Onward Players,

We're thrilled to see so many of you enjoying the new features introduced in version 2.0. Your positive comments and feedback are greatly appreciated, and we're delighted to welcome back previous players who have returned to the game.

Although the release didn't go entirely smoothly, we've been working hard to resolve the issues that arose. The introduction of graphically advanced features and updates in the Horizon OS caused some functionality problems for Quest 2 users. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we worked to try and fix these issues.

• Black Screen when launching: We worked quickly to resolve this issue. If you continue to have this issue, clear your game cache and/or free up some storage space on your hardware.

• Quest 2 issues with bringing up OS Menu: This issue required collaboration with the Meta Horizon team to try and resolve, and at this time we have done everything we can do on our end to resolve this, however, it may still be an issue for some players. We are continuing to work with that team to resolve the issue. Currently we recommend avoiding opening the OS menu during gameplay. If you want to take images or video while playing, you can use the controller shortcuts.

In response to your concerns related to an increase in accidental teamkilling, we've made adjustments to the operator models' lighting to help better distinguish between the two factions. A big thanks to those who worked with us and provided constructive feedback and references so we can improve their quality.

For a comprehensive list of changes and fixes included in this hotfix, please refer to the Change Log below.

• Huge improvements to overall memory usage
  
• Improved how character lighting affects friend or foe identification
  
• Fixed issue causing crashes in Shooting range, FOB, & Downfall Remastered
  
• Falling damage corrected when using ladders
  
• Fixed falling rate when letting go of ladder bars

• Fixed rate of fire for APC9

• Fixed collision issues with semi truck in northern Quarantine
  
• Fixed ladders not working if you had proximity grip enabled
  
• Adjusted jets and helicopters flying out of the ground
  
• Fixed several exploits on Bazaar rooftops
  
• Fix occlusion culling on Downfall and Bazaar, improving performance
  
• Quarantine Portable toilets now have collision preventing players from entering them
  
• Fixed occlusion culling on Quarantine, improving performance
  
• Fixed occlusion culling issues in Abandoned looking through the pipes

• Fixed Audio reverb zones & ladder perch zones not working in custom content

Onward Players,

We are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated Onward Update 2.0 is now live! This major update brings a plethora of exciting new features, improvements, and enhancements to the game, further enriching the immersive experience. With a focus on delivering more realistic gameplay, improved performance, and new content, Update 2.0 promises to take your Onward journey to the next level. Get ready to gear up, squad up, and dive back into the action-packed world of Onward like never before!

Let's take a look at the major features included in Update 2.0. For a comprehensive overview of all updates, please refer to the change log.

• A major overhaul on the weapons and utilities has been included in this patch. When performing the graphics update it also allowed us the opportunity to update many aspects of the weapons.
  
• Updated Weapons & Utilities
  
• New Graphics Overhaul for Weapons & Utilities including updates for Faction Specific items
  
• 13 New Weapons Added
  
• New Scope Technology Added
  
• New Weapon Functionalities Added
  
• Scope Zeroing done on all weapons
  
• Reworked Weapons Trajectory

The list of new weapons being added are:
MARSOC

• M870 (Specialist)
  
• Vector (Specialist)
  
• HK416 (Rifleman)
  
• HK45T (All Classes)
  
• M45A1 (All Classes)
  
• M27 (Marksman, Support)
  
• MR73 Revolver (Rifleman, Marksman)

Volk

• AK103 (Rifleman)
  
• Saiga 12 (Specialist)
  
• APC9 (Specialist)
  
• MP443 Grach (All Classes)
  
• Stechkin APS (Specialist, Support)
  
• RPK-74 (Support with drum magazine, Rifleman with molot magazine)

You can now select from a roster of 10 unique operators per faction, each with their own distinct look and backstory. The operator selection menu will be in the main menu that will allow you to set your VOLK and MARSOC characters included are updated VIP skins.



Three new maps have been added. Two of which are somewhat familiar and one that is completely new. Overgrowth and Downfall Remastered are some of the most graphically advanced maps Onward has ever added.

Downfall Remastered (Day & Night)


Overgrowth (Day & Night)


Tanker (Day)


Items to help you feel more immersed in the environments have been added into the game. The Environment Events are sent to happen as a chance occurrence when playing on some maps.

• Climbable Ladders added to Downfall, Overgrowth, Shooting Range, FOB, and Bazaar.
  
• Environment Events have been added to some maps including things like flyovers and lightning
  
• Major Quality of Life Improvements

We wanted to make sure we also addressed and included some of the major community requests we have been receiving. We are including the following

• New Co-Op game Mode “Retrieval” Added
  
• Hunt Mode Expanded - Added options for additional waves of AI to spawn after 32. Wave setting options are 48, 64, 96, 128, 256, 512
  
• Assault Game mode with updated boundaries added to Subway
  
• Safe Spawning has been added
  
• Option to Enable/Disable Crossplay added

• Replaced all existing weapon models, textures and everything else related to their visuals and sounds.
  
