Jul 31

GROUND BRANCH - Scopey

We're back with another Build Update — this time for our first point release: patch V1035.1!

This patch introduces a few new features (such as a Check Watch function, hand signals and modded skins), as well as various bug fixes and even some small visual upgrades. Keep reading for the full scoop, and don't forget to let us know what you think!

💡 Patch V1035.2 is also planned for the near future.

Patch notes

Performance and stability

We have identified and fixed a number of memory leak issues which would create an increasing impact on performance (and possibly online replication) over time:

Fixed memory leaks related to inventory items that were not being unloaded on level change Fixed some vehicle blueprints that were leaking memory after level change (they were set to replicate unnecessarily)
Fixed leak caused by regenerating navmeshes with our door-swinging logic in Kythera AI

🚧 These should hopefully improve performance degradation over time — including some of the server rubberbanding issues — but the problem is still being monitored, and we'll continue to work towards a definitive fix. Be sure to let us know how your server is handling these changes!

Gameplay

Check Watch

Gone are the days of free-looking down to your left wrist or picking a foregrip that makes it easy to see it at a glance.

You can still do those things, but now you can also simply use the new Check Watch ability to have your character raise their wristwatch in clear view of the camera while keeping your firearm (if you have one equipped) at ready.

💡 To check your watch, double-tap Freelook (default \[Tab]).

The new Check Watch ability can be triggered in any stance, and it stays on while walking and running (but not while sprinting or crawling). Most other actions will cancel it out automatically.

🐞 When prone, the watch face may not be within the frame depending on what item you have equipped, even with a vertical FOV of 58 (default) or wider. We're looking into it.

🐞 You may have issues checking your watch after using it several times while moving around, changing stances or in combination with Freelook. To restore the ability to check your watch, simply use Freelook momentarily.

First pass on hand signals

Players can now use hand signals to silently communicate with teammates.

"Go There" hand signal

To bring up the Hand Signals menu, use default [H].

💡 If a default key is not set in your game, manually bind it under Settings › Controls › Keybinds (look under the "Communication" header).

Available signals so far are:

Cover Me — Issued to request covering fire or overwatch from a teammate
Rally Up — Issued to tell teammates to regroup on your position
Go There — Issued to order teammates to move up to a location in front of you
Need Breacher — Issued to request a teammate to breach a door (currently limited to the water Breaching Charge)
Halt — Issued to tell teammates to stop and hold a position until told otherwise
Look There — Issued to tell teammates to visually check a position in front of you

🚧 As ever, please keep in mind this is an initial implementation — the UI and animations will be iterated on, and more hand signals will be added.

💡 Hand signals are issued via the same radial menu style as squad orders — press the key to bring up the Hand Signals menu, move your mouse to the desired option, and left-click to issue.

🐞 KNOWN ISSUE: Once used, the Hand Signals menu may require a second press of your assigned key to come up again.

Other gameplay updates

Collecting the laptop in Intel Retrieval no longer triggers enemies to rush towards the player ("extraction mayhem"), allowing players to e.g. sneak in and out with the intel
Increased the area of extraction zones to better support larger teams
Light and laser attachments now behave more naturally:
- No longer automatically turned on when re-equipped
- Still turn off when the item is dropped, but with a slight delay — allowing you to potentially mislead enemies with dropped weapons
Updated reload-related gameplay ability to correctly detect when a round is chambered during a mag check
- This ensures the appropriate animation plays depending on bolt status (e.g. AR-15 with no bolt lock)
Updated the grenade throw ability to no longer allow sprinting or item switching to interrupt it, as well as correctly re-equip the previous item (if the option is checked in Settings › Gameplay) after the throw

AI/animation

Dead body inspection

Enemies now perform a proper body check animation upon finding a fallen comrade, kneeling at the location of the dead character's head, reaching out and scanning around before standing back up.

Other AI changes

Updated "bum rush" AI behavior (Terrorist Hunt):

AI now runs toward distant targets and walks when nearby
AI will now draw their weapon upon entering "bum rush" mode, rather than leaving it slung until enemy contact

Modding

New Mod Kit version available

The GROUND BRANCH Mod Kit has been updated! If you're a modder (or aspiring modder), make sure to grab it from the Epic Games Store: https://store.epicgames.com/p/ground-branch-mod-kit

Read on to learn what's new in this version.

Item skin modding

New in V1035.1 is the ability to create proper skin mods for items, with new colors and patterns no longer required to be "baked" directly into the meshes. Here's the first contribution by modder ModernLancer:

💡 If you are interested in creating skin mods, see this page from our Modding Wiki for more information (though please bear in mind that it still needs to be updated).

Bolt-action and belt-fed weapon modding

The Mod Kit now provides example mods for bolt-action and belt-fed weapons.

💡 For instructions on how to create new asset mods (such as weapon mods), see this page.

Other modding changes

Improved mod filtering behavior in the Server Browser to more reliably display modded servers
Optimized mod mounting performance and reliability by skipping redundant blueprint-generated classes and using safer methods to identify primary assets

Visual updates

Upgraded first-person character textures

With the new Check Watch action, we wanted to make sure the most visible character textures in first-person (arms, gloves, sleeves) looked as good as they can, so we bumped up the resolution for their albedo (base color) and normal maps.

The difference can be subtle — especially with the gloves — but here's a before/after with the Tactical Gloves and Softshell Jacket:

Notice the sharper textures — especially around the jacket's shoulder pockets and seams.

Other visual fixes

Fixed lighting channel and cull distance issues in Ready Room
Potential fix for blurry textures when switching appearances with a balaclava

Kit restrictions

The Kit Restrictions system and menus are being overhauled to use the new tag system and offer more options. As a result, it will be unavailable from this version until we have the new iteration done in patch V1035.2.

💡 The new kit restrictions system is expected to return alongside the Hostage Rescue PvP mode.
Sorry for the inconvenience and thanks for your patience, everyone.

Miscellaneous changes

Updated VOIP settings in Wwise to improve Radio and Proximity Voice audio dropouts (unfortunately, crashes still occur — we are looking into redoing the VOIP system)
Fixed issue where the wrong sound was playing for the LVAW assault rifle
Fixed Ready Room no longer playing ambient music after closing menus
Updated Power Station audio mix and adjusted audio for powered equipment (e.g. radios) (WIP)
Updated and cleaned up various gameplay abilities (GAS) for more reliability
Removed excessive networking logs to improve performance and clarity

This has been Build Update #060!

Thank you for reading these release notes and keeping up with the development of GROUND BRANCH.

Stay tuned for patch V1035.2, and don't forget to let us know how this version is running and playing for you — whether via our {LINK REMOVED}, Steam forums or social media.

See you on the next one!

Jun 12

Build Update #058: V1035 Hotfix #4

GROUND BRANCH - Scopey

Hey, everyone!

