GROUND BRANCH version 1030

Build ID: 5514975 (client) / 5515031 (dedicated server)
Download size: 5.6 GB (client) / 398 MB (dedicated server)

⚠️ NOTICE ⚠️
This update will completely wipe your saved game settings, but not your item builds – although we strongly recommend manually deleting all folders in …/Documents/GroundBranch.
That is necessary to ensure certain updates and items do not conflict with old files. Sorry for the inconvenience!

It's been a long time since version 1029, and if you haven't been up to date with the CTE version of the game, this update might get overwhelming—but mostly in a good way. The last few months have seen a lot of work in a lot of areas, and more improvements and fixes than we can reliably count.

Feedback from those who ventured into GROUND BRANCH CTE has been very positive and, having finally landed on something that we feel confident to push to the main game, it's finally time to officially release GROUND BRANCH version 1030. If this is your first time with 1030, we hope you like it as much as we all do.

There's months of work to cover and a lot to describe, so let's jump right into it.


As mentioned in the opening notice, all your game settings will be reset when you first launch this update.

It's a good chance to reconsider your custom key bindings and keep the following default controls changes in mind:

• Climbing is now accomplished by holding [Space]. That allows players to cancel the action and avoids accidental climbs.
  
• Zoom In/Out (aka Scope Magnification) is now accomplished via [Alt] + [Mouse Wheel Up/Down].

The Default Controls/Press Any Key to Continue screen has been updated accordingly and received a fresh coat of paint.
If you would like to skip it next time you launch the game, go to Settings > Gameplay and selected "Yes" in the Skip Startup "Press Any Key" Prompting dropdown.

Remember you can change nearly all key bindings under Settings > Controls and Settings > Gameplay.

The last few months have seen the first pass of the UI overhaul, an ongoing process to improve all areas of the user interface in GROUND BRANCH.

Since version 1029, many small elements—from interaction prompts to transition screens—have received minor art updates, while a few others were more significantly changed. Here are the more prominent ones:

The first official iteration of the new Customize Operator screen layout is here, and it is guaranteed to make your Tactical Barbie® experience a lot better.


　Ah… that's better

Although it should be fairly intuitive, some of the features are worth explaining further:

You can now edit items straight from the loadout overview screen by clicking the ⚙️ icon in the bottom-right corner of each item slot. No more looking for your favorite MK18 build in a drop-down menu just to add a suppressor!

Once you're happy creating or editing a build, click SAVE, choose a build name and you're done.

Saving a version of an existing build with the same name will trigger an "Overwrite?" prompt. Accept to overwrite the previous version, or choose a different name to save as a new build.

Your operator customization screen is now split into four main sections that we're calling presets or kits. Although the rationale is similar to what we had before, these sections—kits—can now be saved/loaded individually. They currently are:

Profile
This section is very likely to receive more options in the future, but offers nothing new

• Name – Your player/character name.
  
• Appearance – One of the (currently) four options of heads. Better heads and more choices are on the way!
  
• Facial Hair – Whether or not your operator has a tactical beard.

Weapons Kit
Your selection of firearms – but we're now teasing an upcoming slot.

• Primary – Your primary weapon.
  
• Secondary – Your secondary weapon; previously Sidearm.
  
• [NEW] Special Purpose – Not yet available; this is where things like breaching shotguns and other specialized weapons will go.

Gear Kit
This is where the more functional, load-oriented part of your customization goes.

• Headgear – Your choice of helmet or soft cover.
  
• Platform – Vests, rigs and plate carriers go in here.
  
• [NEW] Belt – A new slot, belts were previously selected under Platform. You can now run both of them and that means a lot more real estate to attach pouches to. Nice.
  
• Holster – This slot is likely going away once we get things more in order. There's currently only one holster option (in three different colors), though you can choose to not carry one at all now.

Outfit
A mostly cosmetic, apparel-focused section:

• Eyewear
  
• Mask (previously Facewear)
  
• Top (previously Shirt)
  
• Pants
  
• Gloves
  
• Footwear

💡 SAVING AND LOADINGTo save a preset/kit, click anywhere along the [Save/Load] area at the top of its column, and select SAVE in the menu. Previously saved kits will be listed for loading in the same menu.

The Loadout summary is the old list of all ammunition, ordnance and equipment you're carrying on your Platform and/or Belt. It is now located below the Weapons Kit.

Now that the Encumbrance System is in place (we'll get into full detail on that later), we need something to convey how much you're carrying.

The Encumbrance meter gives players a rough idea of whether the loadout is “Light”, “Medium” or “Heavy” in terms of encumbrance on a scale of 5 to 55 kg. Each of the three weight categories is currently only a simple abstraction, and there’s no actual upper limit on how much the player can carry.

Most – if not all – non-cosmetic items have a weight value now, So keep an eye on that meter for how much you're carrying (and please let us know if we missed something!).

In-game UI and HUD elements work largely the same as before, but they look nicer. Here are some of the main areas of interest:

The Stance Indicator has been updated with brand new icons. In addition to the character stances, they now also convey the weapon position your character is currently using.

Wondering if you have your rifle at Low Ready, your pistol at Close Ready, or even have anything equipped at all? Turn the Stance Indicator on:

Settings > Gameplay
• Show Stance: Crouched
• Show Stance: Standing

Some notes:

• Leaning is no longer displayed. It is unnecessary at this point and at odds with the much more useful weapon position indicators.
  
• Gameplay settings have yet to be updated to allow the player to control which icons to display (for example, only show icons for when your weapon isn't immediately visible on screen).

The Spectator Mode ([F6]) now features a minimap that tracks the position of friendly players. Additionally, all the little shortcuts are now listed in a bottom bar.

If you press [Middle Mouse Button] while in Spectator Mode, you will see extra options. They include minimap display options such as zoom level controls, showing terrorist positions and player names, and more.

After 2 minutes of complete inactivity, players will receive a prompt. Failure to respond to it will result in them being removed from the mission area and sent back to the Ready Room.

When playing online, you can now select the Mute All, Mute Talking and Unmute All shortcuts at the bottom of the screen.

The entire HUD has received a basic art pass, from the Inventory top bar all the way to text chat formatting. New VOIP icons, adjusted interaction prompts and updated pop-up hints are also part of the package.


　Top: framerate counter and net info; bottom-left: new Radio icon; bottom-center: new door usage interaction prompt; bottom-right: new Stance Indicator

You may now also display your framerate (Settings > Video > Show Framerate) and net info (Settings > Gameplay > Show Net Info) in the top-left corner of the screen. (Note: Show Framerate might cause your resolution to be reset.)

We have gone over all item skins to fix mismatching skin names and make sure they were consistent across items. It's a lot of skins, so there could still be a rogue label or two out there—ring us if you find any.

Little known issue: the abbreviated name for the Snakeskin (Desert) skin for the M4A1 Block II and MK18 Mod 1 carbines displays with a lower case 'd' (desert). It displays correctly internally and we have no idea why.


One of the most eagerly awaited features in the game, the Encumbrance System is finally here. Although it still has a way to go, it is a solid foundation sure to make loadout choices and play style even more important.

The main components of the Encumbrance System are stamina and arm strength:

Your stamina level will drop the more you run, sprint, jump and climb around. The more weight you carry on your character, the greater the impact of your movement on your stamina level. Lower stamina will increase weapon sway when aiming by adding a visible breathing (up and down) pattern to it. When your stamina level drops to zero, you are currently still able to perform all actions—except for jumping.

To recover stamina, simply go a little while without repeatedly performing more draining actions such as running, sprinting, jumping and climbing.

Your arm strength is affected by how long you stay in the Ready (muzzle forward) and Engaged (aiming down sights) positions. Like stamina, the rate by which your arm strength drops is affected by the weight of your weapon build—the heavier it is, the faster your arm strength will drop. Lower arm strength levels will increase aim jitter/shake over time.

To start recovering arm strength, change to a less exerting weapon position such as Low Ready, High Ready or Close Ready (pistols). Putting your weapon away ([1] for Primary and [2] for Secondary) will also recover arm strength.

