Hey, everyone!

Patch V1034.2 is now available. Though we have not yet been able to work out the online rubber-banding issue, we had a lot of changes and fixes that were not worth holding back any longer.

Thanks for your patience and reports so far! We hope to have a fix for the rubber-banding soon, along with the official modding implementation.

📢 IMPORTANT NOTICE to server owners re: rubber-banding

We're aware of the severe online rubber-banding issue, and although we haven't fully determined the cause yet (we have a lead!) we did notice that the issue keeps increasing in severity the longer the server is live. Restarting the server usually fixes the issue.

👉 As a temporary solution, we suggest admins/owners set up their servers to automatically restart every 4–6 hours.

❗ KNOWN ISSUE: Ready Room aiming bug

Due to complex fixes to weapon zeros, aiming down sights may cause the camera to align with the top rail rather than the sight. This is limited to the Ready Room only.

👉 To fix it, simply re-equip your kit (via locker or workbench) or deploy to the play area.

• Made suppressed weapons less audible for AI (range reduction by 40% — WIP, testing things out)
  
• Increased influence of light scale to the overall character visibility: AI should no longer easily spot players in the dark
  
• Big AI update:
  
  
  • Added AI coordinator system — the basis for exchange of information between AI bots
    
  • Added target handling to GBKytController to register with the AICoordinator
    
  • Enabled new hearing system for gunshots (now uses same system as footsteps)
    
  • Gunshot range is treated differently for suppressed and unsuppressed weapons
    
  • Fixed AI going prone when close to enemy, now require distance > 40 m
    
  • Fixed a bug where AI wouldn't shoot when advancing towards the target
    
  • Added new separation between cover behaviors for crouching and when leaning out of cover
    
  • Reworked engagement rules for AI taking into account the current enemies that are engaging the player through the AI coordinator system
    
  • Fixed an issue where Guard AI would follow noise but Patrol AI would not (reversed)
    
  • Adding new behavior sub-trees for firing from cover
    
  • Updated spatial queries for cover generation
    
  • Slightly increased hearing distance for AI on 747, Compound and Depot
    

• Major audio overhaul to improve and fix ambient sounds:
  
  
  • Improved audio quality conversion — more details in the soundscape should now be hearable, and levels should now generally sound better and more "alive"
    
  • Ensured ambient sounds update correctly when time of day (TOD) is changed
    
• Fixed audio-related crash
  
• Updated attenuation for third-person footsteps (should no longer be loud and just cut off)
  
• Fixed third-person prone movement sounds
  
• Added further logic to prevent Ready Room sounds being hearable from play area (and vice versa)
  
• Fixed power boxes not emitting the electric buzz on first play

• Ongoing rework to improve/fix animation for NVG being lowered/raised in different stances and with different items being equipped
  
• Fixed animations to follow the new finger outside of trigger guard
  
• Fixed Specter DR 1x/4x lever animation being offset

• Updated keybinds list in Settings > Controls to improve the names of a few actions and to ensure consistency between Keyboard/Mouse and Controller keybinds
  
• Added tooltip hint to "Night Vision Goggles" keybind to reinforce that goggles must be equipped on the character for the bind to be functional
  
• Hopefully fixed wibbly-wobbly VOIP indicator issue
  
• Attempted fix for reticles not keeping their color and different laser dot effects occurring when using colorblind filters
  
• Changed colorblind filter notice text at top-right to be smaller and less obtrusive
  
• Made Headcam the default spectator camera, by popular request
  
• Returning to Settings menu (from play area) no longer re-selects the Controls screen (now leaves it on whichever settings screen was open previously)
  
• Hiding the HUD in Headcam spectator view (default H) now hides the minimap and displays basic player info
  
• Tablet now shows player names for everyone, if in Training mode
  
• Updated City minimap so as to encompass the bank vault area
  
• Fixed bug where clearing an inventory item in character editor did not clear the [CUSTOM] tag and color scheme
  
• Cleaned up radial menus:
  
  
  • Style consistency pass (background, hover, font, formatting etc.)
    
  • Renamed attachment functions for better clarity
    
• Minor art/style pass on Rangefinder overlay to be closer to reference (increased text size and made it all-caps, tweaked HUD color and position)
  
• Updated Patches menu/dialog (Customize Operator screen) to allow hitting Esc to close it

• Prone is no longer affected by stamina and arm strength (WIP, temporary)
  
• Removed ability to re-pin grenades
  
• Water: fixed bodies of water blocking projectiles, grenades colliding with water surfaces, and clean water blocking lasers (should still block if dirty water)
  
• Dying underwater and/or resurfacing should also correctly clear the underwater effect
  
• Fixed retention reloads dropping the first magazine with certain weapons (e.g. M110, MK46)
  
• Big cleanup of iron sights and optics zeros — let us know if you catch any bad ones still!
  
• Fixed some scopes seeing through walls (may require new weapon builds to be created)

• Art pass on Roster whiteboard (Ready Room):
  
  
  • Replaced font with more readable alternative
    
  • Replaced status icons with text (OK = alive, KIA = dead, Prep = in Ready Room, Spec = in Spectator Mode)
    
  • Minor alignment and formatting changes
    
  • Updated text for Team Element selection instructions
    
• Changed font for Ready Room locker name plates
  
• Fixed Male 04's Short Beard using the wrong mesh (model geometry)
  
• Moved FAL rear sight mesh back to 200 m setting (issues with gun zeroing to 600 m)
  
• Updated various iron sight meshes to fix zeroing issues
  
• Removed suppressor socket from Wz88 as it should not accept one
  
• Changed SA58 OSW's suppressor (now uses SureFire FA762K, same as the MK14 EBR's)
  
• Created Black skin for the SureFire FA762K (available as an alternate skin for the MK14 EBR and SA58 OSW)
  
• Removed socket from AccuPower 1–8x that allowed RMR (Flat Mount) to be attached

• Miscellaneous mission fixes:
  
  
  • Fixed random barrels in deck in Rig (Defuse)
    
  • Fixed up some floating laptops in Small Town (Intel Retrieval)
    
  • Tweaked laptop position in building D basement in Small Town Uplink
    
  • Minor cleanup on 747 intel retrieval mission (moved laptop off Cessna struct even though placement was FINE really)
    
  • Tweaked 747 PVE missions to remove AI from the avionics room (collision, clipping into ceiling and pathing seemed a bit tricksy overall)
    
  • Adjusted OnHit logic in Defuse mission object so as to only run on server and ignore any hits except from bullets (so players can jump on bombs without consequences)
    
• Fixed a few light portal bugs in City
  
• Turned a few lights on in the City bank for all times of day
  
• Fixed a few LOD/mesh culling issues in City and Run Down
  
• Fixed a few mesh-culling issues in Rig
  
• Overhaul of Mission Editor and mission structure to add version control and fallback AI loadouts:
  
  
  • Missions with out of date version number won’t show in mission selection screens
    
  • Old missions (V1033, V1034.0, V1034.1) need to be loaded and resaved in editor
    
  • If saved AI kits don’t load, mission loadouts will be used. If they don’t load, AI won’t spawn
    
  • All standard missions updated via script
    
  • Lots more changed under the hood, including in kit validation systems
    
  • Ran script to remove AI spawn points from Deathmatch missions
    
  • Ran script to convert Deathmatch missions to Last Man Standing versions
    
• Optimized and cleaned up collision on some Rig and Docks assets
  
• Small tweak to ladders on Small Town to make it less likely that AI gets stuck here
  
• Fixed LOD and culling issues on City and Power Station
  
• Fixed nasty LOD on building in Compound
  
• Added UV offset to conifer LOD materials to fix a strip of ground that would appear on the tree when playing on lower graphical settings

• Fixed problems with ResAtMe and ResNear commands
  
• Fixed up player names not appearing on Tablet: slightly changed behavior so names appear whether in play or in Ready Room, but not if not assigned to a team (e.g. when in a free-for-all mode, or in Ready Room reception lobby)
  
• Fixed spectator-only players getting stuck at loading screen, not seeing the correct sky, and being shown respawn option
  
• Many, many under-the-hood changes and fixes

Yesterday's Patch V1034.1 had a couple of issues that caused AI to rush towards players, have perfect night vision and possibly other unintended behaviors.

We've worked overnight to diagnose and fix these issues, and things should now be back to the intended AI changes and behavior described in yesterday's patch notes.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Happy Thursday, folks!

This initial patch for V1034 fixes various crashes some art-related bugs, and does a little back-end cleanup. It also tweaks audio and AI slightly.

📢 IMPORTANT NOTICE to server owners re: rubber-banding

We're aware of the severe online rubber-banding issue, and although we haven't fully determined the cause yet (we have a lead!) we did notice that the issue keeps increasing in severity the longer the server is live. Restarting the server usually fixes the issue.

👉 As a temporary solution, we suggest admins/owners set up their servers to automatically restart every 4–6 hours.

We're currently compiling a list of needs for patch V1034.2, to be released in a few weeks and hopefully fixing the rubber-banding and other major issues.

