12:00am EST - There is a flurry of activity on the Aux2 branch with a slew of new items to enhance gameplay and dynamism.

Hackweek Continues

Hackweek is still buzzing with activity following its kickoff last week. Developers are diving deeper into some intriguing projects that could potentially enhance gameplay. Here's a quick roundup of what's been happening this week:

Drawbridge: Work continues on a functional drawbridge that can be lowered to connect bases, adding a strategic element to base design and defense.
Drones Dropping Grenades: A new feature is in the works where drones can drop grenades, introducing a dynamic aerial attack option.
Automated Testing: Developers are focusing on automated testing processes to minimize errors and ensure more stable game updates and launches.
Rolling Tires Improvements: Enhancements are being made to the visual effects of tire rolling, improving realism and visual feedback in vehicle movements.

These projects highlight the innovative spirit of Hackweek, with each addition aimed at increasing the depth and enjoyment of the game. Stay tuned to see which of these exciting developments make it into the final gameplay!

Cooking 2.0

The next evolution of culinary arts in Rust, Cooking 2.0, is now live on the Aux2 branch for a round of community testing, and it's packed with features that promise to spice up survival gameplay.

What’s New?

Cooking Workbench Revamp: The heart of Cooking 2.0 is its brand new workbench, loaded with fresh recipes. Players can now whip up throwable pies, quiches, and tarts, each offering unique boosts, echoing the benefits similar to those found in teas.
Enhanced Food Preservation: Fridges have gotten an upgrade; they now require electricity to function. This change extends the life of stored foods—cooked meals can now last up to 24 hours, while raw ingredients stay fresh for 6 hours, provided the fridge is powered.
Food Management Improvements: Alongside better food preservation, there’s also a new feature that allows players to track the expiration date on food items, helping manage resources more efficiently and avoid waste.
Richer Recipe Selection: The expanded recipe book now includes a variety of pies, leveraging new ingredients like wheat and eggs. The specifics of these new culinary effects are still under wraps but are expected to be detailed soon.

This update is still in the testing phase on the Aux2 staging branch, with a potential full release slated for March. So, if you're eager to see how these new cooking mechanics transform survival in Rust, now's the time to dive in and start experimenting!

Chicken Coops

A major addition is the introduction of chicken coops, a new feature allowing players to raise chickens. These coops come equipped with multiple bars indicating each chicken's hunger, thirst, affection, and exposure to sunlight, which directly influence their egg production rates. Players can add eggs to the coop to hatch new chickens and must regularly supply food and water to maintain their chickens' health and happiness. This will surely be an integral part of the new crafting update.

Beekeeping

Rust is buzzing with excitement as bees and beekeeping make their way into the game. This new feature introduces beekeeping mechanics, allowing players to manage beehives and produce honey, which can be sold at the Bandit Camp for economic gains, similar to trading fertilizer.

Craftable Beehives: Construct beehives at Workbench Level 1 to start your beekeeping venture.
Natural beehives: Found in oak trees, can be harvested for honeycomb, used for cooking or selling.
Honey Production: Using a nucleus from natural beehives, crafted beehives level up and produce honeycomb, which can be converted into honey jars.
Economic Benefits: Honey jars can be sold at the Bandit Camp, with potential for more honey-based recipes in future updates.
Bee Grenade: A new weapon made from beehive materials, currently acting as a flashbang that releases damaging bees.

Flowers

Rust is getting a vibrant update with the introduction of new flowers that now naturally grow throughout the game world. Players can look forward to discovering and collecting several beautiful floral varieties, including:

Orchids: Delicate and exotic, adding a touch of elegance.
Roses: Classic and romantic, perfect for decorative uses.
Sunflowers: Bright and cheerful, ideal for a sunny touch to any base.

The specific applications for these floral items have not been fully detailed yet, but they could potentially be used to enhance crafting recipes and serve as charming decorative elements within the game. These new additions might also play a role in future game mechanics, offering more than just aesthetic value.

Engineering Workbench

Rounding out the crafting update, a brand-new Engineering Workbench has been added! This all-in-one workstation allows players to learn and craft various engineering-related items, consolidating everything into a single bench.

What Can You Learn?

Electrical Components - Wires, switches, batteries, and advanced circuits.
Plumbing Systems - Pipes, valves, pumps, and water filtration.
Industrial Equipment - Conveyor belts, factory machines, and automated systems.
Car Parts - Engines, transmissions, tires, and other vehicle components.

Item Ownership

Item ownership might be making its way back into Rust, adding a layer of detail that allows players to see who crafted an item directly within the info panel. This simpler, revamped version of item ownership aims to enhance player interaction and accountability by clearly displaying the creator's name on crafted items.

As developments continue and more details emerge, we'll be sure to keep you updated on how this feature evolves and integrates into the game.

Drone Buff

Rust's drones just got a major upgrade! The control range has been extended to 600 meters, with a max range of 750 meters, allowing for broader operational use. Additionally, drone health has doubled from 100HP to 200HP, making them sturdier and more resilient in action. These improvements significantly enhance drone utility for scouting and transporting tasks.

Other Stuff

A new single potted plant
More progress on the hopper (loot sucker storage attachment)
Work on a triangle planter
Setup item list scroll view for propper scrolling.
F1 item list scrolling
Resized item window slightly so that long lists don't cover the search bar at the bottom.
Forward item icon drag events to main scroll view so that you can drag scroll properly even over an item icon.
More work on tigers and jungle ruins