As seen above, your aiming stability is now adversely affected by your movement, weapon position and loadout/weapon weight.

To momentarily stabilize your aim and counter these negative effects to a considerable extent, you can use the new Steady Aim feature: simply hold your Sprint key (default [Ctrl]) while stationary and your character will exhale and stabilize your aiming (represented by the corner vignette effect) for a few seconds, allowing you to take more accurate shots.

Crouching (default [C]) will further reduce weapon sway.

In addition to the aspects above, you will also notice the following effects taking place:

• Weapon inertia will cause your weapon to "overshoot" a few degrees beyond the point where you stop moving it, and then bounce back to that point. The heavier your overall weapon build, the more pronounced that effect will be.
  
• Movement is no longer as linear or instant. Starting to move takes a little while, and so does stopping; this is particularly noticeable while sprinting, where the momentum will make your character take a few steps before coming to a full stop once you release the movement key. To counter momentum, you may press a movement key in the opposite direction—for example, pressing Move Backwards (default [S]) after sprinting forward).

💡 WORK IN PROGRESS
It's always worth remembering that this is all a work in progress and will get refined over time. Keep hitting us with that feedback.

One of the major reworks since v1029, dynamic lighting was (and remains) a huge hurdle to implement.

Originally only present in Depot, it is now working in every map—including training. Although dynamic lighting was initially a big performance hog, it has gone through numerous optimization passes that have improved framerates for most systems.

It is still generally more demanding than the old static lighting and some maps will invariably run better than others, but the advantages outweigh the performance impact and have allowed us to implement a few neat features:


All artificial lights are now interactive. They can be shot out and switched off via the power switch boxes around the map.


　A power switch box in Small Town

Each power switch box is either linked to a particular building or area. If you cause enough damage to one of these boxes, it will be disabled and shut down the power.


You can now select the precise time of day you want to deploy at in the Ops Board with both hourly and 15-minute increments. In multiplayer, this function is reserved to server admins.

Time is displayed in the 24-hour clock military format.
For example: 4:30 PM is displayed as 1630; midnight is 0000, noon is 1200 and so on.

🌙 GOING TO NIGHT VISION
AI enemies can still see normally in the dark, so play nighttime Terrorist Hunt at your own tacticool masochistic risk.

• Lighting may seem off for some times of the day, namely for around 0400 hours.
  
• Dynamic lighting causes all areas of the map to be uniformly lit, which often causes indoor areas to be excessively bright. To work around that issue, the lighting is dimmed when the player enters such indoor areas. This may cause excessively dark indoors at times, as well as darkened outdoors when looking out windows or doorways.
  
• Another visual glitch is surfaces brightening and darkening as you move along the map. We'll be working on toning these effects down.
  
• Because the sun angle is now dynamic, some light leaks may occur on certain structures and landscape bits that weren't originally made with dynamic lighting in mind. Be sure to report those!

In addition to a lot of cleanup on the existing maps, here's what's new:

Set in a woodland area with plenty of structures—ruins, cabins, shacks—scattered around the perimeter, with the eponymous creek serpentines from one end of the map to the other.


　Creek screenshots by the talented Rangda


　Creek is playable on Terrorist Hunt, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Team Elimination and Last Man Standing


John took the old speedball-like Paintball map and made it cooler.


　Paintball is currently playable only on Team Elimination. Screenshot by Rangda

❌ The Paintball map shows the old version in the preview image.

• Depot Compound is now playable in Terrorist Hunt.
  
• Depot has a makeshift bridge joining the warehouse rooftops together. It's called the Love It or Hate It Bridge.
  
• Among other updates, 747 has a new ladder behind the small hangar that leads to a maintenance rooftop platform.
  
• Power switch boxes have been added to all training maps.
  
• They're also present in Small Town, Power Station and the aforementioned Depot and 747.

Temporal antialiasing (TAA, Temporal AA) now uses new default parameters to create a sharper image that vastly improves on the blurriness of the regular effect, although it may also negate the smoothing where it may be desired.

You can tweak the sharpening parameters via the following lines in your Engine.ini file (located in %LOCALAPPDATA%/GroundBranch/Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor):

We encourage everyone to try different values and let us know how it looks and performs.

New blood effects have been added for an extra layer of immersion: entry/exit wounds, surface splatter and impact mist. It's only a first implementation, but already quite satisfying.


　"Gnarly, bro."

Tac lights use a new, more authentic effect. The brightness output, color temperature and spread is also slightly different between each model and based on real-life values. These will also get updated somewhere down the line.


　We should've labeled these so we'd remember which is which, but as you can see… they're different. For reference, the X300U (top-left) has the widest angle and is one of the brightest lights at 1,000 lumens. Notice the subtle differences in angle, color temperature and brightness

There should be less instances of red dot/holo reticles not being visible against backgrounds. Some sights also have less brightness steps—subject to change.

❌ Reticle brightness changes may not be noticeable on some lighting conditions and sights.

All maps—with the exception of 747 and Power Station—have gone from completely silent spaces to having full ambient sounds for both day and nighttime, Ready Room and training levels included.

❌ City and Tanker Ship are still unfinished, but on their way.

Mikson has also added/updated gunshot sound effects for the M4A1/Block II, M416D/CQB, MK18 Mod 1 (WIP), MK25, G19 Patrol/Urban, M1911A1, AK-74M/MI/MI CQB, AKM, FAL, M110/K1, MK48 Mod 0, SVD, MK14 Mod 2 (WIP), MP5, M9A3 and M17.

Another audio aspect that has received a lot of attention was acoustics. Gunshots and VOIP are now occluded by walls, sound different depending on whether they're fired indoors or outdoors (but will "propagate" through open doors and windows) and will reverb as appropriate.

❌ Occlusion for footsteps and AI voice lines is still messed up; they should hopefully be fixed by the next update.

Mikson has revised a lot of sound effects—mainly gunshots—to ensure better quality and consistency.


Remember when listen servers broke down and resulted in a butt load of negative reviews? That sucked, and also forced us to pull the functionality from the game until a fix was available.

Well, all is good now because listen servers are back—and well-tested.

Here's how to host you own game lobby without the need to setup a dedicated server:

• In the main menu, click Host Game and setup your lobby as you prefer (make sure to set player limit to accommodate all the players you want to host!).
  
• To invite friends into your lobby, press [Shift] + [Tab] to bring up the Steam Community Overlay.
  
• Select a friend from your Friends list and select Invite to Play/Game. If they accept, they will be brought into your lobby.
  
• To change maps or use any admin functionalities, open the console ([~] or NumPad [ * ]), type admin and press [Enter].

💡 WHY CAN'T PEOPLE SEE MY SERVER?
Because they are intended for private sessions among friends, listen servers do not show up in the Server Browser currently. We may add a filter or tab in the future for those who want it displayed publicly.

These semi-auto rifles are variants of the venerable SR-25 rifle from Knight's Armament Co.® (KAC). Serving in either the sniper rifle or DMR (designated marksman rifle) roles, they fire 7.62x51 mm NATO (7.62 NATO) rounds from a 20-round magazine.


　Top: M110K1 with an AccuPower 1–8x scope (and RMR red dot on top), foregrip and AN/PEQ-15 laser aiming module; bottom: M110 with PM II 5–25x scope, bipod, offset iron sights and rail covers

The M110 is fitted with a full quad-rail handguard and a fixed stock, as well as a 20" barrel, and has served in regular US military units as the M110 SASS, or Semi-Automatic Sniper System.

The M110K1 is a shorter and lighter version fitted with a lighter handguard with less rail space, a collapsible Magpul® ACS-L stock, and a shorter 16" barrel. It is known to be used by SOCOM units, most famously the Marines Special Operations Command (MARSOC).

❌ The M110 and M110K1 cannot attach a suppressor… yet.

Likely the most ubiquitous assault rifle in the world, the AKM is the AK-47's mass production-friendly cousin and has been long overdue for inclusion in GROUND BRANCH.


