12:00am EST - After the successful launch of primitive last week, the team is trucking along on a fresh hack week, fixes, more forward progress!

Fixes

Following the recent monthly update in Rust, a series of fixes have been rolled out to address issues that surfaced. This routine cleanup ensures smoother gameplay and enhanced stability across servers. Here’s a brief overview of the key fixes implemented:

Fixed propane bomb and firebomb both missing their item information panel
Propane bomb can no longer be placed underwater
Fixed being able to pick up deployed siege explosives while they are lit
Server memory leak fixes (Fleck updated)
Fix left click quick craft crafting 5x of an item instead of 1x of an item
Fixed issue causing clothing items to disappear when swapping items in inventory
Added changelog to primitive gamemode
-- Shows the list of changes when you click on the gamemode button in the top left corner of your inventory
Misc Error fixes

Hackweek

It’s that exciting time again—Hackweek is in full swing! If you’re new here, Hackweek is when our developers take a break from their regular tasks to focus on passion projects. They choose ideas they believe could make the coolest additions to Rust and dedicate a week to bringing those ideas to life.

Not every Hackweek project makes it into the final game, but many do, and some of these have become some awesome features we've seen in Rust. It's a great way for the team to experiment with new concepts and push the boundaries of what’s possible in the game.

Here's a quick roundup of some exciting projects from this week's Hackweek:

Electrical Branch Naming: Soon, players might be able to name electrical branches, adding a layer of customization and organization to electrical setups.
Bunkbeds: Allowing for more efficient use of space in player bases and providing additional sleeping options for teammates.
Visual Loot: Enhancing visualization of loot based on its size and introducing space-based loot tracking.
Hand Car: A new feature that allows players to construct a handcar, deployable onto rails.
Automated Testing: A crucial development for ensuring that core game functionalities remain intact with each staging deploy.
Bee Swarms: Ian is exploring the integration of bee swarms into Rust, potentially adding a whole new layer to the upcoming beekeeping in the game.
Modeling Improvements: Significant enhancements are being made to modeling capabilities, including adjustments to player HP, movement speeds, delivery fees, item icons, and entity scaling.
Server Profiling: This project focuses on enhancing server data tracking and performance metrics, which is key for optimizing overall gameplay.
Drawbridge: An initial exploration into adding functional drawbridges, which could introduce new dynamics to building and fortifying.
Blackboards: It looks like simple blackboards could be making their debut, possibly affecting communication or planning within the game.
Friendly Gestures: Following the addition of crude gestures, there’s work on incorporating friendly gestures to enhance player interactions.

Hopper

The Hopper is an innovative new storage adaptor currently available on the staging branch for testing. Designed to automatically suck up any dropped items within a 1.5-meter radius, the Hopper promises to streamline storage and organization in Rust, making it an essential addition for efficient base management. As this feature undergoes community testing, its integration could significantly enhance how players interact with their environment, saving time and adding convenience to the game's survival mechanics.

Cooking V2

Cooking V2 is making significant strides on the Rust staging server, introducing more complex and rewarding culinary options into the game. This week, eight new pie recipes have been added, each offering enhanced benefits that go beyond basic nutrition, making cooking a more strategic part of survival.

In addition to these recipes, the update includes exciting developments in sustainable food sources with the introduction of chicken coops and bees. The chicken coops have been fine-tuned to include variables like chicken happiness and egg laying frequency, adding depth to animal husbandry in Rust. Meanwhile, bees are becoming a vital part of the ecosystem; natural hives will soon spawn in oak trees around the map, likely providing resources like honey and honeycomb. These probably will be harvested and used in various recipes, integrating bees into the broader Cooking V2 system and enhancing the game's survival mechanics.

Jungle progress

Progress on the new Jungle biome and Jungle Ruins monument in Rust is moving forward with some exciting developments. This upcoming addition is set to introduce a lush, densely-packed environment that promises to dramatically alter the landscape and gameplay.

Key updates include:

Fresh monument: The jungle biome will likely center around the new Jungle Ruins monument
New Wildlife: The jungle will be home to new animals like tigers, crocodiles, and snakes, adding more danger and excitement to the biome.
Interactive Vines: Developers are also working on vines that players can swing from, enhancing navigation and interaction within the jungle environment.

While there's no confirmed release date for this new biome yet, it's clear that it will offer a vibrant and challenging new component to the game's maps, enriching the Rust experience with its diverse flora and fauna. Stay tuned for more updates as this lush new world takes shape!

Other stuff

Horse Fixes: Ongoing work to refine horse mechanics and resolve issues affecting their behavior.
Cloud Enhancements: Developers are enhancing cloud visuals to improve the game's atmosphere and realism.
Store UI Improvements: Updates to the store interface are being implemented to enhance user experience.
Demo Button Fix: Correction of an issue where the demo button appears even if the player does not have a demo folder.