We have another V1035 hotfix for you, including fixes for City crashes and sound issues, Intel Retrieval bugs, and the "bum rush" feature (where the last remaining enemy AI rush the player in Terrorist Hunt) not working.

We have also added a new SVD variant, hooked up the AOR-2 pouches and more. Keep reading for the full scoop.

Patch notes

Gameplay

Put in a temporary workaround in Intel Retrieval to make laptops pick-upable without hacking (may have some alignment issues causing the laptop to appear in odd places near the expected placement, such as under a box instead of on it); other modes such as Uplink may still have issues (work in progress)
Improved equipment-switching logic relating to restoring the correct previously equipped left/right item when re-equipping (work in progress)
Fixed issues with Tablet raise ability sometimes not working
Improved controller-to-mouse input remapping for UI navigation

Fixed up AI behavior for "bum rush" in Terrorist Hunt (TH) and "extraction mayhem" in Intel Retrieval (IR): after getting down to the last few terrorists in TH, and after taking the laptop in IR, all remaining enemy AI will once again swarm towards the players and/or extraction point (if applicable); the behavior remains a work in progress
Adjusted AI grenade usage: reduced frequency, increased verification distance, rebalanced smoke grenade usage, and added checks to avoid friendly fire
Tweaked AI logic to reduce passive behaviors and increase frontal engagement
Improved AI responsiveness and reduced hesitation when closing distance with enemies
Fixed AI sprinting sideways when engaging targets

Sound

Fixed crashing and other audio issues in City
Adjusted voice handling for AI room tones and Spatial Audio Volumes (SAVs)
Fixed HRTF channel configuration to restore expected audio playback
Improved volume behavior for grenade explosions
Fixed voice starvation and room tone playback inconsistencies

Inventory

Added SVD-90 sniper rifle: a variant of the classic SVD with black polymer furniture (the original SVD was renamed SVD-63)
Tweaked weight value for SVD-63 from 5.3 kg to 4.3 kg (the new SVD-90 variant is a little lighter: 4.0 kg)
Added AOR-2 skin to pouches
Radio pouch skins are now restricted to Black, Tan, Ranger Green and OCP to reflect real-life counterpart and highlight the pouch in most situations (this logic may be applied to other pouches in the future)

Refined controller modifier tooltip messaging
Fixed interaction bugs relating to controller navigation and button modifier presentation
Extra validation added to Modding menus, and new prompts to suggest saving of server mod list if user navigates away
Updated SVD-63 icon with more consistent version created from more recent asset

Visuals

Improved support for matching pouches when changing platform skins
Updated Plate Carrier (MPC) skins:
- All MOLLE sections now have the secondary skin color applied to them (where applicable, as some skins have camo applied to the MOLLE)
- OCP now has the camo pattern also applied to MOLLE (instead of tan)
- M81 now uses a more accurate color scheme, with olive drab as the secondary color (instead of tan) and camo no longer being applied to certain parts of the vest
- MOLLE applied at an angle near armpit area now has the camo pattern follow that angle
- Tweaked color of the stitching, bungee cord and snap fastener of some skins
Corrected visuals and collision on Box Truck asset
Eye material fix on dead SWAT characters

Modding

Fixed issue where listen server host (Host Game option) would not sync mods unless local mod list was enabled
Listen server hosts (Host Game) no longer send Inactive mods to clients, causing unnecessary mod subscriptions
Mutators menu now displays expected content on opening (rather than broken mutators)

May 8

Build Update #054: GROUND BRANCH V1035 now live!

GROUND BRANCH - Scopey

After a few weeks in the Community Test beta branch, we're thrilled to announce that GROUND BRANCH Version 1035 is now live on the main branch of your Steam install!

As extensively previewed and discussed over the past months, V1035 features many improvements to GB, from art upgrades and a revamped customization UI all the way to a campaign mission demo that offers a "vertical slice" of the experience we're aiming for: a mission with a briefing and intel details, multiple objectives (including assassination and demolitions) and AI companions — all accessible via a brand-new interface from which players will be able to play many more missions in the future.

Launch Sale: GROUND BRANCH is 10% OFF!

To celebrate the launch of V1035, GROUND BRANCH will be on sale with a 10% discount for 1 week. Enjoy!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/16900/GROUND_BRANCH/

Without further ado, let's go over the release notes for V1035.

💡 For a more comprehensive and technical list of changes since V1034, see the patch notes for CT Update #01, CT Update #02 and CT Update #03.

⛔ WARNING: Outdated Mods
Please note that mods from V1034 may crash or otherwise cause issues on your V1035 GROUND BRANCH client, as well as V1035 servers. We recommend that you disable all mods until they are updated to V1035.

Release notes

Gameplay Ability System (GAS)

As explained in our Intel Reports on the road to this release, most of the systems in GROUND BRANCH were rebuilt with GAS — the Gameplay Ability System. While this has caused unfortunate delays, we're now over the bump with a more flexible and performant system that offers better control over the complex interplay between characters, inventory, animation and game events.

💡 Due to virtually every system of the game having been converted to GAS, a few bugs may remain undiscovered or unfixed in areas that previously worked. We'll be listing all known issues at the end of this post. No show-stopping bugs should be present, and we aim to fix all remaining GAS-related bugs in upcoming point releases (V1035.X).

Operations menu and campaign mission demo

When you first launch V1035, you might notice the new Operations option on the main menu — right below Training. This option will take you to our new interface for viewing and selecting campaign missions (to be included and expanded in the future) via hotspots around the globe. This is also where you'll find our first campaign mission demo — "Silent Reach" — set on map Depot.

As the video shows, the new interface features a world map for hotspot selection featuring news items, a background briefing for available hotspots, a mission-specific briefing with intel details and images, and of course the mission objectives.

💡 The menu also tracks mission progress for both single player and co-op.

This new demo represents a first pass on campaign missions — it is meant as a "vertical slice" of our projected gameplay experience, featuring AI teammates (admittedly very basic ones at this point) that can receive various types of orders, as well as multiple objectives (including demolitions, scouting/searching and high-value target assassination) and even a simple cutscene at the end (which can be skipped in single player or by the online host).

The mission demo can be played either with 3 AI teammates, or up to 3 Steam friends.
The mission demo normally acts like a session launched from the Host Game menu, and the Invite menu ([Esc[ › top menu) can be used to invite players via Steam.
If a human player enters a round with you, no friendly AI characters will be spawned!
From that point onwards, even if all other players leave, your game will be considered a co-op game for the purpose of "scoring" and no AI teammates will ever spawn.
Single player and co-op have separate completion statistics that are tracked.

Controlling your AI team

Although the friendly AI and its control interface are still rudimentary, your teammates can be ordered to:

Fall In — Orders your team to regroup with and/or follow you. This is their default movement setting.
Hold — Crouch and hold position.
Move & Clear — Move to where you're currently pointing and take out any threats.
Take Cover — Find nearby cover and crouch next to it.
Go Loud — Take out any hostile contacts on sight. This is their default fire discipline setting.
Go Silent — Do not engage unless spotted or shot at. The team will call out any contacts.
Breach — Not functional yet.