• Added new types of weapons: pump action shotguns, and a revolver.
  
• New weapons: M870, Vector, HK416, HK45T, M45A1, M27, MR73, AK103, Saiga 12, APC9, MP443 Grach, Stechkin APS, RPK-74 (Drum / Molot).
  
• Replaced all weapon attachments and added many new ones
  
• Added new types of weapon attachments: grippods, alternate iron sights, hybrid scopes, combo laser sights, and more
  
• Replaced all MARSOC and Volk characters
  
• Added 20 selectable operators with customization options in arm band colors and lens colors if applicable
  
• Added two new maps: Downfall Remastered (replacing Downfall), and Overgrowth
  
• Added new music throughout the game
  
• Added new visual effects for bullets hitting objects, and for when the player is hit
  
• Added the option to filter servers by platform.
  
• Added interactable ladders to several maps.

• Overhauled ballistic trajectories, they now are not affected by framerate and properly convey bullet mass, shape, and drop over time.
  
• Added alternate support grip hand poses to assist with overlap on several guns when they are using alternative magazines, such as an RPK drum magazine in an AK style weapon.
  
• Added “trigger discipline” animations to the index finger on all guns, when the user is not touching their controller trigger they will rest their finger on the trigger housing.
  
• All guns now support trigger animations when pulling the trigger, including the taser and the M203 attachments.
  
• When using tracer rounds in the Shooting Range they now affect every shot instead of every third shot.
  
• Volk now has their own stun gun.
  
• Stun guns used to require players to be downed but not dead to hack tablets. This is still the case unless that player was stunned with the stun gun itself. Then they can be hacked even if dead.
  
• Bipods on some LMGs are now grippable.
  
• Added shell carriers for shotguns.

• Added new daytime map variant for Tanker.
  
• The Shooting Range now contains a basketball goal, and several hidden easter eggs.
  
• Ladders have been added to Bazaar to reach the rooftops on a few key buildings.
  
• Towers in Shooting Range and FOB now have functioning ladders.
  
• Improved lighting bakes and textures on various maps most notably on Bazaar and Quarantine amongst others
  
• Improvements to propping and texturing were made to the following maps: Shooting Range, Quarantine, Tanker, Suburbia, Bazaar.
  
• Improvements were made to several Skyboxes
  
• Subway now supports Assault mode
  
• Added a chance of lightning to night maps, as well as a chance of a jet or helicopter flyover on any map, and a chance of a boat driveby on maps with water like Tanker and Abandoned

• New game mode: Retrieval. This is similar to the hard drive recovery mission from Mercenary Mode.
  
• Gun Game now uses random factions on faction specific equipment like grenades.
  
• Added a “pump action shotgun” mode to One in the Chamber.
  
• Male and Female VIP added for Escort mode, the gender chosen will match your Marsoc character.
  
• In FFA modes we use your character selections but we do use a random faction, for variety.
  
• Added "Safe Spawn" functionality that allows players to respawn at random positions in Free Roam if their body is being camped.
  
• Added visible ‘walls’ to indicate the playable area in Subway for Assault
  
• Allow for up to 512 bots to spawn in co-op modes - they will respawn when over 32 bots are selected, and ammo boxes will appear.

• Improved AI responsiveness during travel states, so they react more realistically when taking fire.
  
• AI no longer speaks Russian but English with a thick accent, allowing the player to hear what they are doing.
  
• AI now has several new voice events for throwing flashbangs, throwing smokes, and taking fire.
  
• AI now has both male and female voices.

• Added visible Quest 3 controller for Quest 3 users in the tutorial.
  
• Updated all menu tiles
  
• Player vocalizations now have male and female variants.
  
• Added a new drawing board pen that deterministically randomizes its colors every round.
  
• Fixed the competitive warning when joining via playlist.

• Removed some obsolete Quest 1 optimizations to characters that could make them look worse.
  
• Grabbing an LMG lid from the wrong side will now flip your hand correctly.
  
• Fix the game potentially getting stuck if the player leaves a game during a map transition.
  
• Fix the game getting brighter if the player leaves a game during a flare.
  
• Fix various locations the player could get stuck in Abandoned, FOB and Bazaar.
  
• Fix minor collision issues in Suburbia, Turbine, and Abandoned.
  
• Fix not having to type the full Uplink code if it ends in zeroes.
  
• Fix not being able to extract in Fire Fight if the host disconnects.
  
• Fix custom content map authors being unable to test AI modes on local exports.
  