• Hostage Rescue: fixed restraints and hood not being removed after the hostage was released
  
• Fixed issues with kit being applied on top of existing kit in Training mode (such as when in The Farm online)
  
• Various crash fixes
  
• Cleaned up a lot of under-the-hood logic and log spam

• Changed how gunshots are processed by the AI: now uses the same system as footsteps, which should make bots more reactive to gunfire (especially when nearby)
  
• Tweaked "Untrained" AI difficulty to make it a bit easier

• Docks: fixed ramp/boat connections causing bots to get stuck
  
• Docks: fixed getting stuck in spools
  
• Small Town: fixed visible hole in rocks (southwest spawn area)
  
• The Farm: fixed small light above the exit door that wouldn’t turn off when the power box was disabled)
  
• Fixed issue in Storage Facility with the landscape LOD covering part of the main tunnel entrance when viewing at distance
  
• Cleaned up some collision issues in City subway area

• Fixed bad normal map on the MPX submachine gun

• Possible fix for gunshots and explosions on the map being audible from the Ready Room (NOTE: frags might still be audible)
  
• Updated player footsteps: slight attenuation change and volume increase
  
• Fixed MK14 EBR reload audio being out of sync with animation
  
• Added female voice line for "Covering" comms (G)

• Added footstep particles to the forest floor surface type

Hey, everyone!

Thank you for your patience and support while we worked on the latest update for GROUND BRANCH V1034. Though this has been a tough testing and debugging season thanks to major system changes — particularly AI and animations — the official release is now among us!

🗒️ For a detailed list of changes, please see our patch notes for the V1034 Community Test releases over the last few months here.

For the non-masochists among us, keep reading as we have a more readable summary of the main changes to the game since our last main release (V1033). But first:

⛔ IMPORTANT: Clearing your old files is recommended!

If you are coming from V1033 or have not downloaded a Community Test build in a while, you need to delete all contents in the following locations (copy-paste these paths into your File Explorer address bar):

1. %LOCALAPPDATA%\GroundBranch\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor
   
2. Documents\GroundBranch

⚠️ Not doing so will cause various asset and input issues in your game.

Once you've updated to V1034 and launched GROUND BRANCH, you'll be greeted with a new pop-up dialog that lets you choose between running the game in either DX11 (the default option we've always had) or DX12 mode (previously available only via the -dx12 launch parameter).

DX12 (DirectX 12) mode is required to use the new NVIDIA DLSS 3 Frame Generation video setting, which users of GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs will benefit from in terms of framerates. If you're one such user, here's how to enable it:

• Launch GROUND BRANCH in DX12 mode
  
• Go to Settings ► Video
  
• Under the "Video" section, look for NVIDIA DLSS 3 Frame Generation and select "On" from the dropdown menu
  
• Apply the new settings

💡 Users of different graphics cards may experience improved performance from running GROUND BRANCH in DX12 mode, regardless of the DLSS 3 Frame Generation setting. We recommend everyone to try it out and see how their system reacts.

The user interface and general user experience have received a number of updates in V1034, with multiple new options introduced. Here are some of the main changes to look out for:

• Pressing [Esc] during single player sessions will now pause the game
  
• Added a headcam-style camera to Spectator Mode, also accessible as a debug camera ([Ctrl]+[↑])
  
• The portion of the Gameplay settings dedicated to on-screen elements has been split into the new HUD menu
  
• Colorblindness settings have been added to Settings ► Video (Advanced)
  
• The Server Browser now features an expanded info box (listing players per team, as well as active mods) when a server is clicked
  
• The Ops Board in the Ready Room now has a ↻ button to re-randomize objectives and insertion points
  
• Players can now volunteer for game mode-specific roles — such as the hostage (Hostage Rescue) or flag carrier (DTAS) — by clicking the Volunteer button next to their name in the Session Roster
  
• Servers can now allow friendly name tags in-game: these only appear when the player is pointing at a teammate from within a certain range; you can disable this feature for yourself in Settings ► HUD
  
• Callsign patches will now be displayed on the back of Headgear items
  
• The Mission Editor was updated, and validators now check for collision and navmesh issues
  
• Skin selection now features standardized swatch-like icons, especially useful for previewing camo patterns

• More comprehensive server admin options/settings, including the option to restart a server in-game and to schedule server restarts for particular times of day
  
• Server admins can now lock (disable) the Ready Room test shooting range

• A plethora of optimizations to various maps and game systems
  
• Cleaned up various UI elements to improve readability, formatting and consistency
  
• A load of bug fixes, including not being able to change the enemy count via Ops Board

We have now made the switch to the Kythera AI middleware, replacing the stock Unreal Engine 4 AI system. We had paused AI development in a less-than-ideal state for a few updates in anticipation of this change, but luckily nobody noticed or brought it up ever.

Kythera is not a complete AI solution, but a tool that allows us to implement AI in more flexible and effective ways. We still had to do a whole ton of work behind the scenes to get everything working properly, and a lot of work remains as we'll explain further.

💡 Thanks in particular to Chris, who has cemented his reputation as our official AI guy, and to Kythera for working closely with us and helping iron out the odd AI wrinkle.

You will notice a wide variety of changes in how the AI behaves. Overall, the AI should now be more "life-like" and more challenging in some aspects, but without having as much of an aimbot feel to them. AI senses (sight and hearing) have been continually tweaked, and benefit from improved pathing and more sophisticated actions: AI will return fire and take cover as before, but they may now crouch and go prone in certain contexts (e.g. lack of nearby cover), use suppressive fire to keep players pinned down, form spontaneous squads, hold close to guard points (as close as mission designers specify), react to dead bodies, and use a few more call-outs.

At lower difficulty levels, AI will now also fire tracers — with higher frequency at lower skill levels — and have more frequent muzzle flash effects to help less hardcore players figure out where they're being shot from.

https://youtu.be/-0NQznSKII0

Stance and movement should also have a greater impact on detection, so be sure to move slowly and keep a low profile if you're trying to be sneaky.

Missions have also been given a once-over to check specifically for collision and navmesh issues, so the AI should now flow around maps more easily in existing missions.

💡 One important aspect of AI presentation still missing is more varied animations, as the lack of specific motions to convey all the different AI behaviors makes bots retain a lot of their "roboticness". The lack of natural "idle" animations also contributes to this.

We'll of course continue to iterate on that an other aspects of AI as things progress, including providing friendly AI support (that is, AI teammates) as well as more sophisticated and natural-looking enemy AI.

New voice lines are also recorded and waiting to be implemented in a future update cycle.


Prone (a.k.a. lying on the ground) has been on our to-do list for a while, but we didn't want to do it until we could do it right™. After another extensive and necessary under-the-hood overhaul to support the new stance, it is now in and working thanks to the combined efforts of Kris and Mike.

There are still some kinks to work out, but even so, we think we have created a solid base to build upon. Here's how it currently works:

• To toggle between your current stance and prone, hit the Prone key (default [Z])
  
• Going prone while sprinting will perform a dive
  
• Pressing Jump while prone will immediately switch to standing, regardless of your stance before going prone
  
• Once prone, you will not be able to aim beyond a limited horizontal arc, while vertical aiming will be limited by the ground at the bottom and a fairly modest upwards angle
  
• Pressing any movement key while looking/aiming off to either side will rotate your character in place to align their lower body with their upper body
  
• You can crawl in all directions by using your movement keys. You can crawl faster by holding the Run key (default [Shift])

While prone, the limited aiming angles require rotating your character to cover different areas

By assigning keys to the new Stance Up and Stance Down keybinds, you may also use an alternative control scheme that sequences between Standing ↔ Crouched ↔ Prone instead of transitioning directly to/from prone.

Keep in mind!

❌ Going prone will interrupt certain actions, such as reloading — if you hit the dirt while reloading, make sure you have a magazine in the well and a round in the chamber!

❌ Most actions (shooting, reloading, changing items etc.) will interrupt movement while prone, and you cannot start crawling while these actions are being performed.

❌ While prone, you're also unable to perform most world interactions, such as opening doors, deploying breaching charges or interacting with mission objectives.

❌ You will not be able to go prone if there's not enough room for your character's full body length.

• Characters now react to weapon recoil against their upper body when firing
  
• Death animations have been created for crouched and prone stances
  
• Death animations from the standing position received some polish as well
  
• Leaning now uses actual poses that look more natural
  
• The Breaching Charge now has an animation for setting up the charge on doors, as well as for triggering the detonator
  
• Switching weapons got a polish pass
  
• Improved animations and hand poses for AK-type rifles
  
• Hand poses in general — such as how your character holds grenades — were also slightly updated
  
• Lastly, animations and poses were created for the new and updated weapons (we'll get to those!)

🐞 Your character's support (left) arm will bend in unnatural ways when moving while holding various primary weapons with no foregrip equipped. This is due to the animation rework and will be fixed in a point release.