　AKM with 1P78 Kashtan. Screenshot by Rangda



It fires the 7.62x39 mm (7.62 Soviet) round from a 30-round magazine, in either semi- or fully automatic modes. It currently can only fit a sound suppressor, the 1P78 Kashtan scope or the rail adapter for rail-mounted optics.

A FAL with a top accessory rail and full quad-rail handguard, it fires 7.62 NATO rounds from a 20-round magazine and also has selective fire capability: semi-auto and full auto.


　 Operator Frank models the FAL Tactical and looks good doing it too. Screenshot by Rangda



The Rangefinder (Safran Vectronix® Moskito) is a compact day and night observation device.

In-game, it currently works identically to the regular Binoculars, except it has a night vision mode that can be toggled on by pressing [N] while looking through it.



This is a basic, first-pass, WIP implementation.



The entire MP5 series of submachine guns has received shiny new models, with a few notable additions:

• The rear sight diopter is now of the "V-notch" type. Although not entirely authentic, it makes for a better shooting experience with iron sights.
  
• In addition to the built-in flashlight handguard, you can also swap out the regular MP5 handguard for a tri-rail handguard. Both are available under the Accessories attachments tab.

　"Scopey, wouldn't it be better to show the new MP5 in a literally brighter light?"


　"V-notch" rear sight shown here at a low FOV for better detail

The M4A1 has a new model with a 16" barrel, standard M4 stock and the KAC® RAS handguard from the original SOPMOD version.

New model to replace the really old night vision goggles we had. Still need to replace the mount/arm.

A newer and nicer model for the Magpul® 30-round PMAG (previously POLYMAG). We still need to hook it up to the Taran Tactical® Extended Base Pad, however, so the 35-round AR magazine is temporarily unavailable.

Added some quick new skin options, 'cause why not?

• Indigo and Black (Jeans)
  
• Tan (Headset)
  
• Coyote Brown (T-Shirt)

• Color-corrected the skin/texture for a lot of weapons and apparel.
  
• Offset rails should now only accept appropriate sights: backup iron sights and low-mount mini red dots (e.g. RMR, Micro T-1).
  
• Scope rails (for “piggybacking” optics) should similarly only accept low-mount mini red dot sights.
  
• Added new suppressor models for AKs and 9 mm pistols.
  
• The MK18 Mod 1 now uses the more authentic FDE (flat dark earth) handguard color regardless of the skin selection. (Known issue: AN/PEQ-15 units mounted on them no longer switch to the tan version.)
  
• The MK25 pistol now has a threaded barrel.

• Pouches for the Plate Carrier are not switching to their tan skin variation when that would be the best match for the vest.
  
• A similar issue may be experienced with the green Chest Rig.
  
• The Headset attachment is similarly not matching the selected skin of the Watch Cap.
  
• Helmets that use the ARC rail version of the Headset attachment are using the regular version instead.

Animator Mike Munk is still working diligently on new animations for the new character rig, which is now fully setup and awaiting for the switch to v1031. Mike has been working closely with our active-duty SOF consultant to ensure maximum authenticity. Trust us: we cannot wait to see all of that in action either.

Another addition to the team, environment artist and level designer Will Bullen is taking care of a little something we hope to be able to reveal soon, as well as in charge of giving all maps a fresh coat of paint in the future. Will is also assisting as an all-around hard surface artist, and was responsible for finishing the M110/K1 rifles started by Dan Conroy (who has since moved on to a different project).

Like Mike, Mr. Bullen has previously worked with our project lead John Sonedecker on Antimatter Games' Rising Storm 2: Vietnam. He also has several Hell Let Loose levels in his portfolio, which is a definite plus. Welcome aboard, Will!

And if you've made it this far in this very long post, here's a little reward: open up the console in GROUND BRANCH, type travel training_base, hit [Enter] and get a sneak peek on something that Will has been working on.

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We hope you enjoy this update, and we cannot thank you enough for all your support, feedback, loyalty and patience over all of these months. Thanks for sticking with us, and we hope to have more news for you soon.

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{LINK REMOVED}Discord / {LINK REMOVED}Steam Community Hub / {LINK REMOVED}Reddit / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

⚠️ NOTICE ⚠️
This update will completely wipe your saved game settings, but not your item builds or loadouts. That is necessary to ensure certain updates do not conflict with old files. Sorry for the inconvenience!

CTE Update #003 is, we hope, the final testing build for version 1030. There have been plenty of optimization passes and bug fixes, some content and effects updates, UI/HUD improvements and more. Let's go over the highlights:



Dynamic lighting and maps have received several optimization passes to improve framerates on all systems. Remember to let us know how the game performs for you now—along with your system specs!

• Optimization and cleanup pass on all maps.
  
• Creek should now have less instances of hitting invisible barriers and being detected behind cover/concealment.
  
• 747 now has a ladder behind the small hangar leading to a roof platform.
  
• Power switch boxes will now be disabled if damaged, causing the power to be cut off.

• Weapon sway has been updated with a more subtle effect:
  
  • Low arm strength is represented by a jitter that gets more pronounced over time.
    
  • Low stamina will add an up/down breathing motion to the mix.
• You can now use the Steady Aim function by holding the Sprint key (default [Ctrl]) while stationary to temporarily stabilize your weapon.
  
• Most weapon attachments now have a weight value set, which should have some effect on weapon inertia, arm strength depletion and overall stamina.
  
• Most non-apparel character assets (e.g. helmets and armor) and equipment (binoculars, explosives) have also received a weight value.

• Offset rails should now only accept appropriate sights: backup iron sights and low-mount mini red dots (e.g. RMR, Micro T-1).
  
• Scope rails (for "piggybacking" optics) should similarly only accept low-mount mini red dot sights.
  
• The MP5 RIS handguard now accepts the AN/PEQ-15.

• The last few AI enemies—depending on how many were set—will now rush to the player’s position. (Note that they may get stuck on the map!)
  
• You may now display your framerate (Settings > Video > Show Framerate) and net info (Settings > Gameplay > Show Net Info) in the top-left corner of the screen. (Note: Show Framerate might cause your resolution to be reset.)
  
• Time of day is now randomized at map load. (It can still be set in the Ops Board, but won’t be always set to 1200 hours unless changed.)
  
• AFK detection system: After 2 minutes of inactivity, players will get a prompt. Failure to respond to it will result in them being removed from the mission area and sent back to the Ready Room.
  
• When playing online, you can now select the Mute All, Mute Talking and Unmute All shortcuts at the bottom of the screen.
  
• You can now drop (default [J]) and pick up more types of items, such as grenades.

• Ambiences for City (first pass) and Creek.
  
• Improvements in acoustics on City, 747, Creek, Depot and Ready Room.
  
• Improved/new gunshots for M4A1, MK18 (work-in-progress), M416D, AK-74M, AKM, MK48, SVD (work-in-progress), MK14, FAL, MP5, UMP45, G19, MK25, M9A3, M17 and M1911.
  
• Gunshots and placeholder reload sounds for M110 and M110K1.
  
• Breathing sounds for breath control and fatigue (the latter stopped working a while ago—needs fixing).
  
• First pass on the general gunshot mix update (mainly levels).

• The M110 and M110K1 semi-auto rifles have been added to the sniper rifle/DMR class. Variants of the venerable KAC SR-25, they both fire 7.62 mm NATO rounds from a 20-round magazine. (Known issue: They cannot attach a suppressor yet.)
  
• The Rangefinder has been added to the Equipments pouch tab. Proper functionality is yet to be implemented; it currently works just like the regular Binoculars, but has a Night Vision mode accessible via the Reload key (default [R]).
  
• New suppressor for 9 mm pistols.
  
• New AK suppressor (generic placeholder).
  
• New NVG (AN/PVS-15) model. (The accompanying mount/arm has yet to be implemented.)
  
• New PMAG magazine.
  
