Jagex announces a new Battle Builder update is now live for Ace of Spades on Steam, adding the ability to build your own battlegrounds for the Voxel first-person shooter. This is not your typical map editor, as it is designed to allow up to 24 players to rapidly collaborate to complete a design. This is available as a free update to those who own the game, and is included in new copies anyone purchases going forward. "The release of Ace of Spades: Battle Builder is huge step forward in the evolution of this unique game," explains David Cobb, the game's producer. "The Map Creator offers long-awaited functionality that massively enhances player collaboration, while combat in the game has been refined and further balanced. Jagex has listened to the game’s player community and kept Ace of Spades: Battle Builder true to its roots to ensure it delivers engaging and fun action." Here's more on how this works:

Maps can be built on one of nine templates based on themes including urban; mountain; lunar; grassland; and temple, before being populated by similarly themed prefabs. Using these structures, such as mountains, trees and ruined buildings, allow players to quickly craft a wide variety of battle maps. Further customisation is on offer through tools that provide players with the power to individually carve out blocks and paint objects – or the entire map – in an array of colours. In addition to the map editor, Battle Builder includes the previously released downloadable content, St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, featuring Multi-Hill and VIP game modes.