Another notable addition to gameplay is the Focus Zoom ability. As the name suggests, it allows you to zoom in on your sight picture, giving reticles and targets more pixels to work with on your screen and making ranged shots a better experience.

Focus Zoom is bound to Hold [Ctrl] by default (same key as Steady Aim) but can be changed in Settings ► Controls.

💡 Keep in mind that the Focus Zoom function will disengage if you move, or if you move your weapon too fast.

We are very pleased to welcome playable female characters to the Ready Room, in the spirit of the classic Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six games that inspired GROUND BRANCH.

The addition also encouraged us to finally get some hairstyles implemented, and so we did. Here's what's new:

• 7 new characters (Females 01–06 and Male 06), selectable under the APPEARANCE tab
  
• 4 male hairstyles (Crew Cut A, Crew Cut B, Caesar Cut and Long Cut) under the new HAIR tab
  
• 4 female hairstyles (Straight Bun, Textured Bun and Buzzcut) under the new HAIR tab
  
• 1 new beard style (Short Beard) under the FACIAL HAIR tab

💡 Additional hairstyles and customization options (such as hair color) will follow in future updates.

In addition to a big revision of gear and outfit skins to look more authentic and consistent, a handful of new skins were also created for the following items:

• Tactical Pants: Coyote Brown
  
• Ball Cap / Ball Cap (Reverse): DCP / AOR-1 / M81
  
• Boonie Hat / Boonie Hat (Folded): UCP
  
• Helmet (HC): OCP / AOR-1 / AOR-2
  
• Headset: Foliage Green

A new version of the Flannel Shirt with the popular "Buffalo plaid" pattern was also added in 8 different colors.

💡 The old pattern shirt is still available — we renamed it Light Flannel Shirt.

🏳️ In case you missed the Intel Report and discussion: most country flag patches have been removed from the game. More details in this post.

SA58 OSW (top) and Galil ARM (bottom)

As is tradition in our main releases, V1034 introduces a few new blasters to the armory:

• SA58 OSW battle rifle ([Battle Rifle / DMR / Sniper Rifle] category)
  This modernized, highly compact version of the FAL battle rifle features multiple accessory rails. Magazine capacity is 20 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition. Can be fitted with a suppressor.
  
• Galil ARM automatic rifle ([Machine Gun] category)
  A 5.56 mm NATO rifle created for the squad automatic weapon role, the Galil ARM can fit either 35- or 50-round magazines.
  
• FAL battle rifle ([Battle Rifle / DMR / Sniper Rifle] category)
  The FAL with wooden furniture (based on the very rare FAL G-series) last seen in V1033 as the FAL (Vintage) is now replaced with a more appropriate and far more common variant fitted with a polymer stock and handguard. It still fires 7.62 mm NATO ammunition from a 20-round magazine.

💡 The MPX 9 mm submachine gun has also been updated with a new model.

A radio pouch and PTT (push-to-talk) module are now a fixed part of most Platform items in the game, with the exception of the Ballistic Vest. While mostly a cosmetic addition that helps build up the characters visually and get players more immersed, the radio pouch has taken the place of a customizable pouch slot in some platforms — so keep that in mind when re-creating your builds. The presence of the radio system on your character has otherwise no gameplay effect.


Official GROUND BRANCH modding is… coming. Callum has put in a lot of work to create an SDK (Software Development Kit) for the game, and a lot of the internals of the game have been rejigged to facilitate the use of third-party mods via Steam Workshop.

We still have some hoops to jump through before we can officially release the SDK, but that should be sorted soon and allow the release in a V1034 point release (patch).

💡 Initial SDK release will include the ability to add new weapons, with further modding coming later.

• The classic Small Town map has been extensively overhauled by Will, who returns to the team after a brief hiatus
  
• The Farm has had cosmetic updates to bring it into consistency with (and indeed proximity to) Small Town — canonically establishing both maps as part of the same training complex in Camp Peary
  
• City was extended with a fun new bank area and a few other new enterable buildings
  
• Lots of other maps have had touch-ups and plenty of bug fixes here and there

We are also laying the groundwork for more interactive and interesting maps and missions. For example, Compound now has a call to prayer at (approximately) correct astronomically-based times of day. City is now overseen by a nosey news helicopter that can be scared away with sprays of gunfire. And now that players can crawl underwater in prone, Creek and various other maps have been outfitted with brand new underwater effects.

🐞 The animation for City's helicopter bailing out may not be playing correct. We're looking into it.

Missions have also been tweaked, bug-fixed, and in some cases new missions have been added. Rig now sports a new Hostage Rescue mission set in the accommodation block, for example, and new mission variants for Hostage Rescue and Terrorist Hunt have been created for City.

💡 With the new AI and prone capability, even existing missions may play quite differently from V1033 — give them a try!

V1034 launches with the return of the Defuse game mode, now also available in co-op.

In Defuse, you'll race against the clock to defuse a number of explosives around the mission area, guarded of course by AI enemies.

• The default amount of explosives to defuse is 2, with the default timer at 15 minutes and a default defuse time of 10 seconds per bomb. These can all be customized via Ops Board before deploying.
  
• To defuse a bomb, look at the LED display and hold Use/Interact (default [F]) when the prompt appears. You should see a progress bar filling up in LED display.
  
• Throw a careless grenade or shoot wildly at the bombs and you may find yourself making a lot of new friends.

💡 The Extraction game mode — essentially a PvE version of Hostage Rescue — is slated for a V1034 point release (a small update or patch), building on the new AI and animation work. Stay tuned for updates on this as well.

While we're talking game modes, the laptop in Intel Retrieval is now automatically grabbed and put away after finishing the search — just a little streamlining to make things less redundant and frustrating.

🐞 Due to changes in underlying systems, Hostage Rescue is in a work-in-progress (WIP) state, with some bugs remaining in relation to leading and restrained behaviors. However, the core gameplay should still work (including the new Volunteer function).

In addition to all of the sound work done to support prone movement, the new weapons and female voice lines (via Comms Menu), audio was also updated in these areas:

As announced in Intel Report #017[www.groundbranch.com], we have partnered up with composer and sound designer Venus Theory[venustheory.com], who is authoring the soundtrack for GROUND BRANCH. This release already features a few of his tracks in the main menu, transition screens, and the Ready Room. We're excited to hear your thoughts on them!

• Optimized audio occlusion and diffraction when inside buildings
  
• Indoor audio now reacts to whether a door is open or closed (this can now be expanded to account for the material of the room/building)
  
• Fixed missing ambient sounds for all maps
  
• Updated attenuation for various distances to provide more spatial awareness and distance for varying sounds

🐞 When playing online, The Farm does not play audio for various actions. We have been unable to fix this so far, but are working on it.

• Power boxes now have a distinctive electric "hum" when active, and will also play a sound when switching the lever on/off

🐞 In some cases, the hum will not play at the start of an online round.

• Added localized beeping and explosion SFX for Defuse's bombs, as well as sound effects for closing and putting away Intel Retrieval's laptop
  
• Implemented and fine-tuned news helicopter audio and attenuation (City)

Updated overall mix for gunshots, reloads, character foley and environment:

• Character movement (e.g. footsteps) now sounds quieter and more balanced in the mix
  
• Reloads are less sharp and overpowering compared to other sounds
  
• Gunshots are slightly less loud in general, with suppressed gunshots now also being slightly quieter than their unsuppressed counterparts
  
• Weapon sounds now have more room reverb compared to the environmental audio and character movement

Visual effects have been generally reworked in V1034:

• Blood splatter on surfaces has been re-introduced, with new decals created
  
• Grenade effects and bullet impacts
  
  
  • New particles for smokescreen and frag explosions were created
    
  • New material-based bullet impacts were added
    
  • Various props and materials not displaying correct bullet impacts were fixed
• Muzzle and weapon effects
  
  
  • Muzzle flash and smoke have all been updated, and a shockwave effect was added
    
  • Ejection ports now also generate smoke when shooting
• Light fixture effects
  
  
  • Outdoor light fixtures now attract bugs at night
    
  • Shooting out lights now generates sparkle particles
    
  • Most light fixtures now have a proper "destroyed" version when shot out

Frag explosion

Light bugs

Light fixture destruction

---

By the time you're done reading this, we're already fixing pending issues and on the lookout for reports like a pack of airport security dogs.

We'll most likely push the first patch (V1034.1) in about a week, so give this build a good kick in the tires and let us know if you find any bugs we haven't mentioned.

As always, thank you for reading and continuing to play, follow and support GROUND BRANCH. See you on the next one!

We've just pushed a new Community Test update to update a few things and hopefully iron out the last few showstoppers before the official V1034 release.

Before we go over the changes, you might be happy to read that…

Until March 21st @ 10am PST, you can grab a copy (and indeed as many copies as you want) of GROUND BRANCH with a sweet 30% discount. You know the drill: spread the word and maybe even get a few extra keys to get yourself and your gaming buds in on the action just in time for the new update and the inevitable uptick in player numbers.

