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v0.34 Update Recap
The show must go on! While the memories from the longest playtest in the history of Steel Hunters are still fresh and we are still going through the copious amounts of feedback left by you, the new version is already waiting to be tested. Smaller in size, it nonetheless has valuable pieces of content that we are sure you will enjoy! So, without further ado, let's look at what this version has in store for us.
In the Blink of an eye
Some of the most active Discussions on Discord were related to the missing Hunters. Our veteran players told tales of the nimble predator Fenris and our trusty medic Trenchwalker, both not present during the last playtest. The reason of their absence was quite simple: all of the Hunters' progression systems had to be adapted both to the new System Tree structure and, also integrated with our new weapon management system. In the end, this pair required some extra time before returning back to the fold.
Meet Fenris - an agile wolf-like Hunter that possesses a Blink ability, allowing him to traverse distance by teleporting in the heat of battle, surprising unaware opponents or quickly disengaging from unfavorable circumstances. His secondary ability - Plasma Arc - is a powerful energy sphere capable of damaging everything that happens to cross it's path to the target destination. And it also explodes satisfyingly, what more do you need?
Trenchwalker is the go-to Hunter for all support class conoisseurs that love dealing damage, as well as helping out their teammates. Armed with his Hybrid Grenade ability, Trenchwalker is capable of keeping his teammate alive by deploying a healing dome - or using the same grenade to damage enemies that end up within the healing radius. Expanding on this dichotomy, his primary ability - Leech Gun - is perfect for leeching the life out of enemies and restoring your Structure Points at the same time. And with the Herald Mod, you can even shoot your ally directly to restore their points!!
We hope you enjoy those two Hunters thoroughly and look forward to your feedback on them!
They're evolving!
Let's be honest here, there is quite a bit of prejudice towards AI Hunters at the moment. Only very few players would choose an AI partner over a friend, but they actually play an important role in our game:
- They ease early onboarding and matchmaking for newcomers;
- They keep you going if your teammate bails on you and leaves the match;
- They provide a comfortable way to play for those who prefer more casual games in Co-Op mode instead of cut-throat PvP battles;
- They help speed-up the matchmaking process when it takes too long, especially in the Alpha stage.
As you see, our AI buddies are on the payroll, that's why we constantly work to make them smarter, and this update delivers in this regard: AI Hunters can now use Teleports, just like you. They can activate terminals of their own accord when you are in the teleporting radius or do so if instructed with a ping. And, if left behind on the other side, bots will use teleports to catch up to you!
'For never was a story of more woe than this of your bot and the Teleport.'
Pew-Pew!
Shooting should be fun, feel impactful and look cool. The latter was the focus of our attention for this update. Adding a pinch of realism, we included such visual effects as smoke emanating from the heated-up weapon barrel when you decide to go Rambo and empty your whole magazine in one go. Shell casings flying away, more pronounced bullet trails and tangible camera shake will help you feel 'in the moment'!
But it's is not only about dishing out the bullets - sometimes you have to take the hit yourself. And this was also the focus of this update. Visually, direct hits at the Critical Points and well as Shields in general, have become more pronounced and noticeable. See for yourself!
Finding your voice
We are all about the choice, and it translates to the small things, like the voice of our Battle Announcer. If you are not satisfied with the current version, you can simply go to the Settings menu and switch between two available variants.
Another small change that you might see in our changelog is that we have slightly improved voiceovers for Heartbreaker and Razorside. Moreover, our previously silent Fenris now has a set voicelines. We are still searching for the perfect voice capable of conveying the essence of this character, but we are pretty happy with what we have created for him now.
Wrapping up this short (but sweet) Update Recap for version 0.34, I'd like to say a big thanks to all the players who are sticking with us. You keep inspiring our team to more bugs, improve more features and release new and interesting content! So free some time on your weekend for some Steel Hunters - we'll see you in game and on Discord as usual!
Your carrier pigeon,
MirAI.