[h1]1.14 Patch Notes [/h1] [previewyoutube=xuif4OBWKIc;full][/previewyoutube] Future Mercenaries, Are you ready to pick up your contract? Before you head out, check out all the features and fixes that have been included in this update. In the previous Sitreps we focused a lot on providing details about Mercenary Mode. We also showed you new images of the updated bazaar on our social channels. There are more features and updates that we haven’t mentioned yet. We will be highlighting some of the major ones below. For the detailed list of changes and fixes check the Change Log. [h2]New & Updated Features[/h2] [h3]Updated Map - Bazaar[/h3] We continued our efforts to enhance our existing maps. Bazaar is a fan favorite for a lot of reasons. We wanted to take the things that people love about Bazaar and enhance them. Not only did the graphics get improved throughout, we also made improvements to layouts for cover and how you approach objectives. Additionally, the overall ambience has been improved. The addition of props & signage, lighting updates, and enhanced environmental audio help you feel more immersed in the environment. Comparison Shots of Bazaar from v.1.13.1 and now in v.1.14* *Images taken on Quest 3, can be found on our website (https://onwardthegame.com/devblog.html). [h3]Mercenary Mode [/h3] Mercenary Mode is now available. You can access this mode in the Multiplayer or Single player section of the main menu. This mode is a completely new way to play PVE in Onward. You start in the new Hideout location, you choose the mission you will go on, you pick your rewards, then you move on to the next mission. The choices you make throughout the contract are extremely important. They will end up affecting how well you score and ultimately, if you win or fail. There are two different types of contracts, Standard or Endless. [b]Standard[/b] = 5 Missions + Final (6 Missions Total) [b]Endless[/b] = 5 Missions + Final + More (keep getting new missions until you fail) This new game mode also offers some new unique interactions when fulfilling objectives. For instance, if you are on a sabotage mission and you get too close to the signal jammer it will lock up your tablets and cut off radio communications. The bots also have been improved and are not to be taken lightly. You will need to have a plan, tactical approach, and consistent communication throughout the missions in order to be successful. There are two global scoreboards (one for Standard and one for Endless) that can be viewed when in The Hideout. At the end of each mission you will be given a ranking and score. Scores are based on your and your team's performance during each mission. They are determined by a combination of Survival Rating, Time, Objective completion, and Enemy Kills. Like our other global scoreboards, these will reset on Midnight (PT) Wednesday Mornings. More detailed information about Mercenary Mode can be found in our February Sitrep. Do you have what it takes to complete the contract? Are you skilled enough to make it on the scoreboard? [h2]Quality of Life Improvements [/h2] [h3]AI Improvements [/h3] After the improvements that the AI went through in update 1.13, we wanted to continue to make [list] [*] improvements to them. These updates should help them become more challenging and also bring new dynamics when fighting against them. [*] Added an automatic rifleman class for bots [*] Bots may now flashbang before moving through doorways [*] Improved the bots' ability to go around corners [*] Improved bot defensive behaviors [/list] The new bot class and behaviors have been added to all Co-Op modes (Hunt, Evac, & Mercenary) [h3]Tablet UI Updates[/h3] Mercenary mode added new objectives into the game, 5 to be exact. This gave us an opportunity to design an enhanced way for players to understand what intel was available to them during their missions. During development it was decided that we would create updated tablet icons so the players could easily see which objective they were trying to complete for the mission and how to locate it. The icons are larger and more distinguishable to the objective type. Another one of the big improvements is they now also indicate elevation. This means the icons will be able to indicate if the objective is above, below, or on the same level of your current location. When testing the new icons and functionality, it quickly became apparent how beneficial these new icons were to gameplay. For that reason, we have updated the objective icons throughout