Engine Update

We’ve upgraded to Unity 2022 LTS, primarily for improved stability. Related updates include:

• New SMAA anti-aliasing option as an alternative to TAA or FXAA.
• Major upgrade to the pathfinding library used by zombies (A* Pathfinding Project). This fixes a variety of server-side pathfinding bugs and may improve performance.
• Taking advantage of some new performance optimizations.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on bug reports, as this kind of update has many side-effects.

Full Changelog

Quality of Life

• Vanilla sentries immediately react to gunshots and melee hits. (They turn to where you attacked them from.)
• Searching workstation capability names in crafting menu filters blueprints producing items with that capability. (For example, “Heat Source” will find Campfires.)
• Raised detonator max selected charges from 8 to 16. Let the pyrotechnics commence!
• Reworked water transition into sky to avoid revealing topography of underwater terrain.

Character Customization

• Added beard color option separate from hair color. NPCs and cosmetics can use this, too.
• Many cosmetics covering the lower face use your preferred beard color.
• Cosmetics take priority over NVGs in singleplayer and PvE where they don’t affect balance. (Ignoring the Priority_Over_Cosmetic setting.)

Servers

Edit to clarify: if you are hosting a server using RocketMod, please update to the latest version (either bundled with the game or merging into your fork), as it includes a fix to assembly loading needed for the engine update!

• LDM dependency-handling patch for 2022 LTS. (Thanks Senior-S, DanielWillett, and Paradox304!)
• Revised server backup naming to improve terminal tab completion: rather than appending “-backup” to the file name, a tilde ‘~’ is appended to the extension. For example, auto-completing “Conf” to “Config.txt” as the more common operation.
• Fixed server not writing “-backup” files after 3.25.8.0. (Thanks CatzTimes!)
• Fixed not re-serializing server Config.json when -UseLegacyJsonGameplayConfig is enabled. (Thanks CatzTimes!)

Audio

3.25.8.0 experimented with enabling the doppler effect, which was previously disabled project-wide. Many audio sources weren’t configured with this in mind, so it was reverted in 3.25.8.1. This update re-enables it, and disables per-audio-source by default during load for backwards compatibility.

• Added “Enable Doppler Effect” component to bypass disabling doppler effect.
• Enabled doppler effect on vanilla emergency vehicle sirens.

Localization

• Objects with dialogue (like interactable computers) can show a different display name with Dialogue_Name localization key.
• NPC “hints” in multiplayer use client’s language if Keep_Localization_Loaded is enabled.
• Updated a few cases where translation fallback to default was unsupported. (Such as item names.)
• Fixed Covert achievement description spelling mistake. (Thanks Zeenotzed5!)
• Allow sending single-character chat messages because they can be meaningful in other languages. (Thanks CatzTimes!)

Level Editing

• Added level underwater fog effect density override. Useful for maps featuring a longer underwater view distance.
• Levels can adjust default config per-difficulty (easy/normal/hard).
• Added option for per-navmesh vs per-zombie-table difficulty asset prioritization.
• Resources can set Legacy_Rotation_and_Scale false to use newer surface alignment options. For example, we’re using this to place mineable clay on cave ceilings in a future update.
• Per-object savedata is more resilient to removing/moving objects in the level editor. (Thanks clue!)
• Fixed missing level Has_Atmosphere option turning off stars. (Thanks Strekazyabrua!)
• Fixed editing devkit node properties not marking the level dirty. (Thanks LocoCZ!)

NPC Modding

• Added effect OnlyRelevantToInstigator and event InstigatorOnly options. For example, to limit showing a UI popup only to the player who triggered an interaction.
• Added “Overlap” volume type and condition. This can be used to test whether an area has a certain number of players in it.
• Added ability to respawn and kill zombies from NPC logic.
• Added “/RunRewardList” command for testing NPC reward list assets.

Unity Mod Hooks

• Added Vehicle Gearshift Event Hook for gear number changes.
• Added Vehicle Health Event Hook for testing current health.
• Vehicle Event Hook now exposes events for all replicated properties.
• Added “Damage Collision” component for damaging (rather than killing) on contact.

Miscellaneous Modding

• Added support for ammo to override rocket/grenade launcher projectile.
• Added support for low-quality lockpicks that fail to unlock the vehicle.
• Explosive magazines can disable impact effects. (Useful for multi-pellet explosive shotguns.)
• Gun items with auto description off can opt-in to listing attachments.
• Added storage Default_Contained_Items list.
• Added vehicle options for keeping engine/wheel RPM more closely in sync. (Experimental)
• Added sentry options to bypass PvE, react to attacks, and adjust sweep timing.
• Added barricade incoming ranged damage falloff multipliers.
• Improved context for master bundle reference error messages.

Miscellaneous Fixes

• Moved Vanguard vest mythical effect forward so it’s less obstructed. (Thanks ZHR!)
• Regression parsing (x, y) and (x, y, z) vectors from dat. (Thanks Sultan!)
• Crash reloading gun with more than 255 magazines. (Thanks CatzTimes!)
• IsOverride key missing from spawns editor round-trip. (Thanks WW-TC!)
• Inconsistency playing inventory audio when quick-moving item to/from storage. (Thanks WW-TC!)
• Inconsistent bounds checks placing barricades on vehicles in multiplayer. (Thanks Eismeister!)
• Fix rubble respawn all sections not working properly. (Thanks Xylemo!)
• Oversized invite icon in lobbies menu. (Thanks Jdance!)
• Misaligned mythical effects on Pool Cue. (Thanks TrueNinjafrog and dr4c0ottv!)
• Animals without physics material default to vanilla flesh material.
• Gun Delete_Empty_Magazines behaving differently for non-projectile weapons.
• Cinematic mode respects FarClipDistance command-line override.
• Simplify instigator tracking for nested rockets/grenades.
• Unable to interact with destructible object fuel/water tanks.
• Error writing singleplayer config on first load of a fresh install.

3.25.10.1 Patch

• Fixed server-side warning when removing siren audio. (Thanks to many reporters!)
• Fixed zombies kills-in-area condition spawning too many zombies. (Thanks CatzTimes!)
• Fixed Rhino Bluntforce skin broken metallic map. (Thanks TSB!)

Special thanks to all of the players who tried out this update on the preview branch and helped report bugs!