Sandustry update #1 (v0.5.4) adds faster filter editing, fixes the Tier 5 anomaly softlock, and finally lets you delete the indestructible red blocks.
TL;DR for players
Update #1 is the first numbered patch after Early Access launch, and it targets three specific sources of frustration rather than adding anything new. Filters stop being write-once. The Tier 5 anomaly softlock — the one that left progression blocked after you had already done the work — is fixed and repairs itself on load. And the indestructible red blocks, which had been a genuine dead end, become removable while a proper root-cause fix is still in progress.
Improved filter config
You can now press the filter overlay label, or use Edit last placed, to change a filter without overriding and replacing it. That sounds small and is not: filter tuning is iterative work, and having to re-place the building for every adjustment made experimenting expensive.
The visual distinction between the Allow and Block settings was also improved, so the selected option is obvious at a glance rather than something you have to remember. A handful of other filter quirks were fixed alongside.
If you are still working out what a basic Filter actually controls, the Wet Sand filter guide covers the liquid-leak behaviour that makes simple layouts misbehave.
Tier 5 softlock fix
A softlock that caused Tier 5 to remain blocked even after the anomaly investigation was completed has been fixed. Existing saves should be repaired automatically, so affected players do not need to redo anything — loading the save is enough.
The indestructible red block
The honest version of this section is that the real fix is not ready. A full root-cause repair is in progress but touches many core paths, and shipping it half-tested was judged riskier than living with the symptom a little longer.
In the meantime, players can remove red blocks directly. Deletion is capped at 256 tiles or fewer at a time, because the demolisher's overhead makes larger batches expensive. Red blocks that appear on puzzle doors are handled differently: closing and reopening the door restores it.
Other fixes
Save browser icons were made easier to understand. The reset button in puzzles can no longer be deleted by players, and restores on reload if it somehow is. Rebindable keybindings for Zoom In and Zoom Out were added, mapped by default to the two keys left of Backspace.
Two known limitations come with that last one. Zooming out beyond the default view is not yet supported — a rendering engine limitation rather than an oversight — and zooming in causes visible pixelation.
What this means for your factory
The filter change is the one that alters how you work day to day. Iterating on a sorting layout is now a matter of clicking the overlay label rather than demolishing and re-placing, and the clearer Allow/Block state removes a common source of silent misconfiguration.
If you were stuck with Tier 5 locked after finishing the anomaly investigation, load your save and it should be resolved. Red blocks are no longer a permanent dead end — clear up to 256 tiles at a time, or toggle a puzzle door to clear the ones sitting on it. Reset buttons in puzzles are now protected from accidental deletion, which removes another way to strand yourself. And the new zoom keybinds are usable, provided you accept that zooming out past the default view and zooming in past a certain point both still have visual limits.
No material behaviour changed in this update, so existing production chains are unaffected.
Affected guides and materials
Filter work and progression fixes, so the filtering and beginner material is where this lands.
The official post is linked below; everything above is our summary of it rather than a copy.
FAQ
How do you edit a filter in Sandustry now?
Press the filter overlay label, or use Edit last placed. Update #1 made both routes work, so you no longer have to override and replace a filter just to change what it allows.
Does Update #1 fix the Tier 5 softlock?
Yes. The softlock that left Tier 5 blocked even after the anomaly investigation was completed is fixed, and existing saves should be repaired automatically on load.
Can you remove red blocks in Sandustry?
Yes, as of Update #1. You can delete them directly, capped at 256 tiles at a time because of demolisher overhead. Red blocks on puzzle doors are cleared by closing and reopening the door.
Official post
This summary paraphrases the developer announcement for v0.5.4 — Update #1. Read the original at the official Sandustry news post .