💡 To issue orders to your AI teammates, use [Mouse Thumb Button 1[ or [K[. These defaults can be changed in Settings › Controls › Keybinds › Other (at the bottom of the list).[/quote]
New item customization UI
The user interface (UI) for item customization has received a particularly big overhaul.

https://youtu.be/4ZbiXT0Z1Nk

Here's the rundown:

Weapon and attachment categories are now selected via checkboxes, which now also allow filtering Headgear and Top types (more categories can be added to other slots as required!).

Right-clicking the checkboxes allows multiple categories to be selected. If no categories are selected, all items will be displayed.

Scrolling through attachments should be much faster, as sights are now grouped into subcategories (Accessory, Iron Sights, Red Dot and Scopes) and more items are shown simultaneously.

Attachments that have more than one skin are now grouped together, with skins being selected via a drop-down menu — this reduces menu clutter considerably.

Platforms and belts can now also be equipped with pouches of different skins than the parent item, selectable from similar drop-downs.
💡 Magazines and belt boxes can no longer be removed from weapons in the customization screen — only replaced with different options.
Other UI changes

The Tablet has had a small visual update, particularly in the Roster section: callsigns and player names are now both shown simultaneously, and team elements are more cleanly organized.

Spin boxes, where you can drag a slider or manually enter a value, have been updated so that arrows on either side now make sensible adjustments to the number. The slider has also been made less sensitive to small misclicks.

Combo boxes (aka drop-down menus) will now close the menu when clicked a second time, as would be expected, without having to click off of them or selecting an option.

Text chat (default [T[ and [Y[) has received a small visual update for legibility, and will now only allow the character limit (128 characters) to be input. It also has a new little slide-in animation.

Global text chat now includes a visual indicator for when the author of the message is a server admin or game host.

The Roster screen ([Esc[) also now includes indicators for admins or hosts, as applicable.

The Modding menus (mod lists in particular) have had a UI pass and should be a little nicer to use.

A lot of the pre-existing UI has had another design pass, as is customary: icons were added and updated, and various elements were tweaked for better contrast, alignments, legibility, flavor, and consistency across menus.
Gameplay changes
Mag check
Mag checks have been overhauled — the days of re-inserting a magazine that you know is empty are gone.

Hold the Reload key to keep the mag out as long as desired. While holding the Reload key, tap it once for a retention reload or double-tap to dump the old magazine.

High and Low Ready
Changing weapon positions can now be interrupted before the transition is complete. Players can also start firing before the weapon is fully in the Ready position (it only needs to be close enough).

Ladders
Ladders now require an interaction press (default [F[) to exit the ladder, to prevent accidentally presenting yourself as a target at the top (by triggering the climbing animation before you’re ready).

Ladders also have a bigger interaction radius now, so you don't have to be as close before being able to start a climb.

Enemy AI options
Enemy counts can now be randomized “a little” or “a lot” in the quick mission modes (Terrorist Hunt, Defuse and Intel Retrieval) using a new mission setting on the Ops Board. Higher enemy counts will be randomized more than smaller counts, hence the non-numerically specific options. The 50 AI limit won’t be exceeded.

Day vs. night spawns for the enemy AI should also create further gameplay variation depending on the time of day.

Ballistics
Ballistics have received a moderate update: while most of it was under-the-hood, you should notice a bigger difference in bullet drop and travel time between different rounds at medium/long ranges.

Damage was also slightly modified in the process, but should be largely unchanged.

💡 Please note this is not our health and armor update yet!
Water and movement
Water volumes now impact player movement depending on how deep you are in the water.

Object interaction
Interactions with laptops (for Intel Retrieval and Uplink) have been improved, and a “magic hand” animation was added for such interactions.

New inventory items
The following items and skins have been added to GROUND BRANCH:

PRIMARY WEAPONS
New assault rifle: AK-103 Alpha

A modernized AKM with plenty of aftermarket accessory rails.

Ammunition: 7.62×39MM
Feed system: 30-round magazines
Fire modes: Semi / Full
New assault rifle: G36K Custom

A modified G36K carbine with accessory rails and a custom stock.

Ammunition: 5.56 NATO
Feed system: 30-round magazines
Fire modes: Semi / Full
New assault rifle: AUG A3

A modernized version of the classic bullpup assault rifle. The built-in scope is replaced with a "flat-top" accessory rail, and a small offset rail is also present on the right side.

Ammunition: 5.56 NATO
Feed system: 30-round magazines
Fire modes: Semi / Full
New assault rifle: LVAW

An AR-15-pattern carbine with an integrated suppressor firing subsonic .300 BLK rounds, this weapon was designed to take over the MP5SD's role. Its name is an acronym for Low Visibility Assault Weapon.

Ammunition: .300 BLK
Feed system: 30-round magazines
Fire modes: Semi / Full
New assault rifles: AS Val and ASM Val

These are integrally suppressed Soviet assault rifles firing subsonic rounds. In addition to the classic AS, the modernized ASM version (pictured) is available with accessory rails on top of the receiver and around the suppressor.

Ammunition: 9×39MM
Feed system: 10- or 20-round magazines
Fire modes: Semi / Full
New sniper rifle: VSS Vintorez and VSSM Vintorez

These are "sniper rifle" versions of the AS assault rifles (above) fitted with fixed, precision-oriented buttstocks. Similarly, the "M" version (pictured) is modernized with a new stock and accessory rails.

Ammunition: 9×39MM
Feed system: 10- or 20-round magazines
Fire modes: Semi / Full
SECONDARY WEAPONS
New pistol: MK24 CAP
Seen here with the DBAL-PL, suppressor and 12-round magazine

This compact semi-automatic pistol firing .45 ACP rounds from 10- or 12-round magazines has been added to the armory.

ACCESSORIES / EQUIPMENT
New pistol attachment: DBAL-PL
The DBAL-PL provides a combined spotlight and laser beam for pistols, both visible and infrared (IR); in accordance with the design of the real-life device, the laser and light can only be toggled in unison.

New scope: PSO-1M2-1
The PSO-1M2-1 is a version of the PSO-1M2 available only for the AS/VSS series of weapons with a specifically designed reticle.

New red dot sight: OKP-7
The original OKP-7 sight, which is mounted via side dovetail rail, is now available for AK platforms.

New red dot sight: Kobra EKP-8-02
A side-mounted version of the Kobra sight is now also available for AK platforms.

New red dot sight: MRO (Raised)
A version of the MRO with a raised mount is now available.

New IR strobe: MS2000
The MS2000 IR strobe makes a return (a new model for it is also on our list). It is functionally identical to the Manta model. Available in 3 pouch colors: Black, Tan and OD.

