Thank you for helping us raise over $15,000 for ExtraLife! We still have until Dec. 31st to reach our goal!
⭐️Please enjoy the new Benefactor Helmet, use promo code: EXTRALIFE2022

If you're interested in contributing for a good cause and help us reach our goal, head on over to our Extra Life fundraising page here.

The winter season brings with it the sights and sounds of Auraximas. New events, items, missions, and more will be available throughout December.

Double Experience Schedule!
Load up on tons of double experience this Auraximas with the following schedule:

• Double Experience for ALL from Dec. 02 - Dec. 04
  
• Double Experience for ALL from Dec. 09 - Dec. 11
  
• Double Experience for ALL from Dec. 16 - Dec. 18
  
• Double Experience for MEMBERS from Dec. 23 - Dec. 25
  
• Double Experience for ALL from Dec. 26 - Jan. 02, 2023

This and more! Check the full patch notes here.

All PC servers will come down for the following update on Wednesday, December 7, at 6:00am PT (3:00pm CEST). The downtime for this update is expected to last up to 2 hours.
--

Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for more news!

❄️Warm up with Double XP For All❄️
Starting today through Jan 2nd, enjoy double XP each weekend.

Dec. 02 - Dec. 04
Dec. 09 - Dec. 11
Dec. 16 - Dec. 18
Dec. 23 - Dec. 25 (Members Only)
Dec. 26 - Jan. 02

Follow Us on Twitter and Like Us on Facebook for more news!

All PC servers will come down for the following update on Wednesday, November 30, at 6:00am PT (3:00pm CEST). The downtime for this update is expected to last up to 2 hours.
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Galaxy

• Infantry Lock-on Resist (type 68) from -50 to -40.

Liberator

• Infantry Lock-on Resist (type 68) from -75 to -50.

Valkyrie

• Infantry Lock-on Resist (type 68) from -100 to -45.

Dev Note: The above changes reel in the effectiveness of lock-ons against these larger, slower targets.

MAX

• Burster flak damage from 28 to 34.
  
• Zealot Overdrive's Burster flak damage from 31 to 38.
  
• Cone of Fire from 2 to 3.
  
• Projectile lifespan from 3sec. to 2sec.
  
• Dev Note: The above changes increase the MAX's firepower against close-range aircraft, while making them less effective at dispensing targets at very long ranges.

Misc. Changes, Fixes, and Additions

• Fixed an ajar vehicle pad at Indar Excavation Site.
  
• Fixed various issues related to the NS-11A Frontline, and added a 1x and 4x optic.
  
• Mining Drills and associated Missions have been disabled.
  
• Water on low graphical settings no longer looks black.
  
• Successfully triggering the Bastion's Anchor, Assault, or Lockdown command will trigger a 60sec. cooldown before the command can be reused.
  
• Dropping a Conduit while close to the ceiling will no longer place the Conduit on the roof of that building.
  
• Hacked Repos now reset when a Conduit's timer expires and the Facility Defended notification appears.
  
• Updated the Infiltrator's cloak to use the same "shattered cloak" visual language as enemies in a cloaked Sunderer bubble have.
  
• Teleporters at Palaso Supply Depot on Oshur are now two-way from the spawn to teleporter room.
  
• Fixed an issue with the Diving Device playing audio incorrectly.
  
• Fixed an issue with the Gift button being out of place on the Member's Sale section of the Depot.
  
• Teamkills can no longer count toward the Invisible Stalker directive.
  
• Removed the mention of "flak" from the NS-R3 Swarm description.
  
• The Stormbringer and NS SQU-34K melee weapons now use the same projectile size as other weapons with the same attributes.
  
• Javelin's exterior cosmetics are no longer visible in first person.
  
• The following cosmetics are no longer purchasable in the Depot: Raid Hat, Purge Helmet, Lynx Helmet, Strike Enforcer Mask, Armageddon Helmet, First Strike Helmet.

Daybreak All-Access members can enjoy Double EXP starting Nov. 25 through Nov. 27.

Check out the latest news on our 10th Anniversary Update here.

Learn more about Daybreak All-Access {LINK REMOVED}here.

See you in game, soldier!

Starting today until December 21, Amazon Prime members can get the NS-11A Frontline assault rifle and Gladiator helmet from Amazon Prime Gaming!

• NS-11A Frontline
  
• Gladiator Helmet (Vanu Sovereignty)
  
• Gladiator Helmet (New Conglomerate)
  
• Gladiator Helmet (Terran Republic)
  
• Gladiator Helmet (Nanite Systems Operatives)

Grab the bundle here: https://gaming.amazon.com/prime-frontline-bundle

Keep an eye out for new bundles every month!