• Fix a potential way to get two corpsmen on one fire team.
  
• Fix being unable to interact with a scroll bar when creating a server.
  
• Fire Fight hard drive no longer falls through the helicopter and gets stuck underneath it.
  
• Casters in Mercenary Mode can no longer participate in map or reward votes.
  
• Fix holo sights not appearing white when using night vision sometimes.
  
• Fix an edge case that allowed instantaneous Uplink sends in Assault and Mercenary Transmit rounds.
  
• Molotov flames now affect players of all heights.
  
• Fix server ID text overlapping other UI in the server browser.
  
• Fix sabotage matches ending shortly after the round starts prematurely.
  
• Fix a few placeholder messages in Mercenary mode objective text, for example in Extract mode.
  
• Fix a Fire Fight helicopter you could not board in Turbine.
  
• Fix Evac rounds not ever ending if a player gives up before the AI spawn in.
  
• Fix player count on the watch in One in the Chamber being incorrect.
  
• Fix a small seam in the ballistic shield between the window and shield that could be shot through.
  
• Fix AI being weird if you broke line of sight near doors.
  
• Fix the VIP having green trim around their night vision even if you hadn’t selected it in your options, also fixed VIP ignoring the player’s default phosphor setting.
  
• After users successfully finish a mission involving a helicopter, fix the helicopter’s sound playing forever.
  
• Fix a few spots in Cargo Night that night vision did not illuminate.
  
• Fix getting stuck without a team if you try and click on one team while putting on the helmet of another team.
  
• Fix not making footstep sounds if you are rubbing against a wall.
  
• Fix some occlusion culling issues on Tanker, Quarantine, & FOB.
  
• Fix the drawing board being corrupted when joining a match in progress.
  
• Replaced the check of your internet connection from being ping based to a general web request, which may help certain players.
  
• Fixed bots throwing flashbangs when the player(s) had long since moved
  
• Fixed syringes not syncing their state to other players
  
• Players can no longer hack allied tablets
  
• Fixed flares illuminating subterranean areas of levels
  
• Fixed an issue that could progress a player to the next gun in Gun Game, if another player gave up
  
• Fixed both medics spawning in the same fire group on Firefight
  
• Fixed an issue where players would sometimes die while extracting in the helicopter on Quarantine
  
• Fixed some instances where head tracking wasn’t working correctly, namely in elevators, the killhouse, and while extracting in a helicopter
  
• Fix AI getting stuck when entering certain cover states (such as when taking cover from a grenade).
  
• Fixed users become stuck without a Team after physically equipping a helmet while using the laser-pointer to select the other within Tent Lobbies throughout the title
  
• Fixed the C4 having a collider that would block bullets
  
• Fixed Round abruptly ending when a user dies after having previously entered a 'disable uplink' code during the latest round-end phase of 'Assault'
  
• Fixed Game ending in a VOLK victory when MARSOC slays VIP during Round Reset timer after Jail timer throughout Escort
  
• Fixed matches failing to end immediately after pressing the 'Give Up' button in Evac
  
• Fixed air drones being able to leave the spawn jail
  
• Fixed an issue where if two players timed their uplinks just right, two would be sent and MARSOC would be awarded 4 points in Uplink
  
• Fixed Mercenary Mode not being available in the server filter as an option
  
• Fixed the option to allow changing game modes to appear when creating a Firefight server, when this game mode does not support changing modes.
  
• Fixed an issue whereby players could trigger a victory condition in Mercenary Mode - Extract without having the hard drive

Hello Onward Community,

This month is the long awaited final briefing for Update 2.0. We are going to wrap things up with some big news that you may have thought impossible. In the Devs’ Desk we will be showcasing the full roster of our operators, including more of the recently announced female operators from our recent post.

As many suspected when we started this series, after the last briefing, the update would release shortly after. We are happy to confirm you were right! The update will be released on March 25th, 2025!

With less than two weeks to go, let’s go over the final big features we have in store.

These features are something you have been asking us to include for YEARS. I don’t think we have gone one week without hearing a request for one or both of these features. We are thrilled to announce that these will be included in Update 2.0.

Crossplay Enable/Disable Option
For various reasons players have requested the ability to filter servers based on what platform they play on. In order to do this it required quite a bit of backend work and UI adjustments to the game.

Update 2.0 will have an option when setting up and browsing multiplayer lobbies to enable or disable crossplay. The default setting will be to allow crossplay. If you turn crossplay off the setting will be saved until you choose to enable crossplay again.

When creating a lobby and disabling the crossplay option your server will only be visible to the people on the same platform you are on. PCVR (Oculus PCVR & SteamVR) players will only see or join other PCVR players. Quest players will only see or join Quest 2, Quest Pro, & Quest 3 & 3S lobbies. Once a lobby is created, you will not have the ability to change this setting. To make a change to the crossplay settings you will need to create a new lobby.