New equipment: M4 SLAM
The M4 SLAM explosive charge makes its first appearance in v1035, but for now only as a set-piece in the campaign mission demo (Main Menu › Operations). The charge is automatically carried into the mission, so there's no need to add it to your loadout. Likewise, there is no need to equip a detonator.

To place the charge, find a suitable spot on either mission target — indicated by a glowing red mesh — and follow the prompts.

💡 If you choose manual detonation, make sure to trigger the explosion from a safe distance or spot!
💡 The M4 SLAM may eventually be made available as a motion-detecting vehicle mine or manually-detonated explosive.
New equipment: Chemlight

Chemlights are now available. They're useful for marking positions and providing limited illumination.

To drop a chemlight on the ground, select it from Equipment (default [4[) and press Fire/Throw (default [Left Mouse Button[).

💡 Your character will automatically spawn with 10 chemlights — there's no need to add them to your loadout.
💡 Chemlights will match the color of your current team element (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie or Delta).
CLOTHING / GEAR
New top: Softshell Jacket and Softshell Jacket (Hood)

The Softshell Jacket can now be selected for your Top slot. It comes in two versions — one regular and one with the hood exposed — and 4 different skins: Gray, OCP, AOR-1 and AOR-2.

Based on the second generation (aka Block I) of the “Level 5” softshell jacket that is part of the seven-layer Protective Combat Uniform (PCU) system, this item is a breathable, stretchable, water-repellant and windproof garment.

New masks: Balaclava A/B/C/D

The regular Balaclava (eyes exposed only) was remade and renamed Balaclava A.

We've also added variants Balaclava B (eyes and nose exposed) and Balaclava C (eyes, nose and mouth exposed), which are essentially different ways of wearing the same balaclava, as well as a separate "three-hole" model called Balaclava D.

💡 Balaclavas will hide your Facial Hair selection even if the mouth area is exposed. This will be addressed in a later update.
New pouches: 12x 12ga 00 Buck and 7.62 NATO (FMJ)
Pouches for loose cartridges — currently shotgun shells (12-gauge 00 buckshot) and M24 sniper rifle rounds (7.62 NATO) — can now be manually placed on your platform and belt.

This essentially fixes an issue in V1034 and earlier where ammo for these weapons could only be carried with the modular "Primary Ammo" pouch.

SKINS

Various attachments have received a new FDE skin.

Vertical Grip B has a new Olive Drab skin (in addition to FDE).

The T-Shirt has a new GROUND BRANCH logo skin.

AOR-2 was added for Helmet (HC/Cover) and Helmet (AF/Cover).
New AOR-2 helmet skin and individual pouch skins

Enemy AI and assets
Hostile AI (and in relevant respects, also friendly AI) have had a number of tune-ups and other improvements and changes:

New AI behaviors and systems

AI may now throw frag grenades at players in some cases.

AI that feel under pressure may throw a smoke grenade to cover a retreat.

AI will now see and investigate flashlight beams and laser pointers (WIP).

AI can be blinded temporarily by flashlights pointed at their faces at close range (WIP).

AI have new idle animations, which can be explicitly selected for idle AI by a mission designer if desired. It is intended to expand the range of idle animations over time.

AI movement overall has had various tweaks and changes.

A widespread AI rout/flee will be initiated by certain game events, like covering fire from a helicopter during the campaign mission exfil sequence.

The AI patrol route system has had an overhaul, so patrolling AI should be more unpredictable and cover their routes more thoroughly.

Enemy AI spawn points now have optional day and night states, so some missions will have different distributions of enemy AI depending on the time of day.

A number of single player missions (including Compound, Depot and others) have been updated to incorporate these new day and night spawns. In Compound, for example, you are much less likely to see enemy AI patrolling fields during the night, and more likely to see idle enemy AI in houses. (There is a new “Sleep AI” state available, but it is not currently implemented. In the future, we envisage having AI sleeping in beds. At least until you start making some noise…)

The HVT (high-value target) in the mission demo is the first of a series of new AI archetypes — a type of AI with its own set of rules — which will populate missions for more variety and specialized behaviors from V1036 onwards.
New AI visuals and audio

Some existing factions (e.g. Russian PMC) have been adjusted and expanded with more kit variety, and whole new factions have been added, including Western PMC, Insurgent and Cartel. Some original factions (such as Riot) have been retained and tweaked for now, but may in due course be retired or replaced.

Idle animations were added to enemy AI, confering a generally more natural feel before bullets start flying.

New enemy faction voice lines have been brought into the game. Currently we have a whole new set of lines for the new Cartel faction, and a new set of lines for the Russian PMC faction. These are in Mexican Spanish and in Russian, respectively, adding a little more authenticity and flavor to the game. (Other factions will receive their new voice lines in V1036.)
New and updated maps
V1035 features one entirely new map, one full map remake and a couple of significant map updates.

Ranch

Ranch makes its debut in V1035. The map is situated near the US border in Mexico, and is home to a notorious cartel leader.

The expansive estate includes a garage, stables and various other outbuildings, in addition to a sprawling house complex. It is a fairly large and open map, so move carefully!

💡 A whole new set of quick missions has been created for Ranch. PvP missions covering the whole map are tailored more towards full server loads (8v8). The map is a good fit for DTAS, since spawns should be relatively random, and most areas are well-covered from most other areas of the map.
Power Station

Power Station was remade from the ground up for V1035. Though the overall layout is fairly similar, it has been expanded considerably and offers more complexity.

The map is now set in the Libyan desert, with a ferocious civil war taking place in the distance. There are new outbuildings, lots more cover around the place, and a whole new cafeteria complex to explore and get sniped from.

💡 Power Station quick missions have been entirely redone for the updated map. Some new variants have been created.
Depot

Depot has had some changes in lots of places to make it fit in better with the narrative and gameplay of the new campaign mission, and also just to look nicer. You will now find military and camping equipment in various parts of the map — with a focus on the village and compound areas.

Small Town

Small Town has had a little face lift to add a little more character and variety to buildings. Foliage was also updated to offer a little less coverage and look more properly scaled.

It should otherwise play similarly, with the exception of a few new points of cover and concealment.

Art and visual updates
V1035 features a number of updates to art and visuals, from individual models to environments.

Updates to lighting, fog and other map-related changes

An art and optimization pass was done in several maps. Here are the main changes:

The “time span” system has had an update, whereby dawn and dusk extend much longer into the day, providing more satisfactory transitions into and out of night.

Fog in-scattering color and other properties have been added to the palette of environmental customizations for our level designers to use, leading to more characterful lighting. Depot, for example, has had a big lighting tweak.

Lots of assets and foliage have been updated with new models and materials.

New use of HLOD (hierarchical level of detail) optimizations in various maps to improve graphical performance.

Grass blades have been upgraded with more natural wind movement on Depot, Storage Facility, Ranch, Small Town and The Farm.
Updated inventory assets
A number of inventory items have been updated with new models, textures and/or art fixes.

