- AI Hotfix - 25 June 2026
Although the update isn't quite ready yet, while reviewing Steam's guidelines, I realized that AI prompts could be considered 'unmoderated content generation.' Therefore, I have removed the possibility to edit them.As for the other new features (audio and multiplayer), they aren't completely finished yet, but I needed to comply with Steam's rules without delay.
- Database Update - 15 February 2026
Hello everyone, A significant update is rollling out today, focused on the backbone of Caïssa Board: the Database and Import systems. ⚠️ Important: This update is currently available on the Unstable Channel only. it will stay there until the network code is finalized. To access it: Right-click Caïssa Board in your Steam Library. Select Properties -> Betas. Select the unstable branch from the dropdown. Here is what’s new in this version: Database & Performance Toggle Collections: You can now disable specific game collections. Doing this for large databases significantly speeds up application startup, reduces RAM usage, and excludes them from position searches. Live Connection: You can connect and disconnect from PostgreSQL without needing to restart or leave the application. Faster Lookups: We have introduced the ability to pre-cache positions. Since the first 5 moves take the longer tim…
- Style Update - 16 November 2025
The plan for leaving Early Access is to build out the help for each screen, while fixing issues and adding missing features. This update covers the Settings > Style menu, with new Xiangqi and Shogi board and piece styles. Issues related to pieces positioning and board scaling were fixed. In order to check this update, please go to the unstable channel, as it won't go public until all topics are covered.
- Help is on the way - 22 October 2025
Hello chess players, Now that I've completed the major changes that I have mentioned in the previous posts, it is now time to leave the early access. To prepare for this, I'm following a simple method: I am writing the help documentation, and as I describe each feature, I am thoroughly checking (and debugging) it. For now, the help system is only available for the Settings screens (General, Display, and Style). Main Changes Added the help system, it is automatically displayed the first time a screen displayed but is also accessible via the F1 key. Fixed a crash in Capablanca Chess related to knight movement. Added an "Offset" option to Board Style. (Note: The mod editor project will need to be updated to support this.) Added new graphic settings such as view distance. This update is also available on the unstable channel. You can select it under "Properties" like so: A Note on Multiplay…
- MODs, Database and Large Boards - 5 October 2025
Greetings, chess players! A massive new update for Caïssa Board that has been brewing for over 15 months is now available for testing on the **Unstable** channel. This update introduces some very important features, including new variants, AI-powered game analysis, a complete database overhaul, and comprehensive modding support! IMPORTANT: This is an early, work-in-progress build. It contains major breaking changes, and you will likely encounter bugs, visual glitches, and other issues. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated to help stabilize it before the full public release! ✨ What's New in the Unstable Build ✨ ♟️ New Variants for Larger Boards We're expanding the world of chess on Caïssa Board! Three major variants have been added: Shogi (Japanese Chess): Master the art of the "drop" rule. Xiangqi (Chinese Chess): Command your army across the river. Capablanca Chess: Explore a cla…
- Breaking Changes No More - 14 February 2025
When I began developing Caïssa Board in January 2021, my goal was to create a modern chess interface. I envisioned an application where users could analyze their own games, marvel at master tactics, and enjoy the experience with 2D or 3D visuals and gamepad support. The first playable version was released in July 2021, but it didn't achieve the success I had hoped for. Simply displaying forks, pins, and skewers on the board wasn't enough. This prompted me to reconsider what a truly modern chess interface should offer, leading to a series of significant changes. I began by adding chess variants, followed by Lichess integration, a switch from Unity to Unreal Engine, a database, multiplayer mode, and finally, the Lua scripting language for database filtering. Each of these additions required substantial modifications. Two more major features remained: a mod creator and the ability to adapt…
- Database update - 28 July 2024
Until now, only the database structure was updated. It was a fairly flexible solution that didn't impose any constraints. However, in the next update, the data will evolve, some will disappear and others will change. To achieve this, I've introduced a version number which is zero now and will start at 1 as of the next update. By going from 0 to 1, your game data will be converted. Unfortunately, if your data is very old (if you've let several versions of Caissa Board go by without updating it) the conversion will fail. You therefore have two solutions: the first is to delete all your old games from the Documents/My Games/Caïssa Board folder, and the second is to update Caïssa Board now and launch it. After the next update, it will be too late and you'll have to delete your old games. From now on, all game databases will have a version number, and this situation should not happen again.
- The Database Update is on the unstable Channel - 11 July 2024
As I am finailizing the testing of the next database update, you are welcome to try it out with me on the "unstable" channel (no password required). Although this update shouldn't set your game databases on fire, I'd still recommend making a backup of your data before proceeding (the folder is in Documents/My Games/Caïssa Board).
