Hello, Runners.
Here’s a quick update for everyone from the dev team at SYNCED. Recently, we tested a revamped PvP mode with some of you, and we want to share the improvements that we showcased.
Thanks to your feedback from July’s Runner Weekend, we identified a few areas that needed to be changed to improve the game’s pacing, intensity, and fun.
The first changes were to the map itself. We realized that if we scaled everything down, we could give you a more fast-paced, intense experience that we at SYNCED have always been striving towards. So we shrunk the map to just one fourth of its original size, reduced the player count from 18 to 12, and reduced the numbers of available Harvesters to capture. This means that when you play PvP, you’ll be playing quick, high-octane matches, because if you want that nerva, you’re gonna have to hustle.
Next, we took a look at the Exchanges. These are meant to be a hub for nano mods that can radically alter your playing experience, making each round unique. But, with your feedback, we found that the experience was often undermined by factors outside of player control. So, we made the Exchanges smarter. Now they will learn your Companion Nano’s type and offer only mods that you’ll be able to use. It won’t guarantee you a win, but it should even the playing field just enough to keep things fun.
To complement this, we’ve made some changes to the shops. Shops on the map now offer an expanded inventory, from SYNC hosts to armor and weapon upgrades that will make you more powerful, but only if you’ve got the radia to spend.
And the last big update came for the Companion Nanos themselves. In the past, if your nano died, you’d have to re-SYNC a Prime Nano. But now, after a short cooldown, you’ll be able to call them out again, emphasizing the important bond between a Runner and their nano.
Alright, Runners, those are the main updates for now. If we make any more big changes, you’ll hear it here first. And, as always, thanks so much for your feedback and support. It really matters to us. If you'd like to talk to us, please consider joining our Discord. We are planning more playtests for PVP in the near future, and may even be offering glimpses of our shiny new PVE.
Stay tuned, and see you in The Meridian!