focused on maintaining ecological balance.
Image Gallery No.006 thumbnail / Sandbox survival game “Aloft,” which transforms islands into airships, features a complete overhaul of its world-generation system in the major update “Bloom & Blight” Image Gallery No.003 thumbnail / Sandbox survival game “Aloft,” which transforms islands into airships, features a complete overhaul of its world-generation system in the major update “Bloom & Blight”
Astrolabe Interactive’s development blog (on the Steam Community Hub) breaks down this update into two parts. Part 1 covers world generation and technology trees, while Part 2 focuses on decay mechanics, enemies, and research—featuring numerous improvements based on player feedback. However, compatibility with older saves has been dropped; players must start fresh. Those wishing to continue playing the previous version can switch to the legacy version via Steam’s Beta branch.
This update is positioned as a major milestone in the Early Access phase, with the development team emphasizing its role in making skybound adventures “more comfortable and evolved.” The price remains unchanged at 3,040 JPY (tax included), and cooperative play for up to eight players continues. For players seeking a healing survival experience—where flowers bloom amid skies overgrown by decay—this update is truly a long-awaited one. For more details, check out the official Steam page or the development blog.