This is a very small update that nevertheless fixes a very serious issue: being unable to save your progress if your Steam name started with certain emoji.

This is a free major update which introduces the new "Episode" format: a fundamental rework of the game incorporating several significant and far-reaching enhancements:

• Remastered graphics. Now in glorious Full HD 1920x1080 (16:9), rather than the original 1600x960 (5:3). Each wave, cutscene, and menu has been individually reviewed and tweaked to account for the new aspect ratio and screen dimensions.
  
  
• Improved weapons. The weapon roster has been reworked and rebalanced. This is the cumulative result of a large player community effort to make all weapons equally effective and fun to use.
  
  
• New engine. More display options, more visual effects, better customization for controls, plays nicer with recent versions of Windows.
  
  
• More languages. This is the result of another player community effort to translate the game to their native language. This project is still ongoing, so expect to see improved translations (or even new languages) over the coming updates.
  
  
• Built-in seasonal content. Your progress (career stats, unlockables, mission progress) is now unified across all seasons.
  
  
• Endless mode.

A slew of exciting features have also been back-ported from Chicken Invaders Universe and made available in this update:

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/1510460

• New weapons
  
  
• New special weapons
  
  
• Boosters
  
  
• 6 skill levels (doubled from the original 3)
  
  
• Custom cuisines
  
  
• Hot, frozen, electric, massive, and darkness environments

There is even support for exporting your purchase into Chicken Invaders Universe for free! More on that below.


The Episode comes as a separate launch option when you click "Play" in your Steam Library.

If you are using a desktop shortcut to launch the game, note that the shortcut Steam creates can only start the game using the default launch option. Sadly, there is no way to launch the Episode directly, however you can force the launch options dialog to be displayed each time the shortcut is clicked.

Right-click on your desktop shortcut, and select "Properties". Replace the URL field with this:

The original game format is still available to play. Although the Episode has most of the features of the original (and a lot more besides), there are still some scenarios where you might prefer to play the original:

• You like playing using the old mechanics, and the old game balance. Forks forever!
  
  
• You want to play a two-player game on the same PC.
  
  
• You want LAN/internet multiplayer functionality. For this, you should export your account to Chicken Invaders Universe (see below for instructions). Even so, the original uses Steam relay servers, which allows it connect even under certain uncommon network scenarios where Chicken Invaders Universe cannot.
  
  
• You keep track of Steam achievements and leaderboards.
  
  
• You want to play on Mac or Linux natively.
  
  
• Purely for familiarity and nostalgia reasons.

Prerequisites:

• Download CIU from https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/1510460 . It's free!
  
  
• You must already have a CIU account, and that account must be associated with an e-mail.
  
  
• You must own Chicken Invaders 5 on Steam yourself (that is, it must be purchased under the same account that you've used to log in to Steam). Steam Cafe or Family sharing do not count as owning the game.

Steps:

• At the main menu of Chicken Invaders 5, select "Options" then "Accounts".
  
  
• Select "Export Purchase".
  
  
• Enter your CIU account e-mail and click Submit.
  
  
• Done.

Now log into CIU to receive your DLC!