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Steel Diver: Sub Wars was Nintendo's first free-to-play release on the 3DS eShop, offering a limited number of single player missions and online play at no cost; the Premium edition opens up more content, naturally, while additional subs are available separately.

It's also a title that's being regularly tweaked and updated. The major version 2.0 update added more subs and stages while adjusting gameplay and features, while the iconic Blue Marine from Star Fox has also been made available. The game's director, Takaya Imamura, has now posted on Miiverse to advise that version 3.0 is currently in development and is targeting an August arrival. It'll add friend battles, more content and remove friendly fire damage — details are below.

In Version 3.0, you can set up Internet Battles with your Friends. This means as long as you have wireless internet access, you’ll be able to battle online with Friends you have registered on your Nintendo 3DS system, any time you want. However, keep in mind that this is limited to Friends who own the Premium Version of the game.

In addition, we’ll add two new stages exclusively for Local Wireless Battle to make this mode even more fun. You will be able to select these stages while playing Internet Battle with your Friends, too. We’re also working on adding subs that you can unlock by playing via local wireless a certain number of times. The number of times you’ve played on local wireless in Version 2.0 will be carried over to Version 3.0, so if you have already met the required number of Local Wireless Battles, you may be able to unlock them right after you update. Once again, please be aware that these subs will be available only for owners of the Premium Version.

We're also planning to add eight new crew members, with various abilities such as launching mines while using the masker, and healing your allies.

We've also made some other small tweaks. Your allies will no longer take any damage if you accidentally attack them in battle, and you can use the +Control Pad to enter messages in Morse code.

The in-game shop that was previously limited to Premium Version owners will now be accessible to players using the Free Version too. In addition, we'll be reducing the number of play coins required to play Internet Battle using the Free Version from two coins to one.

Are you still enjoying Steel Diver: Sub Wars, and do you like these upcoming changes? Share your thoughts below.

[source miiverse.nintendo.net]