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/16900/GROUND_BRANCH/

Valve takes a 30% cut from sales on their store, so if you have a PayPal account and would love us to get the full cut from your purchase, head over to {LINK REMOVED}our official store and use code Spring2024 at the checkout to apply the same 30% discount! You'll get a key to redeem at the Steam Store and be ready to play in no time.

💵 Please note that our store operates in USD only, so this might not be a great deal if you're paying in a different currency as we use regional pricing on Steam.

---

With that out of the way, patch notes start right after the beta instructions below:

❓ How to join the Community Test beta branch

• Right-click GROUND BRANCH in your Steam Library and select Properties…
  
• Click 'BETAS' on the left-hand list menu
  
• Select 'communitytest - Community testing branch' from the drop-down menu
  (no password required)

Steam will begin downloading the files for the testing branch. Patching may take a while.

🐞 Where to report bugs

You can report bugs and issues using any of these methods:

• The in-game Bugs & Issues screen (press Esc once in-game and look along the top menu)
  
• The Steam forums: https://steamproxy.net/app/16900/discussions/
  
• The #bug-reports channel on the official GROUND BRANCH™ Discord[discord.com]

Your reports help us locate and fix issues faster, so keep them coming!

🚧 These issues are known to still be present:

• Hostage Rescue has a few new quirks with the hostage sack, hostage leading functionality and flex cuffs, which we are currently working to fix for the final release
  
• Enemy AI may be unresponsive/idle/stuck in various contexts — if you see it, please make note of whether it was online (dedicated server? Listen server?) or offline, which game mode was being played, as well as map and location etc.
  
• Weapon movement, poses and animations in general are still being put back together after the prone overhaul — please bear with us
  
• The prone stance does not conform to terrain angle
  
• AI bots are not fully functional in Deathmatch

---

• Fixed audio issues in City, Arena and Arena, Paintball and The Farm

• Reworked the spiral staircases for better AI flow
  
• Various lighting and bug fixes
  
• Generator should now stop sound when shot out

• Cleaned up a few missions with navigation/collision validator
  
• Fixed some navmesh issues

• Smoothed out collision on a few staircases

• Various lighting and bug fixes
  
• News helicopter respond to being shot again
  
• Fixed collision issues for crouching with some of the scaffolding

• Fixed bulletproof curtains

• Painted out leaves coming through shooting range floor

• Cleaned up collision on mesh causing some issues
  
• Fixed up wrong minimap

• Did a pass on all missions with collision/navmesh validator
  
• Fixed out-of-level exploit in Deck 3 missions (Deathmatch, Team Elimination)
  
• Changed material on vending machine so it looked better in dark areas

• Various collision, LOD and lighting bugs fixed

• Fixed stretched UVs on a rock
  
• Expanded nav bounds and cleaned up navmesh
  
• Fixed up various missions, hopefully clearing AI traffic jam on C building upper floor
  
• Cleaned up collision on cinderblock piles
  
• Fixed virtual texture rock blending
  
• Rebuilt navmesh

• Various collision, LOD and lighting bugs fixed

• Removed problematic ladder outside of green barn

• Reduced AI agent height for nav mesh generation to 185 cm (opens up more places to navmesh)
  
• Reworked dead body callouts: now a dead body will only ever trigger one call out in total
  
• Subsequent discoveries by other AI will not trigger additional callouts (they will still go investigate and go into combat ready mode, e.g. draw their weapon)
  
• Fixed up bugs with AI failing to reload
  
• Team handling fixed up in new Kythera AI systems
  
• Rejigged AI character/controller setup
  
• Changes to how AI processes multiple audio signals to avoid prioritizing far away gunshots over close-up footsteps
  
• Fixed DebugFreeze not working for AI

• Fixed hover foot (one leg lifted off ground)
  
• Added generic item lean animations
  
• Added prone grenade unequip animation
  
• Rejig of animation instance systems (to make it easier to layer animations)
  
• New equipment locomotion
  
• Adding a generic Item move set and with aims
  
• Fixed M110 fire selector animations
  
• Updated PMM-related (pistol) animations to be additive and bring them in line with the rest of the handgun animations
  
• Updated PMM compressed to match the base handgun
  
• Added sprint check to SDASS and M24 to prevent working the action if fired while sprinting
  
• Updated rig to prevent aiming-through-hand issue
  
• Hooked up lean poses (updated a number of animations designed to be used in this layer to be based on generic item base pose instead of rifle base pose)
  
• Updated rig to prevent sights being offset when prone (especially an issue with handgun)
  
• Switched base reload prone animations for AR-15 and handguns to use non-prone versions
  
• Breaching Charge attachment fixed (was at 90 degrees to door)
  
• Fix to allow montage originating from server to be forced to owning client (should make detonator and breaching charge animations play properly in multiplayer)
  
• A lot of big under-the-hood changes to correctly support animations for all items in all stances

• Big pass on collision to simplify and debug
  
• Updated various vehicles to ensure sections that are shown or hidden use block-all or no-collision collision profiles instead of just enabling/disabling collision
  
• Stopped names appearing for enemies in Deathmatch
  
• A lot of under-the-hood game mode script fixes
  
• Added further restrictions to interacting while prone (should now be impossible for all actors)
  
• Bug fixes to laptop blueprint
  
• Added anti-spam checks to leaning, running and sprinting to remove some speed hacks
  
• Sprint blending times and effects changed
  
• Fixed server roster player list lag
  
• Fixed up DTAS, Hostage Rescue, Team Elimination and Uplink game modes to improve handling of AI kills and killers
  
• Internal tweaks and fixes relating to arm changes and gender identification of assets
  
• Disabled warning about missing eyebrows if none were defined so that they can be used with AI without causing log spam
  
• Character updated to change handling of head types/genders
  
• Cleared all meshes using character physics asset that do not need to — which is most of them
  
• Changed bomb explosion (Defuse) to fade to black after explosion
  
• Improved logging for failed kit loads
  
• Updated handling of failed kits to allow replacing child items and skins
  
• Disabled Ray Tracing in config to fix crash on exiting in DX12 mode
  
• Updated Tablet to use alternate new method to fill screen (instead of FOV and POV change, it will shift the tablet up to fill the screen — doesn't care if prone, crouched, standing or leaning) (WIP — hands may be visible, especially in prone etc.)
  
• Fixed volunteer function in Hostage Rescue
  
• Fixed flag placement issues in DTAS
  
• Tentative fixes for Hostage Rescue issues: should stop leading hostage when leader goes prone, and now clears BeingLeadAsHostage gameplay tag when cuffs are unequipped (should stop movement getting blocked in various ways) or when leading is otherwise stopped
  
• New restriction added so you can't use objects if underwater (may be a redundant check)
  
• Added new ServerExecute command, usable by superadmins only (to run console commands remotely on the server)
  
• Fixed picking up item in left hand attempting to keep it equipped in left hand instead of putting it away

• Added entries for backup skin substitutions
  
• Cleaned up a few hairstyles that were still showing the scalp with Ball Cap and Beanie
  
• Updated dump pouch and radio assets to properly set their skin
  
• Changed skins for main menu guys
  
• SA58 OSW now supports suppressor
  
• Back-end changes to improve handling of restricted skins and kit validation
  
• Added LODs and adjusted existing LODs for player heads, beards, hair and a few weapons and weapon attachments
  
• Converted eyelashes to static meshes for efficiency
  
• Big change under the hood to change internal kit handling to be always monolithic: keeps kit data consistent no matter what is parsing it, and removes issues caused by presets or item builds being deleted
  
• Added dialogs for handling kit validation issues and converting all user kits
  
• Removed unneeded failed kit validation widgets
  
• Cleared physics assets from all hairstyles
  
• General inventory tweaks/fixes
  
• Fixed goggles being too bright compared to other character assets
  
• Added new arm meshes in place of masking system
  
• Cleared simple collision from MP5 stocks that were in wrong orientation
  
• Removed physics from all balaclava versions of heads
  
• Cleaned up new head/balaclava meshes
  
• Fixed arm mesh poking through with male rolled sleeves and gloves
  
• Cleaned up some weighting on the male heads that make them poke through some shirts
  
• Changed arms to remove reliance on mesh updating to choose skin
  
• Cleaned up more issues with heads intersecting various shirts

• City Bank audio fix (slight reverb adjustment)
  
• Rundown tail fix
  
• Small reverb change, small bug fixes
  
• Fixed portals and occlusion issues
  
• Fixed missing ADS sound effects
  
• Fixed drop audio not playing for weapons
  
• Fixed missing Galil ARM third-person sounds
  
• Added missing voice lines in female character Comms Menu (G key)

• Big pass on checking emitters are parented to existing emitter assets.
  
