HAPPY STEAM SUMMER SALE! We have some big updates for everyone, and Black Mesa is 60% off.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/362890/Black_Mesa/
Technical Beta
We are excited to release our tech beta! It’s the first 3 maps of the Xen chapter (which has 6 maps total), continuing Gordon’s adventure from the cliffhanger ending of Lambda Core. With the full Xen campaign clocking in at 18 maps, the beta is only a taste of what’s to come.
The purpose of this beta is to collect bugs and feedback on a range of different computers. We have made significant improvements and changes to the Source engine, and we want the game to run as smoothly as possible. If you want to be on the bleeding edge of testing, opt into this beta. If you want the polished, complete Xen experience, you should wait. It won’t be long!
How to Opt In
First right click “Black Mesa” in your game library. Go to Properties…
Then click the “BETAS” tab and select “public-beta” from the drop down...
It will download a bunch of stuff, then you will have access to the Xen levels for the beta!
If you have not unlocked all the chapters, you will need to enable the developer console and unlock them. Go to Options, Keyboard, Advanced, Enable Developer Console. Bring up the console and type “sv_unlockedchapters 19”.
From there, simply click “New Game”, then scroll over to the “Xen” chapter (the chapter images were intentionally left black).
Long Jump
The beta drops you in just after Lambda Core. A big part of the last fight in LC is teaching the player how to use the long jump. If you jump straight into Xen, remember the long jump is triggered by pressing the jump button (space) twice rapidly in ANY direction. You can then use the W, A, S, D to control Gordon in the air.
Bug Reporting
We are looking for specific graphical/technical/performance bugs, especially on lower end systems. If you have any issues, please report them on our Steam forums or on the “Xen-Bugs” Discord channel. Please include your graphics settings and system specs or we won’t be able to properly diagnose the problem.
Though our focus is performance, we are also interested in what was clear, and what wasn’t for the layout and design. If you got stuck somewhere or were confused by something, let us know.
Please unsubscribe from all workshop mods if you are testing!
Discord
Our Discord is live! Please join us, hang out, and chat. Make sure to check out the server rules. The TL:DR;, it’s a SAFE FOR WORK server about Black Mesa, Half-Life, and Games. Please keep discussions outside those categories to other servers and have fun!
PLEASE NOTE, we have heavy server restrictions at this time. We will dial it back as soon as possible.
Known Issues With the Beta
-Linux has not yet been built. Windows only.
-We have not tested all of Earthbound or Multiplayer for this beta. If you find issues, feel free to report them in the proper channels.
-Running the game at 4k resolution at max settings may drastically lower your frame rate
-Ragdolls freak out in water. If you shoot an Ichthyosaur or Hoteye in water, their body and gibs may freak out. This is fixed on the developer build.
-Plant lights don’t retract when you are near them. This is fixed on the developer build.
-Laptop screens show shadows that are behind the screen. Fixed on the developer build.
-Missing collision on some of the plants and roots in the swamp
-Cookie lights (lights that cast on the ground) are broken on the HEV battery. Fixed on the developer build.
-Players occasionally gets stuck on small healing pools
-Probably a few things we are forgetting. Feel free to report any bugs and we’ll add them to our tracker!