• New skins:
  
  • Indigo and Black (Jeans)
    
  • Tan (Headset)
    
  • Coyote Brown (T-Shirt)

• Temporal antialiasing (Temporal AA or TAA) now uses new default parameters to create a sharper image that vastly improves on the blurriness of the regular effect, although it may also negate the smoothing where it may be desired. You can tweak these settings via these lines in your Engine.ini file (located in %LOCALAPPDATA%/GroundBranch/Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor). We encourage everyone to try different values and let us know how it looks and performs:

  /Script/Engine.RendererSettings
  r.TemporalAACurrentFrameWeight=0.2
  r.TemporalAASamples=16
  r.TemporalAASharpness=0.75
  r.Tonemapper.Sharpen=1.0

• Blood effects now include impact mist and surface splatter.
  
• Tac lights have a new, more authentic effect. The brightness output and color temperature is also slightly different between each model and based on real-life values.
  
• There should be less instances of red dot/holo reticles not being visible against backgrounds. Some sights also have less brightness steps—subject to change. (Known issue: reticle brightness changes may not be noticeable on some lighting conditions and sights.)
  
• Many assets have received a color and brightness correction:
  
  • Items that were previously grayish, particularly weapons, should now appear darker and closer to their real-life color.
    
  • Skins now more closely resemble their real-life counterparts and should better match other items of the same color.
• The MK18 Mod 1 now uses the more authentic FDE (flat dark earth) handguard color regardless of the skin selection. (Known issue: AN/PEQ-15 units mounted on them no longer switch to the tan version.)
  
• The MK25 pistol now has a threaded barrel.

• Updated Customize Operator screen:
  
  • The Loadout section (under Weapons Kit) gives players a summary of all ammo, ordnance and equipment in the loadout.
    
  • First pass on the Encumbrance meter – Gives players a rough idea of whether the loadout is "Light", "Medium" or "Heavy" in terms of encumbrance on a scale of 5 to 55 kg. Each of the three weight categories is currently only a simple abstraction, and there's no actual upper limit on how much the player can carry.
    
  • Minor art/style pass on various elements.
• Added minimap to Spectator Mode.
  
  • Tracks the position of friendly players in the map.
    
  • Pressing the Right Mouse Button shows additional display options.
• The HUD stance indicator has been updated with new icons that display all weapon positions as well as character stances:
  
  • Leaning is no longer displayed (unnecessary at this point and at odds with the much more useful weapon position indicators).
    
  • Gameplay settings have yet to be updated to allow the player to control which icons to display. (They still only allow the option for Standing and Crouched.)
• Updated VOIP (Local and Radio) icons.
  
• Fixed/updated the display names for all skins to be consistent across items.
  
• Ensured the full display name for item skins (within menu selection) and their short version (visible in the selection swatch triangle) were also consistent.
  
• Updated Default Controls screen layout. (You can also now disable it under Settings > Gameplay.)
  
• Updated pop-up Hints.
  
• Minor art pass on HUD interaction prompts for better readability and a less intrusive appearance.
  
• Minor art pass on Radial Menu for weapon attachments.

• Dynamic lighting on maps is still a work in progress. You are likely to see issues with sudden eye adaptation and exposure changes—among other issues—so please bear with us!
  
• Spectator Mode (shortcut: [F6]) may display no lighting scenario and/or a pitch-black sky.
  
• Pouches for the Plate Carrier are not switching to their tan skin variation when that would be the best match for the vest.
  
• Headsets are similarly not matching the skin of some headgear items.
  
• Helmets that use the ARC rail version of the Headset attachment are using the regular version instead.

• • • • •

{LINK REMOVED}Discord / {LINK REMOVED}Steam Community Hub / {LINK REMOVED}Reddit / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

We got a new update out for GROUND BRANCH CTE.

Not sure what GROUND BRANCH CTE is? Click here.

This is a relatively small update, so we'll simply list the main things to look out for, test and give us feedback on.

• Engine changes to load additional DLLs required by Steam dedicated servers. This should make dedicated servers usable again, but we need broader testing to make sure, so let us know and be sure to hop on our {LINK REMOVED}Discord if you need help setting yours up.
  
• Improved server/client loadout sync logic.
  
• Refactored item skin handling to fix various 1030 issues and prepare for 1031 changes.
  
• Updated pickup logic to handle no-dump-pouch situations better.
  
• First pass on new Spectator Mode overlay.
  
• Optimization pass on maps Tanker Ship, 747 and Creek.
  
• More level design work on Creek.
  
• Lots of lighting bugs fixed on City, 747, Small Town, Power Station and Tanker Ship.
  
• MPX underbarrel attachments fixed.
  
• Added controllable Time of Day to training maps – use the newly placed Ops Boards to change it.
  
• Various UI/HUD element updates, changes and improvements.

• • • • •

{LINK REMOVED}Discord / {LINK REMOVED}Steam Community Hub / {LINK REMOVED}Reddit / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

⚠️  NOTICE ⚠️
These release notes are for the 1030 testing build, not to be confused with the actual (and upcoming) 1030 release.

If you have been looking closely, you may have noticed a new app showing right underneath the regular GROUND BRANCH entry in your Steam Library:



GROUND BRANCH CTE (Community Test Environment) is a separate install for those who want to test updates before the actual, official release.

Test updates may be less stable versions of the game and will generally require further testing and feedback before they go out to a larger audience. They may also contain feature ideas and game modes that may or may not make it into a main update or the final game, so keep that in mind when playing!

If you own GROUND BRANCH, you automatically own the CTE and are free to install it at any moment.

The advantage of having a separate install of the game for testing purposes (instead of using a Beta branch) is that you can always switch between versions without having to re-download. CTE too buggy? Simply close it and launch the regular game. Don't want to worry about possibly unstable/buggy updates? Then save some storage space and keep only the regular game install. Want to compare versions? You can do so much more quickly with separate installs.

Today, we are rolling out our first actual CTE release: a testing build for the upcoming 1030 release. Before we get into what this update entails, a little disclaimer: Because CTE Build Updates will be more common, they will also be more concise and stripped-down than our usual release notes. If you're looking for pretty pictures and prose, stand by for the official 1030 release!



Stamina and weapon control

• Added weapon sway, which is affected by arm strength and overall stamina levels. Currently a basic "V" pattern, weapon sway can be reduced by crouching.
• Sway will increase over time as players remain in the Ready and Engaged (ADS) positions, draining arm strength. Go to Low/High Ready to recover.
• Heavier weapon builds should deplete arm strength faster than lighter ones, and thus cause sway to increase faster.
• Heavier builds also cause increased weapon inertia effect when turning rapidly, making it harder to get it on target.
• Overall stamina is depleted by actions such as running, sprinting, jumping and climbing.
• Currently, low stamina levels will prevent jumping and climbing.

Inertia and acceleration

• Player inertia will cause your character to take a few steps before coming to a full stop after a sprint or run. It can currently be countered by walking in the opposite direction (e.g. pressing default [S] after sprinting forward).
• Added a brief acceleration period before getting into a full sprint.

• First pass on the new Customize Operator screen layout.
• You can now edit items straight from the loadout overview screen by clicking the cog/gear ⚙️ icon in the bottom-right corner of each item slot.
• Preset/kit saving: quickly save or load a Profile (Name + Appearance + Facial Hair), Weapons Kit (Primary + Secondary), Gear Kit (Headgear + Platform + Belt + Holster) and Outfit (Eyewear + Mask + Top + Pants + Gloves + Footwear) as individual groups of items. Weapon and gear builds can still be saved individually.

You should now be able to host you own game lobby without the need to setup a dedicated server. To do that:

1. In the main menu, click Host Game and setup your lobby as you prefer (make sure to set player limit to accommodate all the players you want to host!).
2. To invite friends into your lobby, press [Shift] + [Tab] to bring up the Steam Community Overlay.
3. Select a friend from your Friends list and select "Invite to Play/Game". If they accept, they will be brought into your lobby.
4. To change maps or use any admin functionalities, open the Console (default [~] or
5. in the NumPad), type <code>admin</code> and press [Enter].

This is the area you are most likely to see an impact on performance. We'll be optimizing levels as we have a larger pool of users to collect feedback from, so please be patient and let us know how things are running on your specs!