• Distance culling set to 50 m for distant impacts
  
• Created 10 new blood spatter decals
  
• VFX emitter cleanup

• Tweaks to Customize Operator screen colors
  
• A few text changes to Customize Operator screen messages
  
• Visual update to "Game Paused" overlay
  
• Dialog boxes now have a fade-in and fade-out animation
  
• Updated loading screen hints: cleaned up appearance, edited existing hints for clarity and formatting, and added a new hint
  
• Updated visuals for color picker pop-up in Settings > HUD (is now limited to color wheel, e.g. hue selection)
  
• Fixed color picker buttons being slightly rectangular rather than perfect squares
  
• Minor copy edit and rearranging of Settings > HUD
  
• Fixed inconsistent padding between columns in Setting > Gameplay
  
• Updated wording and formatting for F4/F6 dialog prompts
  
• Updated mag check HUD: repositioned red cross and changed icon color (to red) for "no ammo"
  
• Minor update to hover effects in Keybinds column (Settings > Controls)
  
• Increased width of all setting selections: drop-downs, sliders, spinboxes etc. to allow for longer text strings, finer control in sliders, and close the gap between selections and their descriptions
  
• Added a few more settings tooltips
  
• Slightly more descriptive text in Sight Priority options
  
• Updated credits
  
• Made highlight for various tabs/buttons more evident
  
• Updated icon/swatch for Brown and Olive Drab skin selections
  
• Updated DLSS tooltips to hopefully display correctly for RTX 40-series when in DX12 mode and minor changes to copy as well
  
• Updated DLSS setting text and tooltips
  
• Various minor style, copy and formatting tweaks

---

See you next time!

---

From March 14th to 21st @ 10am Pacific, you can grab a copy (and indeed as many copies as you want) of GROUND BRANCH with a sweet 30% discount.

You know the drill: spread the word and maybe even get a few extra keys to get yourself and your gaming buds in on the action just in time for the new update and the inevitable uptick in player numbers.

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/16900/GROUND_BRANCH/

---

Valve takes a 30% cut from sales on their store, so if you have a PayPal account and would love us to get the full cut from your purchase, head over to {LINK REMOVED}our official store and use code Spring2024 at the checkout to apply the same 30% discount!

You'll get a GROUND BRANCH key to redeem at the Steam Store and be ready to play in no time.

💵 Please note that our store operates in USD only, so this might not be a great deal if you're paying in a different currency as we use regional pricing on Steam.

---

Enjoy the sale!

Folks,

Today's update was planned for yesterday — Valentine's Day — but ended up being delayed by a few nasty bugs. We're mentioning that because we had a nice themed intro for it and don't wanna let it go to waste. So instead of coming up with a new intro, we're simply all going to pretend it did come out yesterday. Alternatively, you may pretend today is still Valentine's Day:

Surprise that special someone with this hand-picked special changelist of features making up a beautiful, romantic GROUND BRANCH Valentine’s Day update for the Community Test beta branch! No refunds after two hours! 💖

Thank you for indulging us.

New to Community Test? Here's how it works:

❓ How to join the Community Test beta branch

• Right-click GROUND BRANCH in your Steam Library and select Properties…
  
• Click 'BETAS' on the left-hand list menu
  
• Select 'communitytest - Community testing branch' from the drop-down menu
  (no password required)

Steam will begin downloading the files for the testing branch. Patching may take a while.

🐞 Where to report bugs

You can report bugs and issues using any of these methods:

• The in-game Bugs & Issues screen (press Esc once in-game and look along the top menu)
  
• The Steam forums: https://steamproxy.net/app/16900/discussions/
  
• The #bug-reports channel on the official GROUND BRANCH™ Discord[discord.com]

Your reports help us locate and fix issues faster, so keep them coming!

🚧 These issues are known to still be present:

• The Breaching Charge is currently deployed at a 90-degree angle
  
• Bullets may be being blocked in odd places by a certain type of volume — please report in with the map and location if you come across it!
  
• When connecting to servers, the loading screen displays the "Returning to Main Menu" text
  
• Enemy AI may be unresponsive/idle/stuck in various contexts — if you see it, please make note of whether it was online (dedicated server? Listen server?) or offline, which game mode was being played, as well as map and location etc.

  ⚠️ Bots are particularly prone to getting stuck in doorways; we're actively working on fixing/improving this issue.

• Weapon movement, poses and animations in general are still being put back together after the prone overhaul — please bear with us
  
• Walking or running with a primary weapon equipped causes the character's right foot to "hover" before it actually touches the ground
  
• The prone stance does not conform to terrain angle
  
• Character and weapon collision while prone is pretty finicky! Let us know how it all feels to you
  
• Various combinations of hairstyles and headgear items have visible clipping or overall jankiness
  
• AI bots are not functional in Deathmatch

---

• Various culling, collision, navmesh and navlink fixes for Depot, Tanker, City, Creek, Storage Facility, Rundown, Rig and Power Station
  
• Made the roof windows in Depot enterable again
  
• Added a few navmesh blockers to Depot to stop AI from getting stuck
  
• Fixed bank stairwell door in City not closing properly
  
• Added window frames to open window holes in Creek buildings to stop people getting stuck when trying to mantle through them
  
• Fixed bug where players were getting stuck on containers in Storage Facility lower area after vaulting over railing
  
• Added small step to side areas of Storage Facility tunnel entrance (helps AI navigate space better and cleaner movement for player)
  
• Fix for one of the Compound outside doors hitting a mesh and not fully opening
  
• Fixed up some bugs in DTAS game mode script
  
• Fixed bug in Defuse where bomb stopped going off
  
• Amended error text in Lua guard macros, to cover the extra possibility that a UObject became invalid and turned into a nil reference

• Fixed leaning with handgun and move forward and left or right causing hands to go all odd
  
• Fixed crouched handgun ADS being offset in certain situations (e.g. leaning)
  
• First pass hooking up prone poses for Binoculars, Breaching Charge (and detonator), grenades and Tablet
  
• Fixed and updated hand pose for holding grenades
  
• Hooked up Breaching Charge and detonator use animations

  ⚠️ Known issue: the charge model is currently deployed at a 90-degree angle.

• Fixed incorrect female belt variations being used with Tactical Shirt items
  
• Fixed Helmet (MICH) chin strap not working correctly for Male 06
  
• Fixed up issues with Headset asset
  
• Created a version of the Headset mesh for use with Fleece Beanie
  
• Adjusted Fleece Beanie to fit better with Balaclava
  
• Fixed mesh splitting on female Jeans
  
• Added female untucked short versions of belts
  
• Cleaned up various clipping issues with female clothing
  
• Fixed Male 03 helmet chin straps not set properly
  
• Fixed issue with rounds not showing in Galil ARM magazines when mag-checking

• Updated splash screen (Default Controls) with newer version of the controls scheme graphic
  
• Updated some dialog boxes with an optional "Dot not show again" checkbox
  
• Added option to reset opted-out dialogs in Settings › HUD
  
• Small visual update to After Action Review (AAR) screen
  
• Swapped order of Combat Stats and Mission Summary tabs in AAR
  
• Visual pass on Server Browser: mod column (column icon and [MOD] tag) and expanded server info tab
  
• Server Browser now carried out mandatory mod sync when joining dedicated server
  
• Visual pass on bind overlays
  
• Cleaned up dialog box widget
  
• NoTimer round stage (Training modes) no longer displays time text at top of screen (also does not show time remaining on Tablet)
  
• Updated Invite Friends menu (is now styled similar to a dialog box)
  
• Fixed mission list duplicating when revisiting mission selection screen
  
• Added new icon (wrench) for Modding button in Admin Panel menu
  
• Updated Credits screen

• Added "loading" message before the character and assets are all loaded
  
• Fixed padding and did a small visual pass on skin icon selection
  
• Related work to reduce hitching and improve handling of default item builds
  
• Added yellow custom build display for item slots in overall screen (was previously limited to inside menus)
  
• Added [MOD] tag to item slots/selections
  
• Updated MK25 pistol icon to make grip panel area less dark
  
• Fixed hidden hair casting shadow on UI character view

• Added Time of Day (TOD) widget
  
• Made double-click outline window use the standard focus (F) routine rather than a second custom bit of code
  
• Reworking to change pawn type and fix right-drag related error
  
• Made a few dialogs hidable (e.g. select script, load mission file, save mission file)

• Optimization pass on VFX for the bullet impacts
  
• Fixed the respawning particle issue
  
• Continuing pass over the bullet impact scalability settings and culling settings
  
• Fix for the smoke flickering when viewed through PIP scopes
  
• Making a pass on scalability settings for bullet impacts (lots to improve)
  
• Reparented emitters with missing parents to sync culling settings

• Upgraded Kythera AI middleware to new version (1.3.3) (may fix some bugs, but WIP)
  
• Fixed the AI aim bug, where enemy bots could not see the head of player characters — this caused situations such as leaning out of cover and not being spotted

• Added tentative fix for IsValidLowLevel crash on game exit
  
• Lots of work on mods under the hood (especially with regard to dedicated servers)
  
• Reduction in log spam overall (and added some more for good luck)
  
• Reworked a lot of under-the-hood stuff, including inventory and asset handling, validators, overlays and more
  
• Tentative fix for stuttering and "Maximum number of UObjects exceeded" crash on dedicated servers 🥳
  
• Rejigged base character class and item class in terms of how they handle inventory (in particular removed some limitations on skin inheritance, and streamlined asset loading)
  
• Fixed up occasional disconnects between TOD set in mission launch screens and TOD set in the Ready Room
  
• Updated Debug menu to add new commands
  
• Opting out with F4 now increases Deaths stat
  
• Updated HUD to support adding non-chat messages to center, upper and lower message managers (allowed changing Ready Room and Spectator messages from engine messages to far more visible center-screen, preventing the mistake of trying to hit F4 or F6 again)

---

See you next time!