the game. The updated tablet icons have been applied to the following modes: [list][*] Co-Op Hunt [*] Co-Op Evac [*] Uplink [*] Assault [*] Fire Fight[/list] There is a lot to discover with the new game mode. In addition to all the work that was put into Mercenary Mode and the features that it uses (such as AI and Icons) the team worked on loads of bug fixes and other improvements throughout the game. Details can be read below for all the changes that went into Update 1.14. [h2]Change Log: [/h2] [h3]System[/h3] [list] [*] Improved the performance of the licenses screen [*] Fixed an issue where a player couldn't start a server after having previously lost connection to the internet during a previous attempt to start a server [*] Fixed an issue where a host was unable to select a map after being made host during a map transition [*] Fixed an error message popping up when attempting to start a server with a custom map that requires an update [*] Fixed an issue where the Center Marker setting fails to take effect when players modify the setting from within the tent [*] Fixed all servers briefly showing as 'closed' in the server browser when a player is joining a server [*] Fixed map vote options being restricted to custom maps only after changing a lobby from Private to Public [*] Fixed an issue that would prevent players from joining a public server if that server had previously been private [*] Fixed a permanent hang that would occur if players first tried to join a full lobby, and then entered the tutorial [*] Fixed an issue where a lobby host could not reselect custom maps in certain cases [*] Fixed several issues that caused weapons to jitter when players use the Virtual Gun Stock setting [*] Fixed players experiencing an input offset in the main menu and tent after changing the desktop mirror screen size on PC [*] Removed the option to invite PC players to private lobbies as this functionality was causing unintended behaviors. It has been updated to be consistent across all platforms [*] Fixed the caster instructions disappearing after loading in as an observer on PC [*] Fixed caster mode lacking character model highlights, bullet impact events and first person smoke visuals on PC [/list] [h3]UI/UX[/h3] [list] [*] Updated objective icons for the tablet and added elevation indicators [*] Fixed the Volk scoreboard being visible in Coop matches [*] Updated several descriptions in various menus and the tutorial that showed outdated or incorrect information [*] Fixed the timeout button being visible in the tent between rounds in competitive lobbies [*] Fixed the grenades selection being retained on the UI when setting progression to 'Fixed Decreasing' throughout Gun Game [*] Fixed an issue where the FOB didn't have the correct art displayed during a map vote [*] Fixed the incorrect Uplink icon being used in the tutorial [*] Fixed turning instructions not appearing in the tutorial if a player has smooth turning enabled [*] Fixed the 'Gunstock Calibration Settings' button being overlapped by the loadout list in certain circumstances [*] Fixed the 'Calibrate Gunstock' button does not shifting to the other side of the screen when gripping the tablet with the right hand [*] Gameplay [*] Fixed an issue that caused the reason for failing an evac mission was not being displayed [*] Fixed players being able to exceed team capacity by grabbing helmets at the same time [*] Fixed an issue where a player would become unable to interact with objects after detonating a C4 explosive during spawn-in [*] Fixed an issue where a fallen teammate would not show up on the tablet [*] Fixed users being able to move at a time where they shouldn't be able to in the tutorial, after they injected themself with the syringe [/list] [b]Co-Op[/b] [list] [*] Bots can now flashbang doorways [*] Improved the bots' ability to go around corners [*] Improved bot defensive behaviors [*] Added an automatic rifleman class for bots [*] Fixed bots not reacting consistently to players who repeatedly grabbed and let go of the ballistic shield [*] Fixed bot movement animations being odd in different ways if bots were traveling short distances [*] Fixed players clipping through the exfil helicopter as it flies away [*] Fixed bots not animating for non-host players when throwing a grenade [*] Fixed bots dropping pistols with invisible magazines [*] Fixed a crash on Egress related to picking up a weapon that had been dropped by a bot [*] Fixed the TT-30 and Five-Seven not being used for AI side arms [*] Fixed