Field Jacket — This new model replaces the old ACU Coat and its very unpopular popped collar with a more conventional style and upgraded texturing. It is available in all the same skins and styles as the previous model, with the addition of tucked-in variants.

AN/PVS-31A — The old dual-tube night vision goggles have been replaced with the more appropriate AN/PVS-31A. Functionality and versions (GP for green phosphor and WP for white phosphor) remain unchanged.

M110 and M110K1 — Both sniper rifles have received entirely new models and textures.

MK25 — This pistol has received a brand-new model and fresh high-res textures by Cody Cudmore (aka ParallaxGameStudios).

MK17 CQC and MK17 DMR — Another Cody creation, both rifles were upgraded with improved and higher-res texturing. Various shading issues and incorrect materials for the FDE magazine were fixed, and the DMR variant has also received a new aftermarket buttstock for variety.

UMP45 — New model and textures.

MPX SBR — New model and textures.

MP7A1 — New model and textures.

1P78 Kashtan — New model and textures.

OKP-7 (Rail) — New model and textures. We've added (Rail) to the name suffix to differentiate it from the new (AK-only) side-mounted OKP-7.

Kobra EKP-18-1 — New model and textures. See Inventory additions for new Kobra sight (EKP-8-02).

MRO — New model and textures.

Tac Light (X300) — New model and textures. Now also available in FDE skin.
Tech and VFX
The various new items of kit mentioned above have all had relevant particle effects created and implemented. In other developments:

The NVG system has had another tweak, and now IR lasers are finally visible through the AN/PVS-22 UNS night vision scope. IR illuminators are a work in progress — unfortunately they cannot be realized with the same method.

There are new effects for underwater grenade explosions and smoke.

The new campaign mission demo cutscenes also feature a variety of new special effects — no spoilers!

The Power Station remake includes a lot of new VFX assets for the distance effects.
Animations
Various animations have been updated and some new ones have been hooked up. Main changes include updated animations for the MP7A1, MP5 series, G3A3, UMP45, M110 / M110K1, PMM and AR-15-pattern rifles (M16A4, M4A1, MK18, HK416D and variants).

All new weapons and items (listed earlier) have of course also received new animations.
Miscellaneous animation updates

New mo-cap and other animations done — and some existing animations cleaned up — for enemy AI.

Mag-check-into-reload animations for all magazine-fed weapons.

Completed and/or polished ragdoll death animations for stand, crouch and prone positions.

Added missing shotgun animations.
Audio
The more significant changes in audio — not listed elsewhere — include:

Ranch has had a lot of work put in to set up environmental sound effects. This level of attention to detail will be rolled out across other maps in due course.

Depot has had an environmental sound overhaul, and new sound effects for the new cutscenes.

Walk footsteps should now be properly audible — previously the clothing rustle was the only sound playing.

Attenuation changes on all surface types for walk/run/sprint footsteps. This should make other enemies footsteps more present in the mix and fade out naturally instead of cutting off.

First person player footsteps have been lowered in the mix.
💡 There has been some backend work on the audio — for instance, to upgrade to a version of the Wwise middleware that no longer requires the manual pre-loading of sound banks.
Modding
The GROUND BRANCH Mod Kit has been updated for V1035 and is now in the hands of modders for testing, but there are some remaining issues that will need to be fixed in a point release.

In particular, things like custom magazines and custom ammo may not be fully functional at this point, but otherwise mods from V1034 should be good to go to be recreated in the new Mod Kit.

There are some new details that need to be handled to update mods and we do not have the documentation ready just yet, but we'll be working on that shortly.

Some more modding and Mission Editor information for the enthusiasts:

There are no new modding types planned per se for V1035, as we will need to focus on getting the existing systems back up and running as they should. However, some groundwork has been laid in V1035 for more flexible systems for modding weapons and kit, and so on.

It is not intended that campaign missions will be moddable — not just yet, anyway. However, you can explore some of the new tools in the Mission Editor for campaigns. Click the Campaign tab at the top-right after starting the editor to view. The new mission objective system is relatively open-ended, and new objective types can be added using a single Lua script (and any in-game assets that may be needed).

New controls have been added to the server mod list menu to facilitate bulk operations such as adding all active local mods to the server list, and clearing a whole list. A new gameplay setting (in Modding) allows the local mod list to be used automatically as the server mod list in a listen server (the Host Game option).

The selection of AI loadouts and mission meshes have been overhauled with quicker picker dialogs. The range of mission meshes has been increased.

Modding menus have had a quality-of-life pass. There is, for example, a new gameplay setting to use local mod lists for listen servers, instead of having to make a separate server list (although that process is also streamlined).
Known issues
These are issues we were not able to fix yet, but that we considered not worth holding off the release for. They will hopefully be fixed in a point release relatively soon:

DX12 and DLSS + overlays may cause a crash-to-desktop (CTD) during gameplay (this is on NVIDIA 40-series graphics cards — use DX11 if experiencing multiple crashes).

Prone movement is currently limited to the "walk" crawl speed; fast crawling (default hold [Shift[) is currently not working.

The friendly AI and its control system are not fully iterated: AI teammates are known to not always react appropriately to their surroundings, get in the way of players, bunch up and so on.

Characters may be sent flying when killed, seemingly at random.

Dead characters may also replicate impact animations when living characters are hit.

The enemy AI's detection of player lasers is a work-in-progress (WIP) and may have some rough edges.

Modded listen servers should now be joinable in-game without any issues (fixes big V1034 bug), but it may not work yet when joining from outside the game (aka a "cold start").

Dynamic Take and Secure (DTAS) isn't fully functional in that the flag model does not spawn in the flag carrier's hand and can't be manually placed; it should be fully functional otherwise.

Clicking the gear icon ⚙️ to customize a different item than your currently equipped one may apply the former item's textures onto the new item.

Chemlights do not yet have the correct colors in PvP modes — the desired effect is blue and red (depending on the team).

Music will stop when the player enters the Admin Panel.

Multiplayer bots are currently broken.

Hostage Rescue is not available as it is still in the process of being converted to the new Gameplay Ability System (GAS).

Weapon mods and other asset mods made with the V1034 Mod Kit will likely not work until they can be updated with the V1035 Mod Kit. Missions, game modes and other non-asset mods may also need updating for V1035. In the future we might filter by build version, but in the meantime you can search for "V1035" tags in the Steam Workshop, or "1035" in the mod title/text.

The hammer of some pistols have an incorrect rotation applied, which may cause clipping with the body.
This has been Build Update #054!
Thank you for reading the release notes for V1035. And if you participated in the Community Test, have an extra "thank you" for your help getting this release out!

We hope you enjoy this release, and stay tuned for our point releases to wrap it all up nicely.

May 5

Helping us test V1035? Make sure to grab today's Community Test build!

GROUND BRANCH - Scopey

We have just pushed live our third Community Test (CT) build for GROUND BRANCH V1035!