Enjoy!

On November 20, PlanetSide 2 will be celebrating ONE DECADE of war on Auraxis. In this anniversary update, you'll find loads of visual updates, balance changes, an entirely new facility capture mechanic, new items available in the Depot, and even some upcoming events. All the details found below.

Capture the Conduit CTF mechanic, new Bastion Fleet Carrier role adjustment, base changes and more!
Click here to learn more about other additions and changes in this latest update!

All PC servers will be offline for the following update on Thursday, November 17, at 6:00am PT (3:00pm CET). The downtime for this update is expected to last up to 3 hours.


Join us at 2pm PT (11pm CET), Nov. 20 on www.twitch.tv/PlanetSide2 for a head to head to head matchup with community creators, Camikaze78, CMDRCyrious, and Wintergaming, hosted by ArsheeTV! Our guests will pit the might of their faction against one another on Jaegar for this special event.
More information here: https://www.planetside2.com/news/ultimate-empire-showdown-2022

Want some DOUBLE EXPERIENCE? Check out the schedule below!

• Double Experience for ALL- Nov. 18, 19, 20
  
• Double Experience for MEMBERS - Nov. 25, 26, 27

All Access members receive double experience on the last full weekend of each month. More information here: https://www.daybreakgames.com/allaccess

The Ultimate Empire Showdown is back!

Join us for an epic event with an all-star cast! For this ten-year milestone, community creators Camikaze78, CMDRCyrious, and Wintergaming will face off on the battlefields of Auraxis with an army at their backs. Our guests will take command of Terran Republic, New Conglomerate, and Vanu Sovereignty in the ultimate test of strength. Which empire will achieve victory, and bragging rights for the next 10 years? Find out on November 20th during a special livestream hosted by event-caster ArsheeTV on https://www.twitch.tv/PlanetSide2! More details below.


Twitter / Youtube


Twitter / Twitch / Youtube


Wintergaming (Vanu Sovereignty)
Twitter / Twitch / Youtube

The Ultimate Empire Showdown begins November 20th @ 2pm pst / 11pm cet.

Four main events will test the might of our three teams. Victories are counted during each of the events below to determine which is the ultimate empire. Be sure to watch the broadcast to see post-event interviews with the team captains!

Bastion Battle (Air)

• Each team takes to the skies in a massive air battle with limited lives!

Colossus Battle (Armor)

• Teams test their mettle (and metal) in a Colossus versus Colossus armor battle.

Nason's Defiance (Infantry)

• A three-way infantry battle over the heart of Hossin.

Continent Lock Alert

• Empires put leadership and strategy to the test for this final alert challenge.

This year we have a special guest broadcaster! Tune in to our Twitch page and enjoy the full broadcast streamed by guest streamer ArsheeTV!

Follow ArsheeTV on Twitter and Twitch!


This special event is supported by PlanetSide Battles! These amazing event organizers and community members will join the fray as reinforcements for each empire, and be broadcasting the event on the PlanetSide Battles Twitch channels! Show your support by following PSB on Twitter and Twitch!


Mark your calendar, soldiers, and be sure to drop by https://www.twitch.tv/planetside2 on November 20th at 2pm PT, 11pm CET. Let's make this 10-year milestone one to remember!

PlanetSide 2's 10th anniversary is November 20th, and we are all super hyped to celebrate it with you! Starting tomorrow, November 4th each weekend all players will get Double XP through November 20th! Rack up that double XP and let us know on Twitter what you're spending your certs on. Members receive Double XP on Nov. 25, 26, and 27. Learn more about Daybreak All-Access Membership here.


Join us Saturday, November 5th @ 2pm PDT. as we attempt to unofficially break the world record for "most players in an online fps battle." 

This PTS update contains lots of changes and additions which you can read up on in our latest Dev Letter posted here.

Get ready to partake in this epic event by downloading the PTS build here. Patch notes for this build will be shared later this week.




Our Extra Life event is going strong with massive support from our community! We have reached $13,457 of our $32,000 goal!

We have received tremendous support from outfits, content creators and fans alike! THANK YOU!!! Check the contributor's list and progress here.

The cause is mighty, and we can't thank you enough for the donations, no matter how large or small.

Learn how you can become an Extra Life team member or donator here.

See you all in game this weekend!

- Mithril, PlanetSide 2 CM

Hey there. In the last dev letter, we covered some of the graphical improvements on the way in the 10th Anniversary Update. This time we'll look at the gameplay side of things.

This anniversary, we'll be shaking up the battlefields of Auraxis with a new way to capture bases. Enter: Capture the Conduit, a CTF-style capture mechanic that focuses on movement and multiple objectives.

