Hunters, assemble! Welcome to the first Update after the summer break! Did you miss Steel Hunters? We surely missed you and are happy to resume our usual sessions with renewed vigor and passion. While this wait was a long one, we did not simply sit around and do nothing. So let me, your humble servant MirAI, recount all the events and list the changes you will experience very soon. First and foremost, version 0.28 is a special one (again?) . As some of you might recall, we had only the Steel Lab for Update 0.27 in late July and then went on a summer hiatus. So, the upcoming release will contain features that the most active of you have already had a sneak peek at, but with fewer bugs. On top of that, we have been working hard throughout all these summer months because we promised to deliver something meaningful and interesting to play with once we come back to you. We'll elaborate on that later. The last organizational change that you might notice is that from now on the playtest schedule will be more dispersed throughout the months due to the newly-implemented and longer development cycle. This will give us more time to focus on the bigger features that we'd like to bring to Steel Hunters and increase the quality of the final product through rigorous testing before the game build reaches you. And doing that at a more comfortable pace. How will this affect you? We'll have two weeks between Steel Lab tests and the major version release for everyone, and this time will be spent wisely - on fixing found bugs and improving the version in accordance with the data we collect and the feedback you provide. This increases the importance of the Steel Lab initiative (which we would like to renew as well) and attract additional people at earlier stages of testing. Now, putting all formal things aside, let's review the features of 0.28 together. [h2]Hibernation is over[/h2] That is fully applicable to our new Ursus. Big Momma Bear got a lot of love and care from us in the form of a massive upgrade from all sides: from a renewed Hunter model, animation, and sound design to the gameplay mechanics and her role in the main roster. It's no secret that we've got a lot of valid feedback from you throughout the year questioning Ursus' build. She was a character of many contradictions: sporting an ice shield and looking like a perfect tank type while possessing the long-range rocket launcher like a seasoned sniper - all of that prevented you from living your "bear-fantasies" to the maximum. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42049322/36da462443b4e223c8d05b69a1fa887aef64fddd.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42049322/1973dbf9c9244aa4e3715731a7b12361cd85da80.jpg[/img] We would like to think that the renewed Ursus leans more toward buff close combat fighter, so we had to upgrade all things, starting with the main weapon. The old variant was a hitscan type of launcher, and its nature made it applicable at most ranges while being absolutely average in performance at all of them. You could spam enemies from any distance, which cost' Ursus her designated role in the duo. The new rapid-firing shotgun is styled for close encounters while being less effective at the mid- or long-range distances, and fits the designated Hunter paradigm "to a T". Changes did not stop just there - we also worked on both abilities. Ursus' rockets had the same issue as the main weapon, they were too versatile and good at any distance, which put other Hunters at disadvantage. So, we designed a more elaborate system and changed the activation principle: you need Rage Charge to unleash your F.A.N.G. Rockets. As before, they auto-aim on the locked target and hit at a close distance. The novelty of the Rage Charge lies in its accumulation - to get Rage Points you need to receive or deal damage (the additional source depends on the chosen Mod), which implies being front and center in each encounter. If Ursus does not fulfill the criteria, Rage Charge decreases over time, so it's beneficial to be the center of attention to go full rockets galore. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rm_jyulhB9c?si=kf7JVmatZvpHPUQf Surviving under constant fire won't be feasible without some work on the Glacial Armor. Much-needed changes included an overall buff of the Ability as well as providing you with more choices through revamped Mod system. Some of them change the gameplay style as well, for example, Freejack Mod allows Ursus escape the heat of the battle by enabling unbreakable supersprint as well as becoming invisible if the Shell remains 'til the end. Mainframe has been modified as well, giving you two Mod options, which enhance Ability Power or Shields. As any other change, the full Hunter revamp might seem shocking to some of the Ursus enthusiasts. But bear with us (pun absolutely intended), after a couple of matches you will be able to ease to the new gameplay, and we hope you will enjoy it. As always, your feedback is much appreciated! [h2]Clans[/h2] If we talk about the features that came with the 0.27 version, the most prominent one would be the Clan system. Even though it was introduced in a very barebones state, it will serve as a foundation for further Social interaction and will grow in size and functionality. For now, you can create and delete clans or search for a suitable in-game home for yourself. It's not much but it's honest work. In tune with the appearance of clans in the game, we hosted an event on Discord where you could come up with your Clan history, lore setting and codex. And now you can actually put your ideas to the test and recreate clans in the game. More details about the first rendition of Clans can be found [url=https://steelhunters.com/blogs/entry/147-introduction-to-clans/]here[/url]. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42049322/55ea5bd5b32b0162a0a21cb61a1edb2dc540f4bf.jpg[/img] [h2]Maps[/h2] Our canonical playgrounds for Hunters become prettier with each update. This time we decided to turn our gaze to the existing Industrial Zone on Maryland Heights and brush up the abandoned construction site. The most attentive of you will also notice changes to the buildings' textures in the aforementioned area. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42049322/7ce46e0f9d288fc76ed5e8d21af0db1b96a86234.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42049322/dd544fdca76891080eb4c93c10b518fc205cfacf.jpg[/img] We don't stand still in our map endeavors. The same can be said about water on the maps: our rivers and springs have never looked more realistic. The foaming ripples, light coming through and reaching the bottom, realistic splashing. All of it can now be applied to Steel Hunters. Check it for yourself! https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_pI5F1SgwE?si=ZSK_nEbaK0yHMx9_ [h2]Audio[/h2] New tunes and overall sound improvements - that is something we keep delivering with each passing update. Right off the bat you can notice that our match announcer has a new voice. Steel Lab testers have noticed that and report that it was a welcome improvement. We recommend switching on the sound in the game and testing that for yourself this weekend. In addition to that, you can check the latest soundtrack for Crimson Ridge called "Alodune", as well as the new rendition of the Hangar theme and Login screen music. More Steel Hunters music from the game can be found on our [url=https://soundcloud.com/steel_hunters]Soundclound Page[/url].   All in all, we are happy to get back on track and present something of a greater value this time. New Ursus is just the stepping stone for bigger surprises that await you this autumn after our annual Summer break. Several words shall be said about the pause in the tests itself: part of the team has embarked on a big move behind the scenes and now resides in two core locations, united in spirit. But that required a lot of time, planning, and effort from all sides involved, including finding lost baggage, pets and kids drop shipping, apartment hunting, and all that jazz. We keep the development steady and have a positive outlook on the future of the game. With your unwavering support and feedback we are confident that Steel Hunters will make a grand entrance into the shooter genre. As for now, it's time to update your Game Launchers and queue for the matches! Keep huntin', my friends!