• All maps now use dynamic lighting.
• New WIP map: Creek.
  • PvP-oriented map, but has a basic Terrorist Hunt setup available too.
• Updated Paintball map.
• Small Town has new and more detailed walls.
• Interactive lights:
  
  • Can now be shot out.
  • Power panels outside of buildings allow the power to be cut out (currently in Small Town and Depot only!).
  • Remember: AI can still see in the dark!
• New Ready Room:
  • Smaller and cozier.
  • Shooting range now has a workbench for easier setup testing and editing.
  • Shooting range also has a dark lane (left side) to test night vision and lights setups.
• Time of Day (TOD) setup: select the time of day for Terrorist Hunt and PvP game modes.
  • Select a TOD from the Ops Board (where you select an insertion point).
  • TOD uses the 24-hour military time format: 0000 is midnight, 1200 is noon, 1600 is 4pm etc.

• Several maps now have a soundscape/environment sound. Nighttime soundscapes have not been hooked up to the TOD system yet, so maps currently use daytime soundscapes.
• First pass on acoustic portals: sounds are occluded by walls, but still audible through openings such as windows and doors.
• Overall improved sound occlusion.

• Added FAL (Custom) battle rifle. It currently uses existing animations.
• Added AKM assault rifle.
• Entirely new models for the MP5 series:
  
  • Include a RIS handguard for the standard MP5.
  • Rear sight drum is now of the open "V-notch" type (easier to use in-game than the peep variation).
• New model for the M4A1 rifle:
  
  • Uses the standard M4 stock, 14.5" barrel and KAC RAS handguard.

• Scopes and other magnified optics display a much brighter image than the regular map view. It may also have other visual artifacts.
• Skin selection for Headgear items will not apply.
• The Customize Operator UI may display the wrong skin texture, skin name and/or icon for some items.
• In multiplayer, weapon and character attachments may become stuck/duplicated in the Customize Operator screen.
• When playing nighttime, the game will take a few moments to load the proper lighting conditions and display the level as dark as intended.
• The 747 livery appears to have gone black. Mysterious. Also, wink-wink. Issue appears fixed, RIP this joke.
• Probably a lot of other issues we have not yet encountered or otherwise failed to list here. Remember that problems are expected and you are always encouraged to report them.

⚠️  REMINDER ⚠️
Keep in mind that all of the new features are a work in progress and subject to change. With that in mind, let's get that feedback going.

The changelist for this test build would be too massive to compile as it contains around 4 months worth of work. So we're gonna have to skip it on this one and try to get one done for the next update.

See ya then!

• • • • •

{LINK REMOVED}Discord / {LINK REMOVED}Steam Community Hub / {LINK REMOVED}Reddit / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

Alright, everyone—we got some expectation management to do.

As laid out in Intel Update #005, we've been struggling to get the new character rig (the skeleton) worked out and ready for the new animations and character assets, which were the core of upcoming update 1030.

So, earlier this month, we brought on board experienced freelance animator Mike Munk (a former Tripwire developer with Red Orchestra, Rising Storm and the Killing Floor series under his belt) to have a look at the new rig and help us make sure things were being done correctly and as future-proof as possible. The diagnosis wasn't great: upon inspection, it was determined that getting the skeleton in shape—so that it won't be a source of headaches down the road—would take several weeks; possibly a couple months.

Well, 1030 has been in the works for a long time now, and we don't want to leave you all without a new major update for that much longer.

So we made a difficult decision which, in retrospect, seems kinda like a no-brainer: let's release everything else. If it's not dependent on the new skeleton, why not put it out there and give everyone some new stuff to start trying out? Postponing the animation and character work sucks and we're beyond frustrated about being forced to delay the main attraction in the update, but as the old adage goes… it is what it is. Might as well make the best out of the situation, so that's what we're gonna do.

If we cut the animation and character work from 1030, you get a smaller update, yes, but you get it a lot earlier and have something to play with while we get the rest of the package sorted out. It also means less potential for new bugs, as well as getting older bugs (such as the VOIP randomly not working) fixed ahead of time.

Although we've been forced to push the new animations and character assets back, update 1030 will be far from underwhelming. Here's where it currently stands (for detailed descriptions and media, see Intel Update #005):

Everything we've announced for 1030 that is not related to the character and animation rework will still be in the update:

• [SCHEDULED] First pass on the Encumbrance System (weight and stamina).
• [SCHEDULED] Interactive lights (shootable/switchable) – will be present in all maps instead of the announced few (Depot and training maps).
• [SCHEDULED] 2 new multiplayer maps.
• [SCHEDULED] Map soundscapes and updated acoustics.
• [SCHEDULED] Tactical FAL and G3A3.

All character and animation-related work will be pushed back to a later update:

• [DELAYED] New and updated character assets. They were made for the new skeleton's specs, and therefore will have to wait.
• [DELAYED] New and reworked animations.
• [DELAYED] M24 SWS, due to the bolt-action poses and animations.
• [DELAYED] Prone.
• [DELAYED] Hit feedback.

These may or may not make their way into 1030:

• [TBC] Visible gunshot wounds.
• [TBC] Wristwatch. Relies on the new clothes (with the cuffs pulled up) to show properly with long-sleeve tops, but we may be able to try a workaround.
• [TBC] Listen servers, a.k.a. hosting your own games without having to setup a dedicated server. (This was not a planned feature for 1030, but might be ready for it.)

We've also updated the Early Access roadmap to reflect these changes and other minor ones.

As previously shown, 3D artists Dan Conroy and Pau Peñalver have been working diligently on some new assets for GROUND BRANCH. Here is a little update on their progress:



Mr. Conroy got the gas block, gas tube, dimpled barrel and flash hider/suppressor mount done for this upcoming battle rifle/DMR. It might not seem like a whole lot of progress, but that's because he paused work on it for a while to work on the…

More info on this later, but expect night vision and, well, rangefinding capabilities.








Pau has been working on more character assets. Here's the new Battle Belt:






And here's the upcoming Gun Belt (with the new, fully textured chest rigs in the back):






Lastly, here are some initial (high-poly) pouch renders:








These weren't easy news to break out, but we're done.

We hope to have a working test build for 1030 (along with more news) soon. Rest assured we'll keep you all posted and, as always: thank you so much for all your support and patience.

Also, remember you can always join the community and reach out via Discord, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook and the Steam® Community Hub.

Hang in there, and we'll see you on the next update!

—The BlackFoot Studios Team

As promised in Intel Update #005, we put some time aside to work on an updated roadmap for GROUND BRANCH.

We hadn't had a proper one for a long time, and it was about time we sorted it out. But before we take you to it, let's go over a few things that are important to know beforehand.

It is not a final or definitive list, and it is not 100% comprehensive. Because the game is in a pre-alpha stage, our scope is relatively open-ended. As such, we will be adding items to the board as we progress, but there is a chance we may remove from it as well.

1. The first list (READ ME) is simply an instructions column. The cards inside it explain the board.
   
2. The second list (Coming Up) is for the next update, with each card representing a feature, content or improvement that is scheduled for the upcoming version of GROUND BRANCH—in this case, 1030.
   
3. The third list (Near-Future) works the same as the previous one, but is for, well… near-future updates. It currently lists likely features for updates 1031 and 1032.
   
4. Subsequent lists simply contain planned features organized by category, in no particular order. Many of these cards will branch out into multiple, more detailed ones as they get closer to inclusion in an update.
   
5. Cards with a text icon 𝌆 have descriptions or further details inside. Simply click/tap the card to view them.

The roadmap board is read-only for the public. There is no need to create a Trello account or login.

The little capsule-shaped color labels in each card represent categories. Click/tap one and it will reveal the meaning for all of them so you get a better idea of what kind of card it is.

It's right here.

While you wait for 1030, keep in touch with us and the GROUND BRANCH community via Discord, the Steam® Community Hub, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. If you have lot questions and not enough answers, our official FAQ is always here for you.

Discord / Steam Community Hub / Reddit / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

Oh, hello! It's been a while. We hope you've been well, safe, and at home as much as possible.