MR73 Revolver
What began as a simple Game Jam experiment for some of our engineers—'Can we create a revolver that truly feels immersive in VR?'—quickly turned into a thrilling discovery. As we dove into testing, it became clear to all of us: the revolver's unique interactions brought an exhilarating and dynamic twist to the gameplay experience.

When researching how a revolver could fit into modern day loadouts, we decided on the MR73: a double-action revolver used in some modern military units for its reliability and durability. This weapon will be available on MARSOC Rifleman and Marksman classes. On the Rifleman it supports a reflex sight and a 4x/1x hybrid sight, and on the Marksman it supports a reflex sight or a 4x scope.


Over the past few months, we've given you a glimpse into some of the exciting Operators that will be joining the battle. With Update 2.0 just around the corner, we're thrilled to introduce you to the full roster of playable Operators.

Each Operator has a unique backstory and motivation for joining the fight, which you'll be able to explore in-depth when you select them in-game. Get ready to dive into their stories and discover what drives them to take on the challenge.

10 MARSOC Operators


10 Volk Operators


The update is just around the corner, and we can't wait for you to dive in and experience the incredible work our team has put into taking the game to the next level of excitement.



Stay Frosty

Hello Onward Community!

February is here and so is our next briefing. We know you have been eagerly waiting for what else is coming with Update 2.0. This month we have more new features to go over along with announcing some quality of life enhancements. In the Devs’ Desk we will be giving you additional information related to the weapons update and showcasing more operators.

Keep an eye on our Twitter account in the upcoming weeks. We will be posting information for upcoming Q&As happening. This will give you an opportunity to get answers to common questions and also learn more details behind some of the upcoming features we have talked about.

While we already announced our completely remastered Downfall map, we still have more news related to environments. We have a completely new never before seen map and a new Day mode for a current map. These are sure to offer a major change to how you play some game modes.

Overgrowth
A brand new map that follows a new level for graphics quality, much like Downfall Remastered. This latest addition boasts lush green foliage texturing and intricate rock formations that create a visually stunning backdrop for intense battles. A network of tunnels and narrow passages demands strategic movement and clever positioning, amplifying the pressure during combat.

This close quarters combat map will be available for Uplink, Co-Op, and Social Game modes. Get ready to experience high-stakes battles like never before on this cutting-edge map!



If you thoroughly explore the map, you may stumble upon a rare fossil that hasn’t been seen since the intense battles in the Jungle.

Tanker - Day
The Tanker map has been a staple in Onward since its early days. Its unique design, featuring multiple levels and a long viewing range, made it an ideal environment for nighttime gameplay. Night mode reduced the sight lines allowing players to move strategically across the top level, utilizing available containers for cover. After reviewing the map, we decided to release a daytime version of Tanker. This new iteration offers a fresh perspective on the classic map, providing players with a different set of challenges and opportunities.

Sneaking around on this map in broad daylight will require some serious skill.

Environment Enhancements
To help players feel more immersed in the environments while playing, we are adding elements like random fly overs and lightning effects. Sporadically, If you look to the skies or out on the water you have a chance to see boats, helicopters, or fighter jets. The air vehicles can perform banking maneuvers in formation, deploy countermeasures, and even explode and crash. The boats can deploy parachute flares at night.



Safe Spawning
After the introduction of spawn protection, we continued to monitor the gameplay experience for Shooting Range and Freeroam and how it has impacted the overall gameplay. While it did help address some instances players reported, we felt we could improve on it.
In Update 2.0 players will see a checkbox in the tent to enable safespawn. This will randomly spawn you in a new location on the map instead of where you died. This gives control back to the spawning player when in public lobbies where it can get very crowded and a bit chaotic.

Subway - Assault
In response to community feedback, we're excited to announce the addition of Assault game mode to Subway. Marsoc will attack from the streets, and Volk will come up from below. To ensure a seamless experience on Subway’s different height levels, we've designed Assault boundaries that are shown in the world, rather than on your tablet.

This month we wanted to provide an update and additional details related to our progress on the weapons and characters we are working on.

We have made some significant additions in the scopes category for our weapons. In addition we have also added some new functionalities to some specific weapons we think will offer some much needed improvements to how the weapons are utilized.