bot footstep sounds being absent if a player wasn't looking at them [/list] [b]Core Modes[/b] [list] [*] Fixed an issue where a player could successfully complete a Fire Fight mission even if they had dropped the hard drive prior to boarding the helicopter [*] Fixed an issue where players would get stuck in the Tent after being defibrillated by one user and then killed by another during Fire Fight matches [*] Fixed the hard drive being able to fall through the helicopter ramp in Fire Fight [*] Fixed issues that occur when placing a hard drive in an elevator in Fire Fight [*] Fixed the hard drive lacking sound effects when being dropped [*] Fixed an issue where a player would get stuck on a black screen if they spawned in as the uplink was being sent in Assault [*] Fixed an issue that caused the tablet code to not change after a round of Uplink was reset [/list] [h3]Maps[/h3] [list] [*] Fixed the skybox remaining visible when players are blinded by flashlights during ongoing Spec Ops matches on Night maps [*] Fixed performance issues in various maps and in the tutorial [*] Fixed several instances where players would get killed by an over enthusiastic anti-exploit measure on Turbine, Bazaar, FOB Bassett and Downfall maps [*] Fixed several instances where a player could get stuck on FOB Basset or during the tutorial [*] Fixed several buildings appearing too bright on Quarantine Day [*] Fixed multiple instances of LOD-popping on Cargo [*] Fixed two instances of air drones being able to fly into unintended areas on Bazaar [*] Fixed several collider issues in Bazaar [*] Fixed a culling issue in Bazaar [*] Fixed the Standing Dual Floodlight bulbs at the basketball courtyard appearing to be turned off, even though the light was on [*] Fixed an issue in Abandoned that would cause players to always spawn in the same location [*] Fixed several missing colliders on FOB Bassett [*] Fixed inconsistent lighting in certain places on Cargo and FOB Bassett [*] Fixed gunshot sound effects not being differentiated between indoor and outdoor areas in Bazaar [*] Fixed a set of power panels lacking collision in Bazaar [*] Fixed inconsistent bullet decals on Bazaar [*] Improved shading and lighting in Bazaar [*] Fixes z-fighting on the awnings in Bazaar [*] Fixed brick wall textures changing as the player moves around them in Bazaar [*] Fixed floating power lines in Bazaar [*] Fixed the skybox being overly bright on Shooting Range night on Quest [*] Fixed the flashlight not illuminating when pointed at the ground in Downfall [*] Fixed culling issues in Abandoned [*] Fixed an inconsistency in lighting for the weapons cases on Bazaar [*] Fixed the loading screen for Cargo Night using assets for Cargo Day [*] Fixed culling issues on Abandoned [*] Fixed the ammo box spawning outside of a player's reach in FOB Bassett [/list] [h3]Weapons and Utilities[/h3] [list] [*] Changed the flashbang effect so that it produces a dark red visual effect instead of a white one [*] Fixed a performance issue that caused a momentary frame drop when NVG was enabled for the first time [*] Fixed a performance issue that caused a momentary frame drop when picking up a weapon with an active flashlight, or when activating a flashlight for the first time [*] Fixed smoke plumes not appearing to a player who is observing another player in the tent [*] Fixed intense reflections being visible when looking at chem lights or scopes [*] Fixed the Night vision goggles appearing black in loadout and gameplay [*] Fixed players being unable to lock the bolt on the G3A3 and MP5 if that weapon had previously been dropped by another player [*] Fixed several instances of Night Vision Goggles not properly illuminating dark areas in various maps [*] Fixed shields being pre-gripped in the non-dominant hand when users choose to spawn with the 'Hold To Grip' setting disabled [*] Fixed flashlights appearing to be turned off if a player joined mid-way through a match [/list] [h3]Known Issues:[/h3] [list] [*] Rarely, Mercenary sub-modes can become desynced across users when a user joins an active session. Once you start a new lobby this should be resolved. [*] Players can sometimes experience inconsistent drops in performance in very populated servers on Bazaar [*] Some players can become stuck in a black screen when the host is transferred to a player who quit the app when in hideout. Starting a new lobby should resolve this. [*] Some Oculus PC players can experience black screen flickering with NVG on during gameplay. [/list]