Let us maintain our usual transparency and address the elephant in the room straight away:

Yes, version 1030 is taking a lot longer than expected. The aim of this Intel Update is to explain why, and also get you up to speed on what we've been working on. That will of course involve some well deserved previews to reward your valued patience and continued support. So let's get to it.

One of the biggest deals about upcoming update 1030 are the new animations that artist Toadie has been working on. Whether they're improving on existing motions and poses or adding to in-game actions that currently use placeholders or even nothing at all, every animation is being done on an entirely new character rig, also known as a skeleton.

As is true for many aspects of game development, things like migrating to a new skeleton, re-targeting existing animations, and then integrating the new ones by Toadie are all multi-layered tasks with a lot of parts that can break and ultimately delay the entire process. As a very small team with a single programmer (Kris), that limits us further. That limitation is starting to go away, however, but more on that in a bit—keep reading!

In late 2019, we hoped to have 1030 released some time between February and March, and that prediction eventually turned into "hopefully March or April". Those, of course, were rough estimates, and much of that time ended up being spent fixing lingering issues with version 1029.

Currently, the main battle is getting the new skeleton and animations to the same level of stability that 1029 had, except prettier and smoother. Although the version of the game within our internal UE4 project already has some of the new and improved animations and poses in place, there are still some very obvious issues with bone orientation and janky limbs here and there that need cleaning up.

The only honest answer to "1030 when?" is still, unfortunately, "We don't know." We have yet to fully figure out just how much needs doin' in the animation department, but we can say with certainty that, at the time of this post, we're talking weeks rather than days. Could be a few weeks (🤞), but it could be a little longer too.

Contrary to what the hype (that's on us) may suggest, version 1030 will not be an entirely new game, but it should add a considerable degree of polish and functionality to the game. Here's what it will boil down to:

As laid out before, a completely new character rig is being implemented and serving as the basis for all the upcoming animations. Expect actual transitions between weapon postures, new character poses for stances, some reworked reloads and a generally more natural feeling character.

We are hoping to get out the new prone stance in this update, but this is the area that is subject to the most change. Thus, it is not yet clear what state—if any—it will be in at this time.

Here's some of the WIP animation work that Toadie has shared over the months on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1189431047605248001
https://twitter.com/toadie2k/status/1217325817673310209
https://twitter.com/i/status/1189431047605248001[/url] And here's an exclusive look at the (also WIP) poses and transitions for the High/Ready/Low weapon positions when obstructed, i.e. too close to an obstacle: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4016748/b331fb2d2e5a3fe0d47a5f7f91b7364ce0d53658.gif[/img] Like everything else in the GROUND BRANCH Early Access, animation work will be an ongoing iterative process, and 1030 will be just an initial taste of what's to come in that department. We'll keep adding polish, new sequences and accompanying actions for both players as well as A.I. over the course of development. [h3]Encumbrance system[/h3] 1030 will include the first iteration of the [b]encumbrance system[/b]. This initial pass will add [b]stamina[/b], which is affected by both loadout weight and movement—the more you carry and the faster you move, the less stamina you'll have. The less stamina you have, the less you will be able to sprint and the more [b]weapon sway[/b] you will experience when aiming. [b]Arm fatigue[/b] is also tracked independently, so even if your stamina is at maximum levels, your aim will still become less stable over time from holding your weapon at the Ready (muzzle forward) and Engaged (ADS) positions. Heavier weapons also mean more arm fatigue, so you might want to think twice before taking an LMG or mounting a dozen attachments to your AR. Inertia and effects on ready times are also coming, but we'll save the details for the Build Update. [h3]Soundscapes[/h3] Small Town, Depot, Storage Facility and all training maps are set to have day and night [b]soundscapes[/b], also known as environment or ambient sounds. Our intrepid sound engineer Mikson hopes to be able to get even more maps done in time for 1030. Hell, he says he might even be able to get them all done by then. Rookie mistake, Mik, but we're rooting for ya. Anyway, here's a little demo we released a few days ago: [previewyoutube=sKW5syHShyc;full]https://youtu.be/sKW5syHShyc[/previewyoutube] One cool detail he's snuck into these soundscapes are the crickets: they'll go quiet once the player is close enough to their location, which is not only clever but also has the interesting prospect of alerting other players of one's presence nearby. We're cool with all of this as long as he keeps them away from our faces. [h3]New character assets[/h3] As we have previously shown in [url=https://imgur.com/a/8CPpudI]this album right here[/url], there's a load of new character assets making their way into GROUND BRANCH. Most of the existing apparel (as well as arms and hands) is being replaced with new, shiny models, and a few additional items will be added as well. What we have [i]not[/i] shown yet are these bad boys: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4016748/fb1d595b32b70948619a38ca04fbb9c7460d9426.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4016748/61009b0a007effd15d9e51c95ae063dcf5b3ae3f.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4016748/506e819a8bde0d333c76cbc2da28ab063ef13a38.jpg[/img] [h3]New PvP maps[/h3] John has put together a couple maps for PvP: one is an upgraded version of the test [b]Paintball[/b] map… [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4016748/0ff9e1d25c5e22b8bb921c8747500740dd0007d4.jpg[/img] And the other one branched out from the concept of the old [b]Nature Area[/b] benchmark map: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4016748/fa343c37c84cbf21e025b8b73579a515c8baf99e.jpg[/img] [h3]Shootable/interactive lights[/h3] John has also rigged up a basic implementation of interactive lights, demonstrated in the video below: [previewyoutube=6CUnda7JkxM;full][/previewyoutube] As shown, the system will [b]allow lights to be shot out[/b] and also [b]switched off[/b]. Although the video uses a basic light switch for the demonstration, the switch can be anything the player interacts with to turn a given light (or a [i]set[/i] of lights) off: a regular light switch, a lever, a distribution board… The aim for 1030 is to have the system in place for Depot and the training maps so we can get the initial experimentation going. [h3]New weapons[/h3] We have a few shooters coming to 1030: [list] [*] A tac'd out [b]FAL[/b] with accessory rails and the [b]G3A3[/b] are two additions to the battle rifle department, with the later mostly serving as an OPFOR weapon. [*] Now that we finally have a bolt-action animation, the [b]M24 SWS[/b] is making its return to GROUND BRANCH as the one true sniper rifle in the armory. [/list] [h2]Cool, so that sums up 1030. What [i]else[/i] is going on?[/h2] We're glad you asked. Here is some intel on things to look forward to [i][u][b]later[/b][/u][/i] in development, i.e. at some point [i]after[/i] 1030: [h3]Dev Team expansion[/h3] As we hinted at earlier, our core BlackFoot Studios staff consisting of John, Kris, Scopey and Mikson has received some reinforcements. Toadie (aka toadie2k), as you already know, has been handling animations for the past several months. But we have yet to officially introduce [b]Daniel Conroy[/b], our newest collaborator. Dan is a hard surface artist now in charge of weapon and general equipment models, having previously worked on VR shooter [i]Onward[/i]. You can check out some of his work and background [url=https://www.artstation.com/danconroy]here[/url], and you can get a load of what he's been working on below: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4016748/125dd49789880bdfb9294d0e706f8640b70306f2.jpg[/img] ↑ [i]Leave a comment if you know the name of this rifle. First person who can name at least 4 main parts gets the impressed Obama meme.[/i] There are a few additional members joining our ranks soon, but more on that at another time. [h3]Art overhaul[/h3] A lot of what we've shown so far reflects the art overhaul process that will be happening over many months to come. We've been working hard on the details of apparel, gear and weapons we'd like the game to have, and we want them to not only have variety and authenticity but polish and art consistency as well. An art overhaul wouldn't be complete without a new UI, which we have yours truly working on. Here's a little mock-up concept of where it's currently headed—but keep in mind that it's merely a (very WIP) concept and [b]does [i][u]not[/u][/i] necessarily reflect final features, items or visuals[/b]: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4016748/56704202e675a23ea45bb2c72374dfbeac4333dd.jpg[/img] [h2]Other news[/h2] [h3]Roadmap[/h3] You guys have been asking for a proper roadmap for a while now, and we finally managed to put some time aside to work on one. We'll be making it public very soon. [h3]HUGE news incoming[/h3] We have some [i]seriously[/i] exciting news coming out very soon and the future of GROUND BRANCH is looking very, very good indeed. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is all. • • • • • While 1030 doesn't drop, you can keep in touch with us and the GROUND BRANCH community via [url=https://discord.gg/9pp3TrT]Discord[/url], the [url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/16900]Steam® Community Hub[/url], [url=https://www.reddit.com/r/groundbranch/]Reddit[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/GroundBranch]Twitter[/url], [url=https://instagram.com/groundbranch.official]Instagram[/url] and [url=https://www.facebook.com/groundbranch]Facebook[/url]. If you have lot questions and not enough answers, [url=https://www.groundbranch.com/faq/]our official FAQ is always here[/url] for you. • • • • • [h1]Stay connected[/h1] [url=http://bit.ly/gb-discord]Discord[/url] / [url=http://bit.ly/gb-steamhub]Steam Community Hub[/url] / [url=http://bit.ly/gb-reddit]Reddit[/url] / [url=https://twitter.com/GroundBranch]Twitter[/url] / [url=https://www.instagram.com/groundbranch.official/]Instagram[/url] / [url=http://www.facebook.com/groundbranch]Facebook[/url
And here's an exclusive look at the (also WIP) poses and transitions for the High/Ready/Low weapon positions when obstructed, i.e. too close to an obstacle:



