Open-source evolution sim Thrive 1.7 advances multicellular stage with colony editor

Thrive, the free and open-source evolution simulation built with the Godot engine, has released version 1.7 with major progress on its multicellular stage. The update adds a colony layout viewer and editor that lets players inspect and modify their organism's structure while preserving overall form, plus nine new achievements and expanded tutorials for this stage. The release also reworks core simulation systems including movement speed calculations for cell colonies, actomyosin behavior, and auto-evo performance, while addressing numerous bugs in colony formation, gamete mechanics, and cell reproduction.

The game maintains its native Linux support and Valve's Steam Deck Playable / SteamOS Compatible rating. Thrive remains free and open source, with store purchases serving as optional development support. The multicellular stage represents a key milestone in Thrive's planned progression from single-celled organisms toward more complex life forms.

What changes in Thrive 1.7

• Colony layout editor: A new viewer and editor for full multicellular colony layouts allows players to understand and optionally reshape colony structure while maintaining the overall architecture, addressing a core design need for the multicellular stage.
• Simulation reworks: Movement speed and buff calculations were rebuilt specifically for cell colonies; actomyosin now affects base movement only rather than flagella or cilia; and bonus glucose calculation on cell death or engulfment was restructured.
• Performance optimizations: Auto-evo runtime was significantly reduced by skipping duplicate organelle deletion checks, mutation score caching was added during auto-evo sorting, physics timestepping degrades gracefully under load, and a 10-second timeout prevents the cell placement algorithm from hanging on editor exit.
• AI and ecosystem dynamics: Non-player species can now independently become multicellular, a fresh auto-evo run triggers upon multicellularity to seed initial species, and various auto-evo scoring fixes correct math for slime jets, prey channel inhibitors, engulf size, and enzyme requirements.
• Gameplay and stability fixes: Over 20 bug fixes address colony engulfing, gamete spawning and merging, cell duplication compound distribution, membrane generation timing, and prevent softlocks from pause-state mismatches during patch extinction.

Why it matters

Thrive demonstrates the viability of complex scientific simulation games built entirely with open-source tools, specifically the Godot engine, and its native Linux support with Steam Deck verification provides a concrete example for other indie developers targeting open platforms. The project's continued development and transparent versioning also highlight how community-funded open-source games can sustain long-term iterative releases without proprietary engine dependencies or platform exclusivity.