When attacking a Conduit Outpost, attackers will need to grab control of a "Repo" (kind of like a generator) that they can deposit the flag into. At that point, attackers try to bring as many Conduits (flags) back to their Repo as they can. Each flag capture here scores a "strike" against the base. Each base has different numbers of flags, repos, and strike counts, depending on their design. The faction to score the last strike against the defender's base will capture the base for themselves. Alternatively, defenders can quickly defend a base if they can re-secure all of their Repos.

Unlike the Control-based gameplay of the last 10 years, Capture the Conduit encourages movement throughout a base by giving multiple objectives to attackers and defenders. Attackers need to keep control of their Repo while also clearing the way for flag runners, and defenders can not only keep a lock on their flagstands, but also push to re-secure the Repos to fend off an advance. Some class compositions will shine more with this capture mechanic than Control, as well. For example: Light Assaults now have a solid role as the most mobile flag runners, and long-range Infiltrators now add value to a fight by being able to snipe VIP targets that might otherwise escape.

Many bases have been retrofitted with CTF-style gameplay, but we wanted to make sure it made sense for the base layouts, so certain continents will see less CTF locations than others. This new capture mechanic will make its debut during this weekend's PTS event, and we'll be offering a more in-depth review of the system later on down the line.

Conduits are pulled from these podiums, and regenerate after being captured.

With the Anniversary Update, we'd like to shift the Bastion Fleet Carrier's role from the one-person point-and-click farming chariot it eventually became, to one that heavily influences the map meta and encourages teamwork. In order to achieve those goals, we've removed the Mauler Cannons and the Attack command entirely, and have implemented three new commands that the captain will have access to: Lockdown, Assault, and Anchor.

• Issuing the Lockdown command over an allied facility area that is being captured will cause the Fleet Carrier to fly over and pause the capture timer.
  
• Issuing the Assault command over an enemy facility area will accelerate the capture timer of a facility that's currently being captured, as if it had one additional capture point already controlled in your favor.
  
• Issuing the Anchor command will turn the Bastion into a spawn point for the entire faction.

Each of these commands last until the Fleet Carrier issues a new command or is destroyed. The changes here ensure that a Fleet Carrier, when present, can alter the course of the map, and act as a high-value target during Alerts.

Bastion Fleet Carrier against an updated Esamir sky.

With the first 1v1 season of Outfit Wars ending earlier this month, a topic that gained some traction within the community was the strength of shotguns in the meta, as well as certain New Conglomerate weaponry and the CB-ARX Newton carbine. Tuning has been done to bring some of the standouts in line with other weapons and factions, and we've touched upon other areas that have been needing revision as well. These adjustments will be made clear in the PTS patch notes for this weekend's event.

Aegis Shield's recovery rate and total health will be reeled in a bit as well.

Originally implemented back in 2019, the Spawn Priority System suggested spawn options that were intended to be relevant to the player, as well as "create good fights" and balance populations around the map. For the most part, it achieved that. However, it was very expensive (anywhere from 1.5x to 3x as expensive as the less-popular legacy spawn system we're currently using) in terms of server performance, which caused its share of issues. We've recently made optimizations to the Spawn Priority System, and intend to bring it back for the anniversary. The Spawn Priority System will use a queuing mechanism to distribute the load of spawn requests over multiple frames, so the server (hopefully) doesn't get bogged down. We'll want to test just how effective this technique is during the PTS event this weekend.

Unrelated to the priority system above, we've also disabled the remote-deployment of vehicles at the moment, with the goals of slowing down the pace of deployment around the map, bringing us back to earlier times where terminals had more value as sub-objectives, and vehicles could more easily find gunners willing to hop in. This change is non-destructive, however, and we can return it with relative ease if the design goals aren't being met.

Wouldn't it be cool if we could test all of the cool content in this update and casually break a world record at the same time? Well, you can! This Saturday (Nov. 05) at 2pm PT (10pm CET) join us on the Public Test Server to unofficially break the world record for the most players in an online FPS battle. Back in 2015, we achieved this Guinness World Record by hitting 1,158 players. For this event, we're aiming a bit higher. So jump online, see the new sights, test the new content, and we'll even reward you a special title for the participation.

You can download the Public Test Server client here.


Chaos, utter, glorious chaos.

Between this article and the last, we cover most of the main beats of our anniversary update. However, we do still have some odds and ends on the way. We can talk about these as we get a bit closer to the day, and share EVEN MORE surprises and events landing this November.

Thanks all. Looking forward to sharing the PTS patch notes this Friday.

-Wrel, Lead Designer