It's difficult to identify an overall theme for this update other than, basically, "we fixed a whole lot more stuff". We've closed the gap considerably towards a V1035 release, and are starting to accept that one or two more things will be better dealt with in a point release — so we are getting pretty dang close to V1035.0.

V1035 Mod Kit now available

A public test version of the V1035 Mod Kit is now also available. It simply replaces the existing V1034 one, and should update automatically for you. At this stage, weapons themselves seem to work fine in V1035, but ancillary things like custom magazines, sights, attachments, pouches and so on will need a little more love — likely in a point release. For now, weapons can be made usable by switching them temporarily to use stock ammo and magazines etc. Documentation will follow, but for now you should be able to figure out quite a bit from the example mods and tooltips on gameplay tags and such.

💡 For those unfamiliar, the GROUND BRANCH Mod Kit can be downloaded at the Epic Games Store here, and documentation is available in the Wiki.

Contents

How to join the V1035 Commmunity Test

If you'd like to join the Community Test, follow these steps:

From your Steam Library, right-click GROUND BRANCH and select "Properties…"
Click Betas on the left-hand menu
Enter code GB1035LimeGreen into the text box and click "Check Code"

💡 Steam should begin downloading the latest build in the communitytest beta branch. (If it doesn't start automatically, manually select it from the drop-down menu.)

💡 If you wish to return to the regular branch of the game, simply select "None" from the drop-down menu in the top-right. It's a pretty big download, so keep in mind that switching back and forth between the Community Test and regular branches can be time-consuming — especially on slower connections.

Dedicated servers

For installing V1035 CT on dedicated servers, the login details are as follows:

-beta communitytest-ds -betapassword CommunityTestDS1035

If you stick those into your server install scripts, or ask your server provider nicely to do so for you, you should be able to get your V1035 CT dedicated server up and running. If you have any problem setting up a server, please do make yourself known in the #server-support channel in our official Discord server. We would also like to send a word of thanks to our server partners and other server providers for their prompt assistance in getting these servers running.

Reporting bugs

Please do continue to send all crash reports when you get a crash, and to use the in-game bug reporter where possible — press [Esc] while in-game, click the "Report Bug" button in the top menu, and follow the instructions. This is the best way for us to figure out those pesky bugs and to get them fixed.

For more general feedback and overall vibes, you can talk to us on our Discord server, or the Steam forums.

General notes

Patch notes for new CT updates will be posted directly on Steam, so stay tuned — we may release new builds fairly regularly.

You will not be able to play online with people using a different branch of the game (though most active players do tend to migrate to the CT branch).

Weapon mods will not work until they are updated with the V1035 Mod Kit, which is now available. Patch and mission mods should still work, but custom missions might need a review.

The Depot mission demo (Main Menu › Operations) and its friendly AI are meant as a "tech demo" or "vertical slice" of the core gameplay and not necessarily representative of final quality. Friendly AI are planned to become available in more game modes in the future.

Rubberbanding is unfortunately still (for now) a common issue on dedicated servers (DS), though we'll keep working to solve this. We recommend server owners to restart their servers periodically (every 3–4 hours) to mitigate this issue. Listen servers are currently the more stable option.

Hostage Rescue is not available as it is still in the process of being converted to the new Gameplay Ability System (GAS).

Bugs are very much expected, and this is the whole point of this test after all. A list of known bugs is provided below.

🪲 To report a bug, press [Esc] while in-game, click the "Report Bug" button in the top menu, and follow the instructions.

Known issues

These are issues we're aware of, so please keep them in mind and avoid reporting them:

DX12 and DLSS + overlays may cause a crash-to-desktop (CTD) during gameplay (this is on NVIDIA 40-series graphics cards — use DX11 if experiencing multiple crashes).
Prone movement is currently limited to the "walk" crawl speed; fast crawling (default hold [Shift]) is currently not working.
The friendly AI and its control system are not fully iterated: AI teammates are known to not always react appropriately to their surroundings, get in the way of players, bunch up and so on.
Characters may be sent flying when killed, seemingly at random.
Dead characters may also replicate impact animations when living characters are hit.
Enemy AI flashlight/laser detection is a work-in-progress (WIP) and may have some rough edges.
Modded listen servers should now be joinable in-game without any issues (fixes big V1034 bug), but it does not seem to work yet when joining from outside the game (aka a "cold start").
Chemlights do not yet have the correct colors in PvP modes.
Dynamic Take and Secure (DTAS) isn't fully functional in that the flag model does not spawn in the flag carrier's hand and can't be manually placed; it should be fully functional otherwise.
Multiplayer bots are currently broken. They will likely return in a point release.
Music will stop when the player enters the Admin Panel.
As mentioned earlier: Hostage Rescue is not available as it is still in the process of being converted to the new Gameplay Ability System (GAS).
As also mentioned: weapon mods will not work until they can be updated with the V1035 Mod Kit.

Patch notes

Gameplay, mechanics and code

Fixed weapons needing an initial reload on round start
Updated Tablet to raise up if momentary aim setting is in use and right mouse button (or equivalent) is held down when equipped
Lots of work under the hood on footstep handling, including:
- Added support for shallow and deep water footsteps
- AI now hear their own footsteps
Tracer bullets rejigged internally; shouldn’t be any visible change
Rejigged trace algorithm for Rangefinder — measuring should now be fixed
Updated weapon position-related abilities to improve feel and responsiveness:
- Shooting is blocked and cancelled at start of ability / end of aiming to prevent shooting at full High or Low Ready
- Now possible to cancel out of a position transition to go to another position or get ready to fire
- Now possible to fire as soon as we are close enough to the Ready position
M4 SLAM charge should now equip a detonator if none is present
Crashing on exit should now be fixed
Fixed players and AI sometimes failing to engage with ladder after repeated uses
Updated 7.62 NATO FMJ round to have a model, so it can spawn a dropped item
Ejected brass produces impact sounds again when hitting surfaces
Fixed inventory disappearing shortly after becoming spectator

Maps

Ranch — Turned double doors in the main house to static meshes and kept them permanently open; fixed bugs
Power Station — Deleted rogue wall mesh; fixed some ugly DFAO (Distance Field Ambient Occlusion) issues

Inventory and art assets

Increased texture resolution for MK24 CAP, MK25 and both MK17 variants (CQC and DMR)
Replaced MK17 DMR buttstock with aftermarket model — just for a little more variety
Partial clean up for MK17 shading issues (full fix in the next build, hopefully!)
Fixed PKM belt pouch not dropping properly
Fixed M4A1 Block II and MK17 DMR not allowing AN/PEQ-15 on mid-top rail
Fixed missing dump pouches
Added AOR-2 skin for Helmet (HC/Cover) and Helmet (AF/Cover): chinstraps have different colors/tones as a result, and bungee cord hooks are no longer copper-colored but black; also fixed screws having camo (for camo skins) in the process
Pouches for loose ammo (e.g. shotgun shells and M24 sniper rifle rounds) can now be manually selected when customizing your vest platform or belt (WIP — needs proper icons)
Internal changes to Customize Operator screen to make it more mod-compliant
Deleted thread socket on AUG skeleton (it persists as a mesh socket on the proper gun)
Added selfie cam sockets to weapons that did not have one

