In the speedrunning community, holds a special place. It is the version used for the "Vanilla Early Access" category. Why?
Version 0.5.2 was a stepping stone toward more robust updates, such as v0.6 and v0.8, which eventually introduced language localization, new mayors, and the "Six Wonders". It represented the "rapid-fix" phase of the game's lifecycle, where the focus was on making the massive-scale zombie simulation playable for the growing community. They Are Billions v0.5.2
Because the final release (v1.0) introduced the Empire of Storms campaign, which changed the survival mode's balance significantly. v0.5.2 represents the "purest" survival sandbox—no hero units, no tech tree outside of the Workshop, just raw RTS macro. In the speedrunning community, holds a special place
: Improved engine stability to handle the "Billions" of units on screen during final waves, especially when using the Silent Beholder to track them. UI Updates Version 0
If you manage to find a legacy download of v0.5.2 (often preserved by speedrunners), you need a specific strategy to survive. The "meta" for this version is distinct from the release version.
In the landscape of real-time strategy (RTS) gaming, few titles have managed to carve out a niche as distinct and terrifying as Numantian Games’ They Are Billions . Before it became a polished gem with a fully fleshed-out campaign and console ports, it spent a significant amount of time in Steam Early Access. During this period, the game evolved rapidly, with each patch number representing a significant shift in mechanics, balance, and difficulty.
| Building | Cost | Wood | Stone | Iron | Oil | Energy | Workers | Function | |----------|------|------|-------|------|-----|---------|---------|----------| | (Tier 2) | 800 gold | 20 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 40 | 10 | Converts 5 crude oil into 2 refined oil per 24h. Pre-patch version v0.5.2 only. | | Sniper Perch | 400 gold | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 2x2 tower. +2 range for Snipers only. 30% attack speed bonus. | | Quarantine Gate | 600 gold | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | Double wall section (400 HP each layer). Can be locked: blocks all units + zombies, but prevents repair while locked. |