New Scope Technology

• 2 alternative iron sight model options
  
• Hybrid 1X/4X scopes - (2 sights in one)
  
• Tri laser (3 visible lasers)
  
• Combo (visible laser, visible flashlight, IR flashlight, & IR laser)
  
• Dual laser illuminator (visible laser, IR flashlight, & IR laser)
  
• Visible Laser & Flashlight (visible laser & visible flashlight)
  
• New 6x Scope (MARSOC)
  
• New 8x Scope (Volk)
  
• Laser & Flashlights are emissive (can see the lens glowing, not just the beam)

New Weapon Functionalities

• Shotgun shell holder for M1014 and M870
  
• Gripods (Foregrip / Bipod Hybrid)
  
• M203 can be equipped on MCX Virtus & MK18

This should bring fresh variety to the Assault map options, offering players a new unique and engaging experience.

Introducing 3 more MARSOC and Volk Operators. Their full bios will be available on our Instagram page soon.



In addition to switching between operators, you'll also have the ability to personalize their armbands and eyewear with different color patterns. This feature can be used to identify groups of players for tactical positioning or reflect other unique playstyle and preferences.

Use this customization option to add an extra layer of uniqueness and make your gameplay experience even more tailored to your preferences.


Onward provides a multitude of ways to play, resulting in a diverse array of player types. One player type that has gained popularity in recent years is the Military Simulation (MilSim) community. These groups often incorporate roleplaying and ranking systems into their gameplay.

Some of these groups offer in-game weapon training sessions and tactical walkthroughs for various environments. Since group expectations can differ, the team at MilSim Units has created a website to help connect individuals that have similar playstyles. For more information about how to find or host a MilSim unit, visit their website.

The Onward Custom Map League (OCML) has successfully concluded its January Brawl contest. This exciting tournament featured 8 teams competing over a period of 5 weeks, with matches played on 6 new custom map submissions.

Congratulations to Team Animal House, who emerged victorious in the tournament!
An additional congratulations goes to Swamp Boogie, whose map submission “East Village” was chosen as the best new map played during the tournament. Well done everyone!

You can watch all the rounds of the tournament on the Brutal Cast YouTube channel.

In addition to their recent map tournament, the Brutal cast has a bi-weekly podcast that delves into various Onward topics. These engaging episodes often feature special guests who are well-known within the community, providing valuable insights and in-depth information about the game. They also cover various league matches and tournaments. The channel offers a great variety of Onward content to check out.


Keep your head on a swivel

Happy 2025 Community!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season. We have another month of new information and exciting updates for you. Briefing #4 will answer a question people have been asking ever since the release of Update 1.14 and the Devs’ Desk will be releasing some information about updates that will be coming to our Co-Op modes.

Since our last Sitrep, the main question we got was why we’re removing the G3A3 and M1911. So we wanted to take a moment and provide you more details on why that decision was made. When we were first contemplating updating all weapons in the game we took a look at the current roster, and noticed that these two weapons in particular are both quite dated weapons. More importantly, they are no longer in active use by modern militaries, let alone special forces operators such as MARSOC and Volk.

When looking at potential replacements, the RPK-74 is a widely used and more modern light support weapon, and fits the role the G3 currently fills. Additionally, it has some added benefits like allowing for mag swaps between weapons chambered in 5.45x39mm. Similar to the G3 the M1911, legendary as it is, has been retired from nearly all military service within NATO countries. The M45A1 is a modernized version of the same weapon, which will provide modern features such as support for a picatinny rail, and is a more realistic option that better reflects the modern battlefield. We’re really looking forward to seeing these new weapons in your virtual hands soon™.


Most players noticed with Update 1.14 that our loading screen artwork was updated. Not just to showcase new environment art, but to also include more unique looking soldiers. Over the next couple months we will be introducing these Operators and providing you with their backgrounds.

We’re excited to announce a huge feature that has been in the works for a very long time: the ability to choose your character in-game! Soon you will now be able to select from a roster of 10 unique operators per faction, each with their own distinct look and backstory. A new operator menu will allow you to set your VOLK and MARSOC characters, letting you express yourself with a unique appearance while enhancing teamwork by helping teammates identify each other more easily on the battlefield. This improvement doesn’t just look good - it improves communications, callouts, and overall gameplay. All operators will be available to all players at launch, there are no additional operators available through purchase.

This update marks a massive leap forward in immersing players into the high-stakes MARSOC vs. VOLK conflict. For the first time ever, every operator on the battlefield is more than just a combatant—they are a fully realized persona that embodies the global stakes of modern warfare.

We’re doing this to build upon Onward’s long-standing legacy and add depth to its mysterious lore. After years of intense battles between MARSOC and VOLK, the community will finally gain more insight into the factions and the soldiers who fight for them. This update gives players a deeper connection to the conflict, making every match feel more personal and engaging than ever before.

Here is a sneak peek at some of the operators that will be available.




More details about these Operators will be released soon on our Instagram account.

We're excited that this next update will be the biggest and most significant one yet, marking a major milestone in the game's development. With all the new features and upgrades coming your way, we've decided to call this update "Update 2.0" - a name that reflects the scale of the changes.