Animation

General animation fixes
Added fire selector animations for the AS/VSS family
Hooked up new pickup animations
Fixed drop animations
Improvements to handling of prone animations and transitions — turning in place while prone is now (again) blocked by reloading, switching items and other transitions
Fixed weapons firing montage, now set by caliber — should fix missing recoil animations

Audio

Adjusted playback settings to help prevent audio not playing correctly
Adjusted tail volumes
Added missing lines for BLUFOR (friendly AI) voice lines
Updated the attenuation and volumes for all footsteps: running, walking and sprinting
Modified the EQ for the big explosion sound in final Depot cutscene
Sounds added for placing M4 SLAM charge
Added sounds for anti-air vehicles being on fire
Reverb changes; attenuation changes; voiceline changes
Adjusted mix for experimental mix settings
Adjusted SAV reverb fade rate on Depot
Changes to Experimental mix (Settings › Audio › Audio Mix) to work towards an official final mix
Updated game mode explosion sound to a more appropriate sound
Fixed missing explosion sound for the campaign mission demo
Fixed up missing audio on the charge handle animations for the AUG A3, G36K and UMP45
Added missing dry fire sound call to GCN_Firearm_Shoot_Dry/DryLast

Fixed AI getting stuck (still) at the middle of a grenade throw
Friendly AI will now crouch when ordered to Hold
Moonlight is now specifically de-emphasized in light level perception, so night is more consistently night-ish in terms of AI not seeing you easily
Tweaked navblock on Buk AA gun to try avoid AI getting stuck on it
Set visibility collision on some foliage meshes to use base LOD for more accurate AI traces
Foliage modifier for AI now used correctly (AI should react better to foliage cover)
Fixed a bug where AI could detect IR (infrared) lights, such as those from the AN/PEQ-15's or DBAL-PL's IR illuminators
Changed how lightscale is mapped to AI visibility, to make AI perception more consistent and "fair"
Fixed an issue with AI firing at perceived actor when being perceived through sound only (a line of sight check was added)

Graphics/VFX

Time of day VFX (currently only on Power Station) fixed up and tweaked — distant fire has returned to the edges of the map
Fixed issues with ribbon emitter for the rocket launch trails
Tweaks to LOD bias (texture quality) for various weapons and attachments

UseDetonatorToBlow message now decodes correctly when placing M4 SLAM charges (might break some game messages in mods or other game modes)
Updated drop-down menus to scroll selected index into view
Fixed inconsistent padding in Report Bug button
Added progress bar to M4 SLAM charge placement
Prompt when placing M4 SLAM charge resets to "Place Charge" when planting is interrupted
Fixed issue in Customize Operator lists where other things respond to the mouse wheel input when you reach the top or bottom of a nested list

Modding

Added feature where details of unlisted mods are hidden from view in Server Browser, and the Mod Sync button in the server menu ignores unlisted mods
MK23 and VSS Vintorez example mods fixed up some more for V1035
V1035 Mod Kit made live for public testing prior to V1035 release
Now looking up gamemessage_ tokens in game mode .csv files using forced lower case (modded game modes may need .csv files updated to remove any capital letters from gamemessage_ lookups)
Mission Editor: fixed incorrect mission mesh lookup for container (open) and props list is now sorted alphabetically (as well as walls list)
Mod Kit subsystem rejigged internally to work better with new asset systems
Created empty bullet casing particle system in GBCore/Effects folder (for modded bullet types)

Thank you for helping us test V1035!

Thank you again to everyone participating in this test! You are helping us get V1035 into your hands just that bit quicker, and just that bit better. Remember:

You can report bugs by pressing [Esc] while in-game and clicking the Report Bug button in the top menu. Be as descriptive as you can!
Please do submit any crash reports you get while playing the community test build (or indeed the main build). These reports are forwarded to us directly and provide additional information on crashes to help us zero in on issues. Reporting issues multiple times is also fine, as this gives us an idea of the biggest problems to solve.
Although we have a #bug-report channel in our Discord, it is most efficient for us if you can use the in-game bug reporter mentioned above — not least because this helps us jump right to the spot where the bug happened (if it is in a particular place in a map, for example).
General feedback (i.e. for things that aren't necessarily bugs) is best shared in {LINK REMOVED}our Discord and the Steam forums, but please feel free to send it our way however you can.

Apr 24

New V1035 Community Test build now available!

GROUND BRANCH - Scopey

A new Community Test (CT) build has just gone live! Whether you're among those who are already helping us test or are interested in joining in, read on or use the shortcuts below to learn more.

Contents

How to join the V1035 Commmunity Test

If you'd like to join the Community Test, follow these steps:

From your Steam Library, right-click GROUND BRANCH and select "Properties…"
Click Betas on the left-hand menu
Enter code GB1035LimeGreen into the text box and click "Check Code"

💡 Steam should begin downloading the latest build in the communitytest beta branch. (If it doesn't start automatically, manually select it from the drop-down menu.)

💡 If you wish to return to the regular branch of the game, simply select "None" from the drop-down menu in the top-right. It's a pretty big download, so keep in mind that switching back and forth between the Community Test and regular branches can be time-consuming — especially on slower connections.

Overall, we have been working hard to squish the biggest bugs in the first build that we unveiled last week. We have made improvements to picking up, dropping and using all manner of things. The team radios should now be usable without killing your audio, so PvP modes will be a little easier to test now. A whole host of inventory items and weapon attachments have had tweaks to skins, collisions, and more. Besides that, there are a myriad of little bug fixes.

Dedicated servers

What we failed to originally mention in our last announcement were the details for installing V1035 CT on dedicated servers. The login details are as follows:

-beta communitytest-ds -password CommunityTestDS1035

Reporting bugs

General notes

Patch notes for new CT updates will be posted directly on Steam, so stay tuned — we may release new builds fairly regularly.

You will not be able to play online with people using a different branch of the game (though most active players do tend to jump on the CT branch).

Weapon mods will not work until they can be updated with the V1035 Mod Kit, which will be available as soon as possible. Patch and mission mods should still work, but custom missions might need a review.

The Depot mission demo (Main Menu › Operations) and its friendly AI are meant as a "tech demo" or "vertical slice" of the core gameplay and not necessarily representative of final quality. Friendly AI are planned to become available in more game modes in the future.

Rubberbanding is unfortunately still (for now) a common issue on dedicated servers (DS), though we'll keep working to solve this. We recommend server owners to restart their servers periodically (every 3–4 hours) to mitigate this issue. Listen servers are currently the more stable option.

Hostage Rescue is not available as it is still in the process of being converted to the new Gameplay Ability System (GAS).

