• Added backend support for Steam Networking. Frontend TBD.
  
• Fixed additional instances of Anti-virus false positives with synergy.exe and srcds.exe
  
• Updated executable icons on Windows.
  
• Linux DS: Fixed NPC sounds not playing.

This update includes backend netcode support for Steam Networking. This means you can play Synergy with your friends without the hoster needing to port forward their listen client or dedicated server. UI changes to help facilitate this are currently in progress.

Whoever will be hosting the server simply needs to load into a map and provide their SteamID64 to their friends. Type status in the console while loaded into a map to get your SteamID64.

This will be one of the lines printed:
This is your SteamID. The SteamID64 is the one in parentheses: (01234567890123456). Send this to friends who would be connecting to your server.

To connect to a friend's server, type the following into the console given your friend's SteamID64:
This works with dedicated servers as well. When a dedicated server loads a map, it will also provide a game server SteamID64 via the status command. However the game client's Server Browser does not support listing servers via SteamID yet.

Issue Tracker[gitlab.com]
Discord[discord.com]

Its been a long time. The last official Synergy update was way back in 2015!
Over the years we've been working in the `development` branch, which has had a lot of work done to it.
Due to the release of Half-Life 2's 20th Anniversary update, we are prompted to release this sooner than we've planned as to resolve numerous breaking changes from Half-Life 2's recent large update.

We're happy to announce that Half-Life 2's 20th Anniversary Update is now supported and we thank you for your patience.

• Support for the Half-Life 2 20th Anniversary Update!
  
• Fixed numerous crashes like the infamous "unconnected" player bug and player models jittering.
  
• Significantly improved overall performance, especially with large player counts.
  
• Rebalanced numerous, rather absurd, map-specific difficulty spikes in the Half-Life 2 campaign.
  
• Fixed SteamVR starting when changing settings.
  
• Initial official native support for Steamdeck (UI still leaves a lot to be desired).
  
• Fixed various HUD issues introduced by Half-Life 2's Steamdeck update.
  
• Official support for Linux Dedicated Servers.
  
  • Requires steam client installed (e.g. `sudo apt install steam`).
• Added support for saved games.
  
  • Host can load a saved game and friends who join will be restored if they were connected at the time of the save.
    
  • Works on dedicated servers.
• Various map-specific (EDT) improvements throughout the Half-Life 2 campaigns.
  
• Fixed many level transition issues, particularly on backtracking maps.
  
• Steam Cloud support for settings and saved games.
  
• Steam Workshop support for dedicated servers.
  
• Steam Rich Presence support.
  
• Enabled spectator mode via console (jointeam 1)
  
• Players will spawn in a vehicle on airboat levels (coast levels TBD).
  
• Vehicles will no longer stop when the game autosaves.
  
• Added more player voice command lines from ep1.
  
• Fixed player viewmodels being invisible under some circumstances.
  
• Optimized networking for some entities like the Airboat.
  
• 'Use' key will now go through players to avoid blocking anything.
  
• Removed cheat flag from some useful commands/cvars.
  
• Added game content rating to unblock Synergy in Germany.
  
• Increased maximum player support from 10 to 32.
  
• Other changes lost in time.

If you run into any regressions from the previous version (56.16) or bugs in general, please report them to our public issue tracker[gitlab.com]. Also feel free to make some noise on our Discord[discord.com].
The previous version of Synergy is still available on its own Steam beta branch: `56.16`. Please report a bug if you feel the need to rollback. If you do rollback, also set Half-Life 2's beta to `steam_legacy` to make everything work as it did before Half-Life 2's 20th Anniversary update.

One feature we were planning to have complete before releasing this update was automatic networking and Steam friend lobbies. This feature would remove the requirement of the host needing to port forward their local (or dedicated) server so their friends can join. This has been a large hindrance for those who simply want to play Half-Life 2 with friends out of the box and not deal with troubleshooting networks. Such a feature is a very high priority to us and we hope to have it ready in the near future.
There are likely other issues introduced in the Half-Life 2 20th Anniversary Update so we're keeping an eye on those as well.

Special thanks to IntriguingTiles, Balim and modi for helping with testing, reporting and fixing various issues over the last several months.

There is still much work to do but thanks for raising your crowbars with us over the years and we hope to see you again in City 17!

Half Life Discord and Synergy Discord are running a Rebel Rush Event Today,

Take a look at your server list and filter by most players to easily find the "Rebel Rush" Labeled Servers

The Servers also do include the Synergy Rebel Rush Achievement.

For more information join the Synergy Discord

Important Preparation Steps for Rebel Rush Event
With the release of the 20th Anniversary game update.

Switch to the Legacy Build for Half-Life 2:

Right-click on Half-Life 2 in your Steam Library and select Properties.
Navigate to the Betas tab and select the steam legacy 'pre 20th anniversary' build.
This will update Half-Life 2, Episode One, Episode Two, and Lost Coast to the [steam_legacy] version.
Initialize the Game:

Launch Half-Life 2 and start a new game.
After the game begins, you can exit immediately (you do not need to watch the cinematic).
This step ensures compatibility with Synergy servers.
Update Synergy:

Make sure you are on the latest Development Branch of Synergy. Check for updates prior to the event.
Once these steps are completed, you’ll be ready to join the Rebel Rush event without issues. Let’s make this one to remember—see you there!

The HL Discord peeps are hosting a Synergy server in celebration before Half-Life: Alyx's release.

Switch to the "twitch" beta branch to join!
Steam->Synergy->Properties->Betas Tab-> twitch

Prepare for #BugFest2020 #Lagfest2020
Play through Half-Life 2/Lost coast/Ep1/Ep2 tonight! All welcome!

Hey for keeping in touch, Discord link below. Going to annoy our current programmer who is hard at work @ his fancy job now this week hopefully to get Rebel Rush going soon or an alternative way of doing so. I know the "cheevo" hunters out there want this badly but haven't had the opportunity to do so.

Remember we have grown up from our 15-17 age groups and now have our own places, gotten married, some of us have kids. One of us turned out homeless. Another one became an adult rated star. Our old lead programmer is running his own business in Canada. Things have changed drastically so I'm sorry we haven't changed or updated this for you in so long. I really truly am. [/nosarcasm]

We can keep in touch in discord
https://discord.gg/M3MTwxa

For now hopefully you've tried out HDTF :-) cheers!

This may be a very bumpy ride to test out the development branch of synergy

We are currently having some rebel rush tests going on right now.

i'd like to try some beta-tests with no achievements that way the day the "Rebel Rush" event does happen we can all play as smoothly as possible.

Take this video into example on how you'll do it. "https://youtu.be/fKLP03J6sLA?t=196"

the code is "jonnyhawtsauce" - twitch branch

http://www.twitch.tv/jonnyquattro - If you have any questions.

Try the development beta! http://www.twitch.tv/jonnyquattro

First off thank you for checking this out. Once again sorry for interrupting with a mini window on your side there.

The latest development of synergy is included in a secret build that you'll have to do an OPT-IN through the Synergy properties.

Instructions -
1. Right Click Synergy
2. Properties
3. Beta Tab
4. Select "development" build
5. Download & Play

Try out the new features. I have also spoken to our main coder and we have spoken about a Rebel Rush event for the beginning of next month . I will keep you updated on the actual date through here.

Any questions just reach me on twitch!
Happy Gaming!