Update 2.0 will not only bring exciting new gameplay mechanics but also mark the end of Onward's Early Access phase. Since its release on Steam in 2016 and Oculus PCVR in 2017, we've been working tirelessly to create the ultimate immersive tactical VR shooter. We're thrilled with the progress we've made over these 9 years.

We have an important update regarding changes that will be happening to Co-Op when Update 2.0 releases. When we reformatted the AI and how Co-Op worked, we were happy to see the positive response it received and the amount of people that jumped in to play that mode.

We understand that not everyone was pleased with the changes made to Hunt Mode. Some of you felt that the update reduced the challenge and excitement of the game. We heard your feedback and have been working hard to address it.

After refactoring the AI behavior in Update 1.13, we faced a challenge in bringing back higher enemy counts without affecting the game's overall performance. However, we didn't forget about your concerns. With the significant work and adjustments made in Update 2.0, we were able to revisit the issue and not only bring back the previous bot count options but also expand on them.

Hunt will be bringing back higher enemy count options. Once Update 2.0 is released, you will have additional options for 48, 64, 96, 128, 256, 512 enemies. That’s a lot of AI! How will we fit them all on one map you ask?

Settings for enemies under 32 will continue to work as they do now, all spawned in at the start of the round. Any settings higher than those will spawn reinforcements once an enemy dies. For example, if you choose 96, you will start with 32 on the map, as each AI is killed a reinforcement is sent. This will continue until your team clears the set number of AI or your team is eliminated. We will be using an AI spawning method and have the AI spawn in locations that work more like a method of Volk having called in reinforcements. So previously cleared areas may have enemies again.

Given the high amount of enemies that will be coming in, we understand resources will be limited, even with the weapons and extras dropped by AI. Hunt settings with higher than 32 bots will have ammo crates appear throughout the map. After all, if Volk gets reinforcements, so should you.

Coming off the success of the newest Co-Op addition, Mercenary Mode, we developed a way for the players to experience a fan favorite mission, Extract, as its own game mode. The new mode “Retrieval” will operate very similarly. Get In, Secure the Hard Drive, Get Out. Taking down AI is optional. You can choose stealth or sweep tactics, whatever you need to do to get the data and escape with it. Additionally Retrieval has “Blackout Mode”, an option to play without the hard drive appearing on the map, forcing players to locate the hard drive manually while under fire.


We're thrilled to be sharing all these exciting features and updates that Update 2.0 has in store for you. Join us on our Discord channel and be a part of the conversation! Share your reactions, feedback, and thoughts on this month's Sitrep - we want to hear from you!

Our Custom Map Makers are adding great new environments to our game weekly. There is a community of custom map enthusiasts who host contests, tournaments, and playtests for a variety of new maps coming in. If you would like to join them and provide feedback on the maps and vote in the contests, please join them in their Discord server.



There’s still more coming.

Happy December Onward Community,

We're thrilled to see the excitement building around the new Downfall Remastered map. This month in The Dev's Desk, we'll be addressing some of your questions about it.

As part of our Holiday Sitrep tradition, we have a special gift for you. Unfortunately, it won't be ready in time for Winter break, but it's something many of you have been asking for, and we're excited to share more details with you. We also have additional announcements in the Community Center, which we'll get to later.

For now, let's talk about that gift of information most of you have been asking for!


Completely NEW weapons are being added in addition to the graphically updated ones. The next update will include the largest amount of new weapons for the largest variety of classes in both factions. These will include some firsts for Onward, like the first ever Pump Action Shotgun and first ever …. Oh wait, we don’t have clearance to talk about that yet.



The list of new weapons being added are:
MARSOC

• M870 (Specialist)
  
• Kriss Vector (Specialist)
  
• HK416 (Rifleman)
  
• HK45T (All Classes)
  
• M45A1 (All Classes)
  
• M27 (Marksman, Support)

Volk

• AK103 (Rifleman)
  
• Saiga 12 (Specialist)
  
• APC9 (Specialist)
  
• MP443 Grach (All Classes)
  
• Stechkin APS (Specialist, Support)
  
• RPK-74 (Support with drum magazine, Rifleman with molot magazine )

That’s the biggest drop of new weapons Onward has ever seen! This is sure to shake up your standard loadouts and give you a lot of exciting new experiences when out on the battlefield. For the weapon enthusiasts, we wanted you to know that the Stechkin APS & Saiga 12 will have automatic modes.

We wanted to provide some extra details about the upcoming changes to our arsenal. We've also been listening to your questions and concerns about Downfall Remastered, and we're happy to address the most commonly asked questions we have received.