Like everything else in the GROUND BRANCH Early Access, animation work will be an ongoing iterative process, and 1030 will be just an initial taste of what's to come in that department. We'll keep adding polish, new sequences and accompanying actions for both players as well as A.I. over the course of development.

1030 will include the first iteration of the encumbrance system. This initial pass will add stamina, which is affected by both loadout weight and movement—the more you carry and the faster you move, the less stamina you'll have. The less stamina you have, the less you will be able to sprint and the more weapon sway you will experience when aiming.

Arm fatigue is also tracked independently, so even if your stamina is at maximum levels, your aim will still become less stable over time from holding your weapon at the Ready (muzzle forward) and Engaged (ADS) positions. Heavier weapons also mean more arm fatigue, so you might want to think twice before taking an LMG or mounting a dozen attachments to your AR.

Inertia and effects on ready times are also coming, but we'll save the details for the Build Update.

Small Town, Depot, Storage Facility and all training maps are set to have day and night soundscapes, also known as environment or ambient sounds. Our intrepid sound engineer Mikson hopes to be able to get even more maps done in time for 1030. Hell, he says he might even be able to get them all done by then. Rookie mistake, Mik, but we're rooting for ya.

Anyway, here's a little demo we released a few days ago:



One cool detail he's snuck into these soundscapes are the crickets: they'll go quiet once the player is close enough to their location, which is not only clever but also has the interesting prospect of alerting other players of one's presence nearby. We're cool with all of this as long as he keeps them away from our faces.

As we have previously shown in this album right here, there's a load of new character assets making their way into GROUND BRANCH. Most of the existing apparel (as well as arms and hands) is being replaced with new, shiny models, and a few additional items will be added as well. What we have not shown yet are these bad boys:





John has put together a couple maps for PvP: one is an upgraded version of the test Paintball map…



And the other one branched out from the concept of the old Nature Area benchmark map:



John has also rigged up a basic implementation of interactive lights, demonstrated in the video below:



As shown, the system will allow lights to be shot out and also switched off. Although the video uses a basic light switch for the demonstration, the switch can be anything the player interacts with to turn a given light (or a set of lights) off: a regular light switch, a lever, a distribution board…

The aim for 1030 is to have the system in place for Depot and the training maps so we can get the initial experimentation going.

We have a few shooters coming to 1030:

• A tac'd out FAL with accessory rails and the G3A3 are two additions to the battle rifle department, with the later mostly serving as an OPFOR weapon.
  
• Now that we finally have a bolt-action animation, the M24 SWS is making its return to GROUND BRANCH as the one true sniper rifle in the armory.

We're glad you asked. Here is some intel on things to look forward to later in development, i.e. at some point after 1030:

As we hinted at earlier, our core BlackFoot Studios staff consisting of John, Kris, Scopey and Mikson has received some reinforcements. Toadie (aka toadie2k), as you already know, has been handling animations for the past several months.

But we have yet to officially introduce Daniel Conroy, our newest collaborator. Dan is a hard surface artist now in charge of weapon and general equipment models, having previously worked on VR shooter Onward. You can check out some of his work and background here, and you can get a load of what he's been working on below:


↑ Leave a comment if you know the name of this rifle. First person who can name at least 4 main parts gets the impressed Obama meme.

There are a few additional members joining our ranks soon, but more on that at another time.

A lot of what we've shown so far reflects the art overhaul process that will be happening over many months to come. We've been working hard on the details of apparel, gear and weapons we'd like the game to have, and we want them to not only have variety and authenticity but polish and art consistency as well.

An art overhaul wouldn't be complete without a new UI, which we have yours truly working on. Here's a little mock-up concept of where it's currently headed—but keep in mind that it's merely a (very WIP) concept and does not necessarily reflect final features, items or visuals:



You guys have been asking for a proper roadmap for a while now, and we finally managed to put some time aside to work on one. We'll be making it public very soon.

We have some seriously exciting news coming out very soon and the future of GROUND BRANCH is looking very, very good indeed. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is all.

• • • • •

While 1030 doesn't drop, you can keep in touch with us and the GROUND BRANCH community via Discord, the Steam® Community Hub, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. If you have lot questions and not enough answers, our official FAQ is always here for you.

• • • • •

{LINK REMOVED}Discord / {LINK REMOVED}Steam Community Hub / {LINK REMOVED}Reddit / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

We've fixed an issue introduced with patch 1029.3 that caused some Windows 7 users to not be able to launch GROUND BRANCH.

⚠️ Coming from a previous version of the game? Issues with controls, loadouts, assets or settings?

We strongly recommend players coming from an older version of the game to delete all files located in %LOCALAPPDATA%/GroundBranch/Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor (paste file path onto your File Explorer address bar and hit [Enter] to go to folder). NOTE: This will remove all saved settings and loadouts.

For those who can afford it, we suggest a full reinstall: it may fix broken/missing features introduced in this version, as well as issues with controls, assets, settings and even performance. To ensure a clean reinstall, you need to manually delete all files located in these folders:

• …/steamapps/common/Ground Branch
• %LOCALAPPDATA%/GroundBranch/%UserProfile%/Documents/GroundBranch/

⚠️ Update your dedicated server!

All dedicated servers must be updated to work with the current version. Make sure yours is up-to-date so players can enjoy the latest version of GROUND BRANCH!

We found that after updating Wwise (the audio middleware we're using) to work with UE4.24, it was trying to use xinput1_4.dll—part of a library that is not available on Windows 7. We've removed the references to those libraries, as they're not required by the game.

Yep—that's it!

This has been Build Update #024!

If you missed our last update, be sure to check it out here as it has some important news and some nice previews.

The GROUND BRANCH community is on Discord, the Steam® Community Hub, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Reach out with your questions, suggestions and issues and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Be safe, be well, and we'll see you on the next one.

—The BlackFoot Studios Team

Game version: 1029.4

Steam Build ID: 4817136
Size: 33 MB

Steam Build ID: 4817141
Size: 12 MB

⚠️ Issues starting the game since the update?

If you're unable to launch GROUND BRANCH since updating, please download and install the latest version of Microsoft Visual Studio (x64: vc_redist.x64.exe) from here.

How's everyone doing?

Staying inside? Fingers off face? How long has it been since you washed your hands? A while? Then go wash 'em again. We'll wait, it's fine.

You know Covid-19 is out there and it's everywhere. And the initial belief that it is rarely dangerous to the young and healthy is appearing less and less reliable every day. We don't need to remind you to be safe, stay inside and take it seriously, but we will anyway: Please be safe, stay inside and take it seriously.