Bugs are very much expected, and this is the whole point of this test after all. A list of known bugs is provided below.

🪲 To report a bug, press [Esc] while in-game, click the "Report Bug" button in the top menu, and follow the instructions.

Known issues

These are issues we're aware of, so please keep them in mind and avoid reporting them:

[NEW] The first magazine for some weapons may fail to store in dump pouch on a retention reload.
DX12 and DLSS + overlays may cause a crash-to-desktop (CTD) during gameplay (this is on NVIDIA 40-series graphics cards — use DX11 if experiencing multiple crashes).
Prone movement is currently limited to the "walk" crawl speed; fast crawling (default hold [Shift]) is currently not working.
The Rangefinder's measuring function may not work as expected.
The friendly AI and its control system are not fully iterated: AI teammates are known to not always react appropriately to their surroundings, get in the way of players, bunch up and so on.
Characters may be sent flying when killed, seemingly at random. We could not figure out why yet, so let us know if you find a pattern!
Dead characters may also replicate impact animations when living characters are hit.
Enemy AI flashlight/laser detection is a work-in-progress (WIP) and may have some rough edges.
You cannot currently save full kits — the function of saving kits is not hooked up yet.
The mission demo does not allow you to use a detonator with the M4 SLAM charge without a Breaching Charge equipped.
Modded listen servers should now be joinable in-game without any issues (fixes big V1034 bug), but it does not seem to work yet when joining from outside the game (aka a "cold start").
Chemlights do not yet have the correct colors in PvP modes.
Dynamic Take and Secure (DTAS) isn't fully functional in that the flag model does not spawn in the flag carrier's hand and can't be manually placed; it should be fully functional otherwise.
Multiplayer bots are probably broken and will likely remain so while we switch focus to actual friendly AI.
Music will stop when the player enters the Admin Panel.
As mentioned earlier: Hostage Rescue is not available as it is still in the process of being converted to the new Gameplay Ability System (GAS).
As also mentioned: weapon mods will not work until they can be updated with the V1035 Mod Kit, which is not yet deployed. We hope to get this out shortly before the proper V1035 release.

Patch notes

Gameplay/mechanics

Fixed being unable to drop items
Fixed bugs relating to picking up items, including firearm being picked up when trying to pick up magazine
Fixed dead bodies not working properly
Fixed weapons hanging around (literally) when players or AI die
Fixed players occasionally getting stuck while prone
Bug-fixing relating to ladders (and their use by both players and AI)
Fixed Wristwatch showing incorrect bearing on maps with an east–west minimap orientation (including Ranch)
Fixed not being able to move when becoming a spectator outside of Ready Room (e.g. in Deathmatch)
Creating AI in game modes once again applies the specified controller tag to the AI controller (and also the character)
Improved handling of switching to Detonator
Fix for missing teammate blips in in-game map (on Tablet)
Large number of rapidly dropped inventory items prevented from overwhelming the system (by telling those marked for death to die faster if there are too many)
Increased projectile damage for 7.62 NATO rounds:
- Torso hits should again kill in one shot in most occasions
- Hits to limbs and extremities should kill in 1–3 shots (1 or 2 shots being most common)
Updated internal handling for Laptop and Big Bomb to fix preventing players from locking up while using them, among other things
Fix for Tablet causing player hands to disappear online as well as occasionally not equipping when expected

Added several navblockers to Depot, based on locations where AI got stuck
Updated behavior tree nodes for flashbang, smoke and frag grenade throw to use new GameplayTag for switching (so AI grenades work again) and generally to fix issues with AI freezing when throwing grenades and such
Improvements relating to AI interactions with ladders
Fixed friendly AI respawning at boats after death in campaign mission

Inventory

Under-the-hood changes and bug fixes relating to item skins
Fixed headgear items duplicating when editing another headgear item while wearing a different one
Reimported VSS and VSSM Vintorez rifles to fix bad normal maps
Tweaked patch slot positioning on NVG Head Mount to fix "embedded" look
Fixed LVAW mag check reload
PMM eject mag notifies moved a little to better represent the animation
Rail attachments and rail attachment rules updated to stop sight stacking shenanigans
Updated collisions on a ton of attachments to reduce unnecessary collision warnings when fitting attachments to weapons
Updated AUG A3 to split up the top rail into sight and non-sight segments to allow mounting accessories in front of an optic
Updated MK14 EBR, SDASS shotgun, MK17 CQC and MK17 DMR to ensure rails supported their specific rail attachments
Added .45 ACP to magazine for default build for M1911A1
Tweaked magwell component in MK25 for more accurate magazine fit
Improved rail slot placement, angle and count for AUG A3, MK17 CQC, MK17 DMR and UMP45 to fix inconsistencies and "floating" attachments
Updated Laser Sight to better fit on rails visually
New patches: Portugal (Country Flags) and Microprose (Morale)

Visuals

Fixed several vehicles not using masks correctly in their vehicle glass
Fixed lower hemisphere desaturation happening the wrong way around with skylight override volumes (where the desaturation got smaller, the less skylight there was)
Fixed up tile bullet impact system (changed lifetime and size)
Updated MK25 pistol material for better rendering
Updated textures for MK17 FDE magazine for more accurate representation (it was using the same normal and ORM maps as the black version, which did not account for the partial paint layer)

Levels

City — Tweaked skylight overrides in the bank; dirtied/light-polluted the night sky a little
Ranch — Added blocking volume on top of the auxiliary building roofs; added damaged ranch sign

Audio

Fixed team radio causing audio crashes and loss of all audio
Optimized Wwise middleware by setting up playback limits and priorities for sounds
Improvement to City audio (WIP) — should at least reduce instances of freezing, crashing and breaking
Replaced the jet sound for the campaign mission cinematic

Fixed dialog box OK button being squished; OK button now takes up the entire width again
Reworked Interaction widgets internally so that doors, ladders and item pick-ups use the same system

Animation

Added new "magic hands" animations for left and right hands for various interactions
Fixed animation for bringing Binoculars and Rangefinder to face

Thank you for helping us test V1035!

Thank you again to everyone participating in this test! You are helping us get V1035 into your hands just that bit quicker, and just that bit better. Remember:

You can report bugs by pressing [Esc] while in-game and clicking the Report Bug button in the top menu. Be as descriptive as you can!
Please do submit any crash reports you get while playing the community test build (or indeed the main build). These reports are forwarded to us directly and provide additional information on crashes to help us zero in on issues. Reporting issues multiple times is also fine, as this gives us an idea of the biggest problems to solve.
Although we have a #bug-report channel in our Discord, it is most efficient for us if you can use the in-game bug reporter mentioned above — not least because this helps us jump right to the spot where the bug happened (if it is in a particular place in a map, for example).
General feedback (i.e. for things that aren't necessarily bugs) is best shared in {LINK REMOVED}our Discord and the Steam forums, but please feel free to send it our way however you can.