Our hope is that this information will help answer your questions, alleviate concerns, and get you even more pumped up for what's to come!


The updates to the weapons extended to more than the graphics and interactions. We have also taken the time to address how bullet drop works. Including updates that make weapons more consistently and reliably zeroed to their effective range.

Bullets will follow a more realistic trajectory meaning, bullet speed and thus bullet travel time is more realistic. This means you will be able to see a tracer shoot right beside you. This should make it easier to identify the direction shots are coming from.


We understand this may take a bit of getting used to and change how you currently aim and account for accuracy. We believe this is the better, more realistic approach. We recommend taking some time on the shooting range with your new favorite weapon(s) to get you used to this new system.

In order to provide so many new weapons, we had to make some balancing adjustments to the loadouts that are being offered. Some of the new weapons will be replacing previous weapons in the game.

MARSOC

• M16 being replaced with M27 on Support & Marksman Class
  
• 1911 being replaced with M45A1

Volk

• G3A3 being replaced with RPK-74

The next update will bid farewell to two iconic firearms that have been a part of our Onward loadouts. These trusty guns have served us all well, providing countless hours of intense action and epic firefights. A salute to the 1911 and G3A3 for their service and acknowledge the significant contributions they've made to our gaming experience.

There were a lot of the same questions being asked after the announcement of Downfall Remastered. We wanted to answer them quickly so you're not left wondering.

Have spawnpoints and objective locations been changed?
Yes. When redesigning the map,we reviewed spawnpoints and objectives and also looked into the community feedback. Additionally, because of some of the updates to the terrain types, some changes were required. New tactics and plans will be required for this map.

What exactly did you mean by “interactable objects throughout the map”?
Ladders. There will be climbable ladders that will allow you to get to new locations and use new vantage points when looking to take down your enemies.

Is there a Downfall Remastered - Night?
Yes. Please see provided images of what to expect when it becomes nighttime in this new environment.




Amidst all the exciting news, we do have a special holiday treat available for you now. The Holiday Pen is live in-game! Take this opportunity to unleash your creativity and spread some festive cheer in your lobbies.

Grab your Holiday Pen and get creative - draw something merry, brighten up the atmosphere, or simply add a personal touch to your gaming experience (without getting reported for inappropriate drawings).

As the holiday season approaches, our Support Center will be taking a temporary break to allow our team members to spend time with their loved ones. From December 16th, 2024, - January 5th, our Support Center will be closed, including:

• Email Support Team
  
• Community Custom Map Reviews

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time. Our team will work diligently to respond to inquiries and requests upon our return to the office.

We wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to reconnecting with you in the new year!



Stay Frosty

Hello Onward Community!

We were thrilled to see the enthusiasm sparked by our last Sitrep, and we're excited to announce that we'll be resuming our monthly Sitrep schedule as we count down to the release of our next update. With plenty of exciting developments on the horizon, we can't wait to share more with you.

This month we’ll be releasing more details about what will be included in the visual overhaul and the Devs’ Desk will be releasing information on a new type of addition to the game.

Visual Overhaul on all Weapons, Accessories, & Utilities Cont.
Over the past several days we have been showcasing the visual upgrades to a variety of weapons over on our Instagram page. If you haven’t seen them yet, we suggest taking some time to check them out. We will be continuing to post additional images there between Sitreps.

During the design process for the visual overhaul our team decided they wanted to take this opportunity to upgrade some of the equipment even further. The result is something we think you will really benefit from and enhance the experience when building your loadouts.

This means that now your utility items like grenades, knives, tablets, and drones will have unique looks based on what faction you are playing as. Some examples of what the updated/new items are currently set to look like.





One of the things that really affects gameplay and enhances the overall experience of the game modes is the environment in which you play them. In previous updates you have seen us release enhancements to our existing maps. This time around we are doing an upgrade on a completely different caliber. So much so we are not calling it an upgrade, but a Remaster.

If you were asked which map you thought was the most popular, which do you think it would be? Turbine? Snowpeak?
It’s actually Downfall!

To some this is no surprise, Downfall requires advanced tactics to navigate across the open land while using its unique structures and landscape to take cover during battles. For these reasons and many more, we have chosen this fan favorite map to be completely remade from the ground up.

Originally, we didn’t know if we were going to be able to include this feature due to this new map being one of the most graphically advanced maps we have made to date. The team worked hard on optimizing its performance to make sure we could include it in the upcoming update.

To understand what makes this different then what we have done in the past we wanted to call out some of the specific things we did in this process that makes this new map more advanced.

Revamped Buildings - Every building has been redesigned. Every building has been modeled and detailed to a higher standard creating a more believable and realistic environment.
Each building now uses several tiling textures that are all blended using a new masking workflow. This new workflow allows for unique texture details per building for a more realistic look.