- Stability Update - 6 July 2024
Fixed an issue where clicking the mouse the first time would warp the pointer to the middle of screen. Fixed an issue where Lichess games were not opened automatically. Improvements for the challenges screen.
- Update Notes and Games In Progress - 5 July 2024
The update notes are now displayed on the home screen. The games in progress are now displayed correctly. The chess engines are now displayed with their name and level.
- Players List Update - 4 July 2024
The engine level was not correctly initialized in its settings. When a variant is changed, the players list is now reset and the engines that cannot play that variant are removed.
- Dedicated Servers, New Positions and Chess Engine Settings - 3 July 2024
The dedicated server is finally available! You can now download it as a Windows or Linux version from an anonymous account. Stockfish 16.1 has been added to the chess engines. Current positions have been added to the database. Endgame and other positions have been added, so you can now practice knight and bishop checkmate or Philidor's position! You'll only be able to benefit from these by default if you reset your database. It's easy enough: just delete the caissa-board.sqlite file from your "Documents/My Games/Caïssa Board/Game Files" folder, then relaunch Caïssa Board. However, if you do so, you'll lose the game databases you've created. You can recover them by recreating them again, as long as the corresponding files still exist in the folder (you can also save them, recreate them and copy them later). In the future I'll provide options for an easier recovery. In the version created…
- Stability Update - 1 July 2024
Fixes and improvements for the display and of captured pieces. Made takeback moves unavailable on Lichess, they were meaningless and would only display an incorrect position. F5 key can now hide UI (as per the Unity version)
- Camera Fix - 30 June 2024
This update is part of the single players fixes that I need to do before resuming work on the multiplayer. The camera can now be moved by pressing the TAB key and a mouse button. Alternatively you can use the gamepad right stick. Pressing the right stick or the middle mouse button will reset the camera.
- Bug fixes - 28 June 2024
Fixed bugs around Lichess gameplay and the display of arrows The Play Online option has been removed as it could cause confusion.
- 3 Years Anniversary Update - 27 June 2024
Caïssa Board was released the 1st July 2021, at the time it was made with Unity Engine. Since then I have moved it to Unreal Engine and have brought major changes to it. In this release I have focused on the User Interface and the Multiplayer Mode. You can now host games online and even launch a dedicated server built for Windows or Linux! User Interface The User Interface needed some work, so I went and redesigned most of it. The menus are now easier to understand. Multiplayer As I was ahead of my schedule, I've spent a couple weeks to see if I could make Linux and the multiplayer mode work. After much struggle I could finally succeed with both! This version is very basic, you can pick a side, choose a chess variant and start a game. The bells and whistles will come later. While the dedicated servers are ready on my side, there is an issue with Steam which makes them unavailable right…
- I see people in the basement! - 25 June 2024
The new version is now available on the unstable channel (no password required). The patch notes will be available soon.
- Tactics Update - 1 May 2024
The final part of the review mode has just been completed: the tactics update. The various tactical diagrams have been reviewed and corrected, displaying less whimsical information than before. For example, a fork will not be validated if the attacking piece can be captured by one of its targets, unless it is itself defended and of a lower value than the target. You can now view tactical information about a piece by dragging the mouse cursor over it. For example, here the knight can launch a discovery attack against the opponent's queen. Game selection has been slightly improved, although this is not the final version. You can now also select positions for analysis. Fixed a bug in 2D, the moved part was displayed incorrectly. Please let me know if you're not happy with the new way of calculating tactics. I now need to improve the user interface and special effects before leaving early a…
- Finalizing the review mode - 23 April 2024
As you may have noticed, most of the recent updates were focused on improving the review mode. In order to finalize it, I had to add the letters and numbers of the squares, the markers for the last move and the possible moves. These are colored in review mode (but not in game mode, as this would be considered cheating). A green marker means that the square is guarded by another piece. A red marker means that the square is being attacked by the opponent. A yellow marker means that the square is challenged (guarded and attacked). A white marker means that the square is neither attacked nor guarded. I may change the white and yellow markers later, as the white marker is sometimes difficult to see. Thus, the marker for challenged squares would become orange and the white marker would become yellow. Next I will need to fix the tactics, fix some minor issues and maybe add the status bar now a…
- Multiple Evaluation Bars - 18 April 2024
Multiple evaluation bars have been added. This makes it easy to spot dangerous situations where only one move is winning or avoids losing. You can see them in the analysis window. There will be as many bars as the number of evaluation lines set in the options. Fixed a display corruption issue when reviewing the game
