Battledrones v14 released: new four-player map Compass Rose
Simon Willison has released Battledrones v14, adding the new four-player map Compass Rose; previously maps only supported two-player battles. Claude Opus 4.5 generated this four-way rotationally symmetric map and modified the WebSocket multiplayer networking code to support up to four players joining via a shared link or QR code, with empty slots filled by AI. The new faction uses purple and green robots and coexists with the original blue and red teams.
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#smallhead
24th October 2026
Release battledrones v14: Compass Rose, a four player map — A mobile web RTS
I added four player online mode to Battledrones - previous maps were limited to two.
Here's the initial prompt I used:
Add a new map for a four player battle - four way rotational symmetry, up to four AI players, works with the WebSocket non-audio based multiplayer mode so up to four human players can join (any spare slots use AI)
Claude Opus 4.5 added a new map called "Compass Rose" and modified the WebSockets multiplayer network code to support up to four players for that map, joining via share links or QR codes.
The new teams use robots themed in purple and green, joining the existing blue and red designs. You can preview those colors in the updated model browser.
Here's a replay link to watch a four way AI battle with the "Goliath Armada" mutator turned on, where each side starts with four giant Goliath mech units.
Posted 24th October 2026 at 3:59 am
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This is a beat by Simon Willison, posted on 24th October 2026.