Enhanced Textures and terrain - The entire scene now features brand-new high-quality terrain textures with multiple blended materials and additional geometric detail.
New cliff and rock assets create more natural and varied ground surfaces.
Large objects now utilize detail maps for up close detail enhancing the look of buildings, rocks and fabrics.

New and wider variety of props - Including visuals for decals and set dressing to make the environment feel more realistic and immersive.
Included interactable objects throughout the map

Improved lighting - Lighting across the map has been completely reworked delivering a more realistic and balanced ambiance to the scene with more accurate bounce lighting and interior lighting.

Example of the difference between the two maps:






Join our community discussions and let us know your thoughts on these new designs in the official Onward Discord.


Keep your Head on a Swivel

Hello everyone!

We have just released patch 1.14.5 to address an issue where some users were seeing a gray box that would block the main menu. The patch is available now, and should download to your devices automatically.

Today we've released a small patch (version 1.14.4) to address some backend changes that will help us prepare for the big update we revealed in the Sitrep below. The patch is available for download now, and should download to your device automatically.

We are also updating our Privacy Policy, and consolidating our End User License Agreement, Custom Content Agreement, and Software License Agreement into a single new EULA. We recommend you review the updated End User License Agreement and Privacy Policy that will take effect on October 10, 2024 for new users and on December 10, 2024 for existing users (who downloaded Onward prior to October 10, 2024).

It’s been awhile Onward Community,

We heard you have been missing our monthly updates. I am happy to finally be able to provide you with some long awaited updates on what we are working on. Strap in and get ready because this is going to be exciting.

I bet your first questions are “Why the silence?” and “What is taking so long?”. The answer is simply, there was A LOT of backend work and artwork that needed to be done. Additionally, there is a good amount of prep work to do when gearing up for OUR BIGGEST UPDATE to date! Especially with the expectation that it will be released in the first half of next year.

We are thrilled that we have now moved to a part of the development process where we have some of the work put together that we are able to show off to you. We won’t be divulging all the information at once, so make sure you look for our future publications.

We are talking brand new, higher fidelity models, textures and interactions for 40+ Primary Weapons, 10+ Secondary Weapons, and 65+ Weapon Attachments. That amounts to over 115 objects. And that’s just what is currently in the game. We are going to show you examples of two of the updated weapons today.

You can see how big an upgrade it is in the images below of the M1014, L86A2, and MRS. The difference that has been achieved is really impressive when you compare the previous and new looks side by side. In the Devs’ Desk we go over what is required for this to be achieved.

The visual overhaul applies the same updates to both Quest & PC versions.
M1014
L86A2_LSW
MRS

This visual overhaul is much more involved than some people might think. Our process is not simply adjusting some resolution settings and adding some improved lighting techniques. To give you an idea of what exactly is involved, we have listed out some of the steps it takes to complete just one item.

Modeling:
Create a new high-poly model to ensure authenticity and accuracy in scale, with enhanced attention to detail and realism.

Texturing:
Develop detailed textures and materials that respond more realistically to lighting, improving the visual quality.

Material Adjustments:
Fine-tune in-game materials to achieve optimal realism under various lighting conditions.

Art Review:
Review and adjust the artwork as needed, ensuring that it meets the visual and quality standards.

Integration:
Apply the approved art to the game and define all interactions and behaviors, with corresponding updates to the code.

Quality Assurance (QA):
Conduct thorough testing to ensure the new models function as expected and look great in-game.

Final Adjustments:
Make any necessary adjustments and corrections based on feedback from QA to ensure the best possible result.

These steps also don’t account for any time needed for bug fixes or back-end work needed on other systems these items interact with.

In order for us to keep moving forward on some of this work and other work we have in the pipeline, we will be releasing a patch for the game in the next week or so.

This upcoming patch will be exactly like Patch 1.14.3, a backend update that will not affect anything that is player facing. It is additional tool(s) & foundation work for future development features to be implemented.

It can be confusing to see an update queued and not see anything new or updated to the game, please know it should not affect your gameplay in any way.

We are excited that we are far enough along to be able to provide you with a sneak peak into the hard work that has been done so far. We are looking forward to showing off even more as things continue to develop and more work is completed.


While the team is deep into development work on upcoming features, we are continuing to review and approve community Custom Map submissions. If you are interested in adding your own environmental content, join our Discord!

There you can review the custom map makers guide we have provided on how to get started in the process. You can also meet other custom map makers who are happy to help new and returning creators. There is even a group who host custom map contests, if winning the coveted purple pen is something that you want to strive for. Having your work go into the game and enjoyed by the community can also be a rewarding experience.



We will be hard at work and continuing to make progress on these and other features that we will share in the future.


Be on the lookout for more