---

We've been working hard on GROUND BRANCH V1034, and today we got another Community Test update for you!

Patch notes after the usual instructions:

❓ How to join the Community Test beta branch

• Right-click GROUND BRANCH in your Steam Library and select Properties…
  
• Click 'BETAS' on the left-hand list menu
  
• Select 'communitytest - Community testing branch' from the drop-down menu
  (no password required)

Steam will begin downloading the files for the testing branch. Patching may take a while.

🐞 Where to report bugs

You can report bugs and issues using any of these methods:

• The in-game Bugs & Issues screen (press Esc once in-game and look along the top menu)
  
• The Steam forums: https://steamproxy.net/app/16900/discussions/
  
• The #bug-reports channel on the official GROUND BRANCH™ Discord[discord.com]

Your reports help us locate and fix issues faster, so keep them coming!

🚧 These issues are known to still be present:

• Recoil is currently unclamped, meaning sustained automatic fire will eventually clip weapons into the character; this also affects weapon sway in low stamina
  
• Enemy AI may be unresponsive/idle/stuck in various contexts — if you see it, please make note of whether it was online (dedicated server? Listen server?) or offline, which game mode was being played, as well as map and location etc.

  ⚠️ Bots are particularly prone to getting stuck in doorways; we're actively working on fixing/improving this issue.

• Weapon movement, poses and animations in general are still being put back together after the prone overhaul — please bear with us
  
• Walking or running with a primary weapon equipped causes the character's right foot to "hover" before it actually touches the ground
  
• The prone stance does not conform to terrain angle
  
• Aiming (ADS) is offset with pistols while crouch-leaning (particularly to the left)
  
• Character and weapon collision while prone is pretty finicky! Let us know how it all feels to you
  
• The Tablet (map) is currently offset to the bottom while crouched, and unusable while prone
  
• Various combinations of hairstyles and headgear items have visible clipping or overall jankiness
  
• AI bots are still not hooked up to the Deathmatch game mode <??? Needs checking>

---

• Updated all relevant 747 missions with new collision and patrol point checking
  
• Fixed issue with light portal flickering light in 747 cargo hold
  
• Fixed various collision issues
  
• Fixed some other lighting issues
  
• Replaced fan in terminal office with new style fan that can be shot out and powered up and down by the local power box
  
• Cleaned up navmesh

• Updated missions with collision checker
  
• Cleaned up navmesh

• Made pole lights leading down to subway actual lights that are on/off and destructible
  
• Made bollard lights destructible
  
• Added proper destroyed light meshes to outdoor lights
  
• Fixed various collision issues and culling bugs
  
• Fixed up all missions (except Last Man Standing) with the new actor collision checking feature of validation scripts
  
• Cleaned up some geo collision that was way too big, and fixed some other geo and collision bugs
  
• Fixed some lighting issues
  
• Changed some wall pictures in City bank
  
• News helicopter updated to fly a little smoother, and animations added for hover and evasion
  
• Cleaned up navmesh

• Updated nearly all missions with new collision and patrol checker
  
• Fixed invisible wall collision under staircase in unfinished building
  
• Cleaned up navmesh

• Various collision and culling bugs fixed
  
• Cleaned up navmesh

• Fixed mesh culling and collision issues
  
• Fixed over-penetration of bullets through some metal objects
  
• Fixed incorrect normals on rocks
  
• Cleaned up navmesh

• Fixed up missions (except Last Man Standing) using new actor collision checking feature of validation scripts
  
• Cleaned up less than optimal collision on a few assets
  
• Filled in empty buildings/trailers
  
• Added glass windows to the construction trailers
  
• Cleaned up collision on a few of the metal staircases
  
• Made red light on electronics box destructible
  
• Cleaned up navmesh

• Cleaned up navmesh

• Various collision and culling bugs fixed
  
• Cleaned up navmesh

• Fixed up various missions using new mission collision checker and patrol route checker
  
• Nav link tweaks for ladder
  
• Added pillars to basement and removed cinder blocks
  
• Fixed misaligned Humvee windshield
  
• Rebuilt navmesh
  
• Mini graphical overhaul:
  
  
  • Fixed some foliage meshes using billboard as base LOD on lower foliage settings
    
  • Adjusted billboard distances, generally pushed them back further
    
  • Wind/sway tweaks
    
  • Color correction and improvements in mask clipping and materials
    
  • Improved vista forest material/visuals
    
  • Fixed crossfade billboards not correctly disabling when toggled off
    
  • Added support for virtual texture blending with landscape, rocks and embankments
    
  • Landscape material work, adding some wet muddy areas
    
  • Fern color correction
    
  • Added leaves mesh scattering to dead leaves landscape layers
    
  • Added some cinderblock scatter
    
  • Increased bounds of a few floor pieces in B building (potential fix for disappearing floor)
    
  • Remade bullet hole decals, higher res and cheaper
    
  • Landscape material displacement tweaks

• Fixed various collision issues
  
• Fixed incorrect normals on rocks

• Fixed various collision issues

• Potential fix for flickering billboard trees
  
• Slight foliage color tweaks
  
• Landscape material/textures improvements
  
• Added leaves grass layer
  
• Hornbeam trees: fixed roughness not coming through correctly
  
• Other material tweaks and corrections
  
• Improved 747 fuselage material so it has a bit more detail up close
  
• A bit of landscape painting
  
• Pushed blocking volumes in water a bit further out
  
• Reduced intensity of water waves

• Fixed heads becoming detached from player if a single skeletal mesh fails to load
  
• Updated hostage sack to add or remove overlay based on view target status instead of player being locally controlled or not (makes sack visible in third person)
  
• Standardized fixed iron sight alignment for the AKM and Wz.88 for consistent behavior
  
• Trimmed female head meshes in the neck/shoulder area to reduce mesh clipping in some postures/animations
  
• Reworked helmet chinstrap morph targets and added new ones for female heads
  
• Realtime Virtual Texture (RVT) incorporated into various maps/landscape materials (for nicer blends between props and landscape)
  
• Mini overhaul of master materials
  
• Fixed broken wrist mesh for "Riot" enemy type
  
• Switched MARPAT Desert skin on the Helmet (HC) to AOR-1
  
• New skins:
  
  
  • Gun Belt: M81
    
  • Ball Cap: DCP, AOR-1 and M81
    
  • Boonie Hat: UCP
    
  • Helmet (HC): AOR-2

• Corrected directional animation blend times to fix hitch when changing directions
  
• First pass on prone and crouch death animations
  
• Adding correct notifies for mag check
  
• Updated character and weapon animations for AK-type rifles
  
• Added new hand poses for the new AK models
  
• Fixed Galil ARM mag check
  
• Fixed wrong position on AK-type fire selector
  
• Updated pose for leaning
  
• Created specific flex-cuffs poses
  
• Updated hostage sack to apply as a mesh
  
• Sway and canting rotation are now applied separately (only applies Z aspect of sight offset while not engaging the sight - fixes issues with firearm being more centered then usual, especially when using canted sight)
  
• Added new drop-down animation to the AI characters

• Enabled feature to auto-generate drop-down nav links (uses vaulting animations as a placeholder for now)
  
• Fix for AI tracking the player when just losing sight of him, now shoots at the last known location rather than at the current player position
  
• Updated noise investigation behavior for Guard AI — who will now investigate noise more in the direction that the noise is coming from instead of a more general "scan" behavior
  
• Tweaked AI difficulty, increasing the gap between highest and lowest level to create more variance
  
• Increased memory time for the AI, so they will search longer for lost targets
  
• Added search pattern BT so on lost target they search randomly — the longer they search, the bigger the radius gets
  
• Updated the weights used for more passive/aggressive behavior; generally speaking, Guard AI are now more likely to behave passively (seeking cover, going prone etc.), while Patrol AI will be more aggressive (running, sprinting towards the player instead of seeking cover etc.)
  