• • • • •

Before we move on to this build's contents, we'd like to give you all a little update on things.

As some of you might recall, we had originally planned for 1030 to hit sometime around February or March. But as no plan survives first contact, that simply proved impossible—our last patch, primarily intended to fix the "Requesting Rules" and other connectivity bugs, didn't. After a lot of aggravation, Kris chased down some Steam/Steamworks plugin issues and migrated the engine and base code from 1030 (which was and remains in development) to retro-fix the 1029 problem. It seems to have eventually worked out, so that's what we're putting out here.

We know you're probably very eager for 1030 and we truly share your frustration—we can't wait to play it ourselves. But in addition to all the time and effort spent on the persistent 1029 bug, there's also the issue that 1030 is set to be a massive update, which means a massive amount of work and a massive number of things that can break. With that in mind, there's no real ETA on version 1030 of GROUND BRANCH at this time, as any forecast can be thwarted just as easily as it can be made.

Everyone's patience and support has been greatly appreciated, and as a little "thank you" gift, we've compiled all the awesome upcoming apparel that the very talented Pau Peñalver has modelled so far for GROUND BRANCH right here, including a lot of process images for those interested in 3D and surface work. Pau has been working on these new assets for a while, and although we've shared some of these pics before, there are a few exclusives in the mix and the whole album may be fresh if you're a newcomer.

Click here for the gallery!

⚠️ Coming from a previous version of the game? Issues with controls, loadouts, assets or settings?

We strongly recommend players coming from an older version of the game to delete all files located in %LOCALAPPDATA%/GroundBranch/Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor (paste file path onto your File Explorer address bar and hit [Enter] to go to folder). NOTE: This will remove all saved settings and loadouts.

For those who can afford it, we suggest a full reinstall: it may fix broken/missing features introduced in this version, as well as issues with controls, assets, settings and even performance. To ensure a clean reinstall, you need to manually delete all files located in these folders:

• …/steamapps/common/Ground Branch
• %LOCALAPPDATA%/GroundBranch/%UserProfile%/Documents/GroundBranch/

⚠️ Update your dedicated server!

All dedicated servers must be updated to work with the current version. Make sure yours is up-to-date so players can enjoy the latest version of GROUND BRANCH!

Connectivity issues should hopefully have been fixed for good this time around.

As a result of moving some base code from 1030 into 1029, the core functionality for climbing is now available to preview. It’s really just the core functionality—there are no animations yet and it looks unsurprisingly funky, but it does open up some interesting gameplay possibilities and it should be a fun ability to try out.



To climb, press Jump (default Spacebar) near an object and your character will climb—or rather sorta float—onto it. Climbing is currently limited to objects that are about chest-height. That height will be tested and revised as we go, and we’ll be sure to add sensible limits to what can or not be climbed along the way.

Because it’s only a core functionality with no animations, basic collision will keep players from vaulting through smaller windows and similar openings without sufficient room for a standing character, so keep that in mind when rounds start flying!

Now that we can (very crudely) climb and vault, jumping is no longer needed to get players out of dead-ends and is now limited to a short leap. No animation for that either—we’re working on getting those in for 1030.

We’re slowly migrating the sound occlusion from UE4’s built-in solution onto Wwise. It’s only a first pass, but you should notice a clearer distinction between sounds that happen outdoors while you’re indoors and vice versa, for example. There is currently no distinction for windows, doors and such openings yet, however, which means that when shooting out of a window you will hear gunshots as if they were on the other side of a wall. The same applies for, say, hearing close fire through an open doorway—sound occlusion will kick in despite there being no obstacle between yourself and the shooter.

This has been Build Update #023!

The GROUND BRANCH community is on Discord, the Steam® Community Hub, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Reach out with your questions, suggestions and issues and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Also, have you checked out the official GROUND BRANCH FAQ yet? It's got a comprehensive insight into what's coming and what isn't, and should answer most questions newcomers have.

We’ll leave you with a quick reminder to stay at home, keep your hands clean and hang in there.

—The BlackFoot Studios Team

Game version: 1029.3

Steam Build ID: 4794648
Size: 2.1 GB

Steam Build ID: 4794655
Size: 214 MB


{LINK REMOVED}Discord / {LINK REMOVED}Steam Community Hub / {LINK REMOVED}Reddit / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

Build Update #022 is here with version 1029.2, a hotfix patch that should take care of the connectivity issues that have been keeping multiplayer rather broken, as well as a few other miscellaneous fixes.

If you're a server admin, be sure to update your dedicated server. In other news:



This year's Steam® Lunar New Year Sale will run from January 23rd (1pm EST / 6pm GMT) to January 27th, during which time GROUND BRANCH will be 25% OFF.

Spread the word, maybe even gift a copy, and let's get that player count up!

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

⚠️ Coming from a previous version of the game? Issues with controls, loadouts, assets or settings?

We strongly recommend players coming from an older version of the game to delete all files located in %LOCALAPPDATA%/GroundBranch/Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor (paste file path onto your File Explorer address bar and hit [Enter] to go to folder). NOTE: This will remove all saved settings and loadouts.

For those who can afford it, we suggest a full reinstall: it may fix broken/missing features introduced in this version, as well as issues with controls, assets, settings and even performance. To ensure a clean reinstall, you need to manually delete all files located in these folders:

• …/steamapps/common/Ground Branch
• %LOCALAPPDATA%/GroundBranch/%UserProfile%/Documents/GroundBranch/

⚠️ Update your dedicated server!

All dedicated servers must be updated to work with the current version. Make sure yours is up-to-date so players can enjoy the latest version of GROUND BRANCH!

• Being stuck while requesting rules, servers requiring frequent restarts and other related connectivity issues have been fixed. As always, thanks for all the reports that helped Kris zero in on the problem and purge it.

• A bug in the enemy A.I. perception has been mitigated to make it more reactive, particularly at close quarters. Their detection at range may have been compromised in the process, but we haven't been able to determine for sure. (We opted to not hold the connectivity fix back any longer, so we'll be fixin and tweakin' this bit of the A.I. as we go.)

• Hitting Cancel when requesting rules now stops the request and removes the overlay instead of kicking you back to the Main Menu.
  
• [Online] Sidearm holsters are once again visible.
  
• General cleanup on Depot map—mainly collision and things that defied gravity.
  
• Bushes have been optimized for better collision and overdraw.
  
• Tweaked placement of the suppressor on the M17 pistol to line up properly.
  
• [Online] Magazines make a sound again when dropped, and only become interactive (i.e. able to picked up) after they collide with something.
  
• FIxed SDASS Custom not cycling the action when firing mid-reload.
  
• Updated old Breaching Charge blueprints to ensure the correct number of charges is carried.

Big update 1030 is still under development and we're estimating to have it ready within the next few months. Version 1030 is set to bring in all-new character assets (arms, apparel, camos…), new animations by seasoned Arma 3 community modeller and animator Toadie—as well as the accompanying actions/functions for them—and other sweet stuff like new gear, ambient map sounds, and more.

We'll get an Intel Update or two out in the meantime to keep everyone posted and provide some sneak peeks. Stay tuned!

This has been Build Update #022!

The GROUND BRANCH community is on Discord, the Steam® Community Hub, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Reach out with your questions, suggestions and issues and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Also, have you checked out the official GROUND BRANCH FAQ yet? It's got a comprehensive insight into what's coming and what isn't, and should answer most questions newcomers have.

Oh, and don't forget:

🔥 GROUND BRANCH is 25% OFF until January 27th!

So let your friends know and grab an extra copy if you're feeling generous! Every purchase helps us take the game further.

We hope 2020's been treating you well so far, and we'll see you on the next update.

—The BlackFoot Studios Team

Game version: 1029.2

Steam Build ID: 4598942
Size: 416 MB

Steam Build ID: 4598947
Size: 40 MB


{LINK REMOVED}Discord / {LINK REMOVED}Steam Community Hub / {LINK REMOVED}Reddit / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook