Version 1.4.4

A lifecycle-cleanup patch: uncollected Ultra Dense / Hyper Dense asteroids and idle unscouted pirate strongholds despawn so quiet regions do not keep permanent jackpots or ancient fleets.

See Asteroid Harvesting and Pirates. Or open Settings → Quick Guides in-game.

Balance

Asteroid jackpot despawn

• Untouched Ultra Dense / Hyper Dense fields disappear after roughly 3 days with no further growth (idle ore regen has stopped bumping them).
• While a field is still growing, it stays; the timer effectively starts once it hits its size cap and sits uncollected.
• After despawn, the slot follows the normal 12–24 hour empty cooldown before a new field can appear.
• Example: A field promotes to Ultra Dense and finishes growing on Monday; if no Orbital Refineries arrive by Thursday, it despawns and the cycle restarts.

Pirate unscouted despawn

• Pirate strongholds that are unscouted (and unattacked) for about 7 days despawn and re-enter the normal respawn cooldown, then re-roll fresh fleet strength and resources.
• The timer starts at spawn if nobody has scouted this presence yet; a scout or attack resets it. Inbound fleets block the despawn.
• Example: A Realm 2 stronghold spawns Monday with no probes; by the following Monday it vanishes and later returns as a fresh roll.