• Updated and re-enabled custom AI settings in Lone Wolf and Host Game screens

• Fixed dead bodies not being cleaned up in between rounds
  
• Made it so you can go prone under the Ural style trucks in various maps
  
• Stopped massive log spam caused by inventory tags being updated before assets have finished loading
  
• Added Time of Day (TOD) statuses to BP_SkylightOverrideVolume, so it can apply fading or desaturation at specific times of day only
  
• Added actor collision checking to mission validation Lua scripts
  
• Added new actor.IsColliding() lua library function, which determines if the actor is more or less colliding with map assets
  
• Small improvements to mission validation scripts
  
• Defuse game mode now prints to log the actual bomb actor name as well as the selected bomb zone
  
• Added stamina and sway effects for:
  
  
  • Going to prone
    
  • Getting up from prone
    
  • Going from crouched to standing
    
  • Leaning
• Fixed bugged water collision
  
• Modding admin UI update (WIP) and quite a few modding changes behind the scenes
  
• Fixed smoke effects blocking Use/Interact prompts (to be replaced by better fix later)
  
• Fixed Deathmatch loadout issue
  
• Fixed UseFriendlyNameTags entry in DefaultGameRules array in DefaultZooKeeper.ini (should be true, was read as false)
  
• Fixed up Ready Room range door not replicating properly
  
• Optimized tracing for interaction, Ready Room name and in-game player names
  
• Changed PhysMat for dirt to not allow bullet penetration
  
• Added gameplaystatics.TraceVisible() lua library function for doing a simple visible trace between two specified locations
  
• Added gameplaystatics.GetPatrolRouteLinkedActors() lua library function for getting a list of linked patrol route actors
  
• Added full patrol route checking in all PvE validation functions, including a new visible trace to make sure the route is not blocked (as a first approximation check at least)
  
• Minor bug fixes to Team Elimination in relation to fixed spawn missions (Arenas, Paintball) and displaying insertion points in dependence to whether auto-balance is enabled
  
• Removed AI spawn checking from Deathmatch validate script (since opponents are bots now)
  
• Added various new validations and checks for firearm blueprints (in anticipation of modding opening up)
  
• Changed various firearm-related assets to fix issues with sight replication and sights used by non-controlled characters
  
• Updated arm sway values on Main Menu guys to prevent them getting tired
  
• Various crash fixes relating to pointers missing a UPROPERTY() macro
  
• Fixed issue where the light custom collision box was set to not effect navmesh
  
• Restricted Focus Zoom to primary and secondary weapons only (no longer usable with Binoculars, grenades etc.)
  
• Updated modding manager to grab installed mod list from subscribed mods instead of scanning locally (mods soon to come!)

• Removed unused Wwise node that may have been setting voice to male all the time
  
• Fixed AI bark spatialization
  
• Minor tweaks to AI attenuation
  
• Fixed missing suppressor tails
  
• Slightly adjusted footstep audio and some attenuations
  
• Fixed power box audio bug
  
• Added Ready Room ambient music
  
• Fixed audio in City rooms
  
• Loading screen mutes sound until fading away (should stop short burst of sound when joining a map)

• Re-enabled eye adaptation on the VFX material (was causing smoke effects to glow in low-light and under night vision when disabled)
  
• Changed surface link for electronics to use metal bullet-hole decal (was previously using a paper decal) — fixes odd impacts on e.g. power boxes
  
• Fixed up flashbang, frags, big bomb (Defuse) and breaching charges so they won't cause deafness or prolonged visual effects (e.g. for headcam)

• Updated skin icons (the triangle/square swatches for item colors or camo patterns)
  
• Updated weapon customization UI to not show the "Muzzle" attachment category when no muzzle device is available for the weapon
  
• Created custom UI for customizing Galil ARM
  
• Progress on Modding menu
  
• Admin modding UI now added to modding menu (from Main Menu)
  
• Tweaked drop-down arrow in mission property array widget to be more visible in mission editor
  
• Added W, E, R controls to the outline widget (as well as main window) in mission editor
  
• New map thumbnails for Small Town, City and The Farm
  
• Loading screens rejigged
  
• Hint widget adjusted to stop shifting/resizing during load
  
• In Spectator Mode, HUD no longer shows distance prompts if camera style is headcam
  
• HUD now correctly hides Next/Previous Player prompt when player is following another character
  
• Partial visual update for Admin Panel (mainly Skin Restrictions menu)

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Until the next build, folks.

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Happy new year, everyone! We hope 2024 has been treating you well so far.

As GROUND BRANCH V1034 continues to be diligently tested by all of you lovely people in the Community Test beta branch, we continue to fix and tweak things to get the update in shape for the official release.

If this is your first time hearing about all of this stuff, here's how to get in on the testing:

❓ How to join the Community Test beta branch

• Right-click GROUND BRANCH in your Steam Library and select Properties…
  
• Click 'BETAS' on the left-hand list menu
  
• Select 'communitytest - Community testing branch' from the drop-down menu
  (no password required)

Steam will begin downloading the files for the testing branch. Patching may take a while.

🐞 Where to report bugs

You can report bugs and issues using any of these methods:

• The in-game Bugs & Issues screen (press Esc once in-game and look along the top menu)
  
• The Steam forums: https://steamproxy.net/app/16900/discussions/
  
• The #bug-reports channel on the official GROUND BRANCH™ Discord[discord.com]

Your reports help us locate and fix issues faster, so keep them coming!

🚧 These issues are known to still be present:

• Enemy AI may be unresponsive/idle/stuck in various contexts — if you see it, please make note of whether it was online (dedicated server? Listen server?) or offline, which game mode was being played, as well as map and location etc.

  ⚠️ Bots are particularly prone to getting stuck in doorways; we're actively working on fixing/improving this issue.

• Changing directions (WASD) with a primary weapon equipped will cause visible "hitches" in the weapon movement
  
• Weapon movement, poses and animations in general are still being put back together after the prone overhaul — please bear with us
  
• Leaning is bound to feel particularly strange, due to the combo of new poses and the ongoing animation work (all WIP)
  
• Walking or running with a primary weapon equipped causes the character's right foot to "hover" before it actually touches the ground
  
• The prone stance does not conform to terrain angle
  
• Aiming (ADS) with a pistol while crouched is offset (when leaning left)
  
• Character and weapon collision while prone is pretty finicky! Let us know how it all feels to you
  
• The Tablet (map) is currently offset to the bottom while crouched, and unusable while prone
  
• Various combinations of hairstyles and headgear items have visible clipping or overall jankiness
  
• AI bots are still not hooked up to the Deathmatch game mode.

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• Added a few scenery assets to the RR
  
• Fixed occasional issue with unusually dark RR

• New Defuse mission

• Lowered and reduced thickness of bank windows to better allow players to fire out of them
  
• Added new Terrorist Hunt (Bank) variant
  
• Base Hostage Rescue mission split into separate (Central) and (Bank) variants
  
• Set up ceiling fans in City:
  
  • They now turn on/off in accordance to power boxes and are now destructible
    
  • Added smooth start up and power down
• Fixed collision issue around bank windows
  
• Skylight override volumes tweaked and updated to use the new desaturation system (so that e.g. the inside of the bank is not tinted orange at night)

• Added Defuse mission
  
• Fixed up ceiling fans to power boxes
  
• Fixed a few props that were being culled out too quickly and creating "invisible" walls you can't shoot through
  
• Updated doors on Compound for better AI navigation

• Added Defuse mission

• Added Defuse mission (Compound variant)
  
• Fixing various reported bugs
  
• Fixed up all Depot PvE missions in respect of compound tower that was rotated/moved
  
• Disabled subsurface scattering on ferns to potentially stop them glowing when using NVGs
  
• Fixed some culling issues

• Added Defuse mission
  
• Fixed up a load of missing physical materials (determines footstep sounds and bullet impact VFX)

• Added Defuse mission
  
• Made it so you can crawl under all electrical equipment

• Added new Defuse and Defuse (Decks 3 and 4) missions
  
• Fixed up some issues with AI on Deck 4 in Terrorist Hunt missions

• Removed unnecessary collision from smaller foliage instances
  
• Changed tags on Defuse mission to make more readable zone names
  
• Removed leftover blocking volume
  
• Fixed small collision issue where players could get stuck between rocks
  
• Rearranged low sandbags on building A ledges for better prone sniping
  
• Set all rock collision to use "Complex as Simple" method, improving collision when prone
  
• Fixed two lights in building D that used a different kind of light fixture for their broken state
  
• Adjusted nav link for ladder on where AI could get stuck

• New Defuse mission
  
• Fixed a bunch of missing PhysMats in materials
  
• Cleaned up collision with Ural truck to allow crawling under it
  
• All tunnel lights are now connected to a power box

• Converted arcade machines to turn off when power is off and be affected by blast damage

• Added clamp to ReactionTimeBase AI setting
  
• Adapted old AI vision blocker in smoke grenades to conform closer to the bounds of the current smoke effects
  
• Reduced the number of maximum Kythera nav mesh tiles to be regenerated at any given time by half
  
• Rejig of foliage collision and AI detection (now easier to hide in foliage and more consistent AI response to foliage)
  
• Fixed crash relating to pathfinding
  
• Updated nav mesh for Compound
  
• Updating cover generation parameters to be a bit less restrictive
  
• First pass on new system for AI visibility blockers in Small Town foliage
  

  ⚠️ We're particularly interested in feedback for this. Sneak around the Small Town bushes and let us know if the AI appears to react "authentically" in terms of visual detection.

• Removed Kythera component from main menu characters so they don’t initialise the Kythera systems
  
• Updated how AI interacts with doors (now uses input based navigation through door instead of nav mesh)
  
• Kythera nav mesh is no longer forced to regenerate when doors are opened or closed (getting rid of the hitch)
  
• Updated Kythera nav meshes for various maps
  
• Changed suppression handling of AI: now the AI will take cover from the general shot direction way more often and try not to stand in the open as much
  
• Fixed an issue where Guard AI would leave their post and go a long way to investigate a dead body
  
• Fixed an issue where dead bodies could be "newly discovered" by the same AI multiple times
  
• Adjusted GBKytTargetSelector so it includes dead bodies
  
• Updated SpatialQueries asset to make cover point generation less restrictive so that the AI takes cover in more situations
  
• Updated footstep hearing
  
• Added visibility and hearing multipliers to GBWorldSettings, so AI perception can be tuned per-map
  
  
  • Increased visual and audio detection by 50% in City, Compound and 747
    
  • Decreased visual and audio detection by 25% in Small Town and Rig
• Tweaked AI vision, increased default vision range, lowered primary FOV, increased secondary FOV weight
  
• Fixed an issue where AI would go back to unarmed state after being suppressed
  
• Nav mesh work on Compound, updated door navlink locations to avoid AI getting stuck
  
• Updated barks for different AI states

• First pass on focus zoom feature: slight zoom-in effect when in ADS while holding the Focus Zoom key (bound to LCtrl by default)
  

  ⚠️ Experimental feature!

  If it's not bound to LCtrl by default, bind it under Settings > Controls > Keybinds > Focus Zoom)

  • Aim sensitivity scales appropriately when focus zoomed
    
  • Focus zoom disengages when player or player head moves significantly
    
  • Additional vignette effect when zoomed (stacks with Hold Breath vignette)
• Changed Defuse game mode to display bomb group names on Ops Board
  
• Added new DefuseValidate Lua script
  
• Fixed up some Defuse missions after using the aforesaid validation function
  
• Minor tweak to IntelRetrieval and TerroristHunt validation functions to provide better dumps of guard point/squad mismatches
  
• Created new PoweredItem blueprint (BP) class as a mirror image of the LightFixture BP class, but for things that aren't lights (e.g. ceiling fans). This ties into time of day and Light Zone Controllers so that power boxes turn them on and off, and they can be powered or not at particular times of day
  
• Improved collision checks for doors
  
• Improved collision checks for players to ignore volumes (fixes lean being preventing due to audio volumes, etc.)
  
• Stopped firearm firing when going to and from prone
  
• F4 and F6 now prompt player to confirm intention to leave game before taking effect
  
• Fixed use of timer.Clear(self, name of timer) instead of timer.Clear(name of timer) in various Lua game modes
  
• Rejigged kit restriction detection and handling
  
• Misc updates to Lua game mode libraries:
  
  
  • In general, for indicating an error state in functions supposed to return tables, they now return an empty table rather than nil
    
  • Created actor.GetOverlappingPlayers() to remove need to use GetOverlaps() and specify GBCharacter class.
    
  • Updated player.Kill() to bypass any and all damage reduction/prevention, and to prevent use in the Ready Room
    
  • Updated vector.VectorNew() to ensure it returns nil value if supplied with incompatibility values rather than returning NaN
    
  • Hooked up ai.Create in AI Lua library
• Fixed news helicopter not appearing in City in multiplayer
  
• Added restrictions to stop Use/Interact actions while prone, to prevent hostages being lead by someone prone, and to stop hostages going prone
  
• Bug fixes to a few game modes
  
• Skylight override volumes extended so as to permit desaturation of skylight lower hemisphere color

• Removed Use Simple Character Shadows video setting as it offered negligible performance gain and caused various rendering issues when not in direct sunlight

• Adjusted rear sight of FAL a bit forward
  
• Added missing top rail to FAL
  
• New item skins:
  
  
  • Headset: Foliage Green
    
  • Helmet (HC) (non-cover version): OCP and MARPAT Desert
    
  • Tactical Pants: Coyote Brown
• Tweaked hue of MARPAT Desert camo pattern
  
• Minor color tweaks to existing headset skins
  
• Reworked channels in Helmet (HC)'s color mask to allow camo pattern on the helmet shell
  
• Updated existing Helmet (HC) skins to account for the above channel changes
  
• Cleaned up Combat Pants and Combat Shirt skins:
  
  
  • Made whole zipper "area" of the shirts' collar use the same color as the actual zipper teeth
    
  • Fixed knee pad and stretch material inconsistencies between different skins of the Combat Pants
    
  • Fixed various overly bright colors (especially shoulder velcros on Combat Shirt)
    
  • Changed Khaki skins to a more authentic version
• General color correction on various skins
  
• Tweaked MARPAT Woodland pattern hue to be slightly more red (affects all skins that have it)

• Fixed bombs having 00:00 displays after round reset
  
• Adapted bomb timer display to cope with 2-hour long rounds (you crazy guys)
  
• Improved interaction with doors having multiple components, e.g. doors with glass elements in City
  
• Added visualization of movement radius for Guard Point in mission editor (when selected)
  
• Set Big Bomb and DTAS flag to receive all lighting channels (problem was dark bombs in some parts of maps), and also for the new hazard sticker on the power boxes
  
• Fixed visual texture bug with Male 03 arms
  
• When opening doors, UE4 navmesh is no longer being updated
  
• Stopped missions without a valid map being displayed in mission selection list (e.g. Ranch)
  
• Converted 747 generator cable spline mesh into static mesh to remove warnings and fix collision
  
• Fixed extra long ceiling fan and cleaned up placement based on new mesh
  
• Fixed up lighting groups on Compound and Storage Facility (to fix lights that did not turn off when power turned off)
  
• Fixed missing geo on bottom of flatbed truck
  
• Also made flatbed truck into a blueprint that allows parked supports to be extended or not
  
• Fixed light poles in Small Town not casting a shadow
  
• Updated GBSightComponent to stop updating when player is using DebugCamera or similar command
  
• Updated master hair blueprint to improve hair bun handling: fixes issue where hair bun is added, then hair mesh is updated to a version that does not include a hair bun socket
  
• Changed handling of sound banks in Laptop and Big Bomb (may or may not fix crash issue)
  
• Various map bug fixes for 747, City, Storage Facility, Depot, Rig and Power Station

• Made kit restriction UI/ZK stuff save to GroundBranch\Defaults for standalone and listen server and to ServerConfig if dedicated server
  
• Added SERVER_SHUTDOWN_TIME_MAX check back into CheckServerShutdown() (restores absolute 48-hour uptime limit)

• Zeroed out the rotation on handgun aims (partially fixes crouched pistol offset when aiming; left lean is known to still be offset)
  
• Fixed issues with PKM or MK46 not showing tray opening animations until equipped again
  
• Fixed being able to go prone mid-air
  
• Updated SVD to add support for locked back bolt etc. to match up with reload animations (work in progress)
  
• Work on crouch lean offsets (work in progress)
  
• Corrected sight-to-eye curve values for crouched handgun animations

• Created and implemented new smoke grenade VFX textures (better coverage, especially at ground level)
  
• Decreased spark color alpha value (brightness intensity) to address a bug report
  
• Fix for smoke hanging around after round reset
  
• Light destruction adjustments: the red sparks should no longer happen (strange smoke behavior a work in progress)
  
• Adjustments to the size/life of the light destruction sparks

• Minor audio level bug fixes
  
• Partial fix for bullet cracks
  
• Changed sound location for big bomb from bottom of the barrel to the top (fixes some issues with bomb beeps being in the wrong spatial volume)
  
• Reduced complexity of acoustic portal handling in doors (possible FPS spike mitigation)
  
• Adjusted the rate of fade from one room to the next, and adjusted the check interval rate for portals
  
• Setup reload audio for Galil ARM and SA58 OSW
  
• Adjusted some missing tails and reverbs

• Created and assigned proper minimap (Ops Board and Tablet) textures for The Farm, Arena, Arena 2 and Paintball
  
• Visual cleanup and other minor visual tweaks to Watch App (wristwatch face features)
  
• Added keybinds for spectator night vision and headcam in Settings > Controls
  
• Very minor font/formatting update to bomb LED screen
  
• Added key shortcuts for translate, rotate and scale gizmos (W, E, R) in the mission editor
  
• Fixed corruption of mission actor names when loading a new mission in the mission editor
  
• Hid GuardPointType field in mission editor (not used in V1034)
  
• Fixed some UI bugs in mission editor
  
• Fixed incorrect version number on HUD
  
• Player blips put back on the Ops Board in training game modes, e.g. The Farm
  
• Custom properties (tint and scale) applied to player blips on Ops Board when in training or unknown mode

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Until the next build, folks.

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