Yes. It's finally time. Major Update 2, the game update that we’ve been talking about for the past few months, has left beta and is now LIVE!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw1qcMIm9A4
Our main goal for Major Update 2 (MU2) was to entirely revamp our core competitive gamemode - Wartide 2.0. Along with Wartide 2.0 we’ve added huge list of new features - including a complete ingame HUD overhaul, new player models, BattleRank (free cosmetic progression system), new maps, better weapon balance, movement, LAN servers, grenade training and improved netcode - and that’s just the beginning. So without further ado, here’s the Major Update 2 changelog!
Major Update 2 Core Features
- Wartide 2.0 - Entirely revamped & improved competitive gamemode.
- Introducing ‘BattleRank’ Beta 2018 - Our free seasonal cosmetic progression system.
- Revamped Movement System - Improved lean, jumpshot nerf, smoother movement.
- New Competitive Map - Savoia, Italy
- New Weapons - MP28 & Grease Gun.
- Reworked Weapon Balance - Varied Weapon Choice & Sniper Nerfs.
- LAN Server Support - Including Grenade Training (Strat Mode).
- New HD Renderer - Improved visuals take Battalion 1944 visuals into the next generation.
- New Matchmaking System - Increased Stability
- Huge Performance Optimisations - Solid 120+ FPS on most systems.
- New HD Sound Engine - Advanced Sound Attenuation.
- EXPERIMENTAL - Added Bots to fill empty server slots - Can be possessed by dead players.
- EXPERIMENTAL - Added Work In Progress Match Replay system (Third Person ONLY)
New Competitive Gamemode ‘Wartide 2.0’
Updated Visuals & New HUD Interface with Wartide 2.0
For the past few months we’ve been incrementally playtesting alongside our dedicated community a brand new & improved version of our core gamemode, Wartide 2.0. The gamemode now revolves around a true team based economy system with solid comeback mechanics to allow for varied and interesting round to round gameplay. We’ve done away with the old card system and completely and utterly overhauled the user interface for a much more fun & polished gameplay experience.
Our hardcore players have been loving the weekly beta tweaks and changes and we’ve been receiving lots of good reports we’re finally ready to share this new gamemode and push it to the live servers. We can’t wait to hear the feedback from the wider gaming audience.
Wartide 2.0 Token Rewards/Expenses:
Max Tokens: 12
Round Win Bonus: 2
Round One Loss Bonus: 1
Round Two Loss Bonus: 2
Round Three Loss Bonus: 3
Bomb Defuse/Explosion Bonus: 1
New Allies Weapon Costings:
- Grease Gun: Free
- M1 Carbine: 1
- Trench Gun: 2
- Thompson: 3 (+1)
- M1 Garand: 4
- BAR: 4 (-1)
- Springfield: 6 (-1)
New Axis Weapon Costings:
- MP28: Free
- Gewehr: 1
- Trench Gun: 2
- MP40: 3
- STG44: 4 (-1)
- Kar98k: 5 (-1)
- Kar98 Scoped: 6 (-1)
New Utility Costings:
- Frag Grenade: 2 (+1)
- Smoke Grenade: 1
Weapon Saving
Players can now save weapons between rounds in both their primary and secondary weapon slots. This gives a large reward to players who stay alive and/or teams who win the round. This feature has massively changed the way Battalion is played - and winning an eco round rush then taking the enemy weapons has never felt more rewarding.
New Map - Savoia, Italy
Savoia has been designed around the idea of playing around with vertically, long sightlines and larger open areas as a departure from the default mould of Battalion’s current map design. High precision aim and map awareness have never been more important as you choose to either snipe from window to window or weave with an SMG through the italian buildings of our brand new competitive map, Savoia!
Existing Maps Reworked & New HD Renderer
Several maps have had both minor and major complete reworks since MU1 - and now the changes are finally going live.
New HD Renderer & Performance Gains
- All Maps
Map Changes / Reworks:
Invasion Rework
Changes:
Manhouse v2:
- Added a haystack as cover to the corner of A bombsite
- Flattened the terrain in that same corner of A bombsite
- Removed the ‘boost boxes’ by mid/A barn exit
- Blocked certain overpowered boost spots based on players feedback
- Fixed some map specific bug
Coastal:
- Improved spawn area layouts for both axis and allies.
- Added a new sniper building by the allies spawn for the Allies to peek into mid from a higher elevation or defend against aggressive flankers from B.
- Added a new enterable house on A long by the A bombsite to allow axis players to peek A long and allied players to flank around the A bombsite building.
- Made the ‘Byfam Antiques’ building enterable to add a quicker rotation point between B stairs & middle’s broken walls.
- Added a ladder to the back of the A bombsite building to allow players to enter from the top of the wooden stairs (sorry stair campers!)
Updates & Bug Fixes:
- Derailed
- Aim Map
- Liberation
- Outpost
- Upottery
Updated Minimaps
As a small UI update we’ve also updated all of the minimaps to fit the new Wartide UI. Here’s the very latest top down minimap images so that players can create new callout images & strategies if you wish.
Battalion 1944 Major Update 2 - New Minimaps
New & Improved Player Models
We’ve updated Battalion 1944’s first and third person player models and animations to look and feel 100x better than the previous characters in the old live build of the game. After playing with and against these new player models there’s no way we could never go back.
New Weapons - MP28 & Grease Gun
The famous allied ‘Grease Gun’ and Axis ‘MP28’ have been added to the game. Their role as the new default weapons of Battalion 1944 is an effective, and free, close range option to quick rush the enemy team or catch aggressors off guard. A great option when your team’s economy isn't looking too strong in a match of Wartide.
Allied ‘Grease Gun’ submachine gun
Axis ‘MP28’ submachine gun
Full Change-Log
Gameplay - (Movement & Gunplay Tweaks)
Movement Changes:
Prone Behavior Changes
- If a player goes to prone when moving whilst ADS, they will be pulled out of ADS.
- If a player goes to prone when stationary whilst ADS, they will stay in ADS.
- If a player tries to move whilst already in prone and ADS, they will be pulled out of ADS - unless you’re a using a scoped sniper rifle.
- Prone ADS bug fixed
Weapons Changes and additions:
- Added MP 28
- Added Grease Gun
- More Consistent Weapon Physics After Death
Sniper Rifles
- The Springfield, the Kar98 Scoped and the Kar98 now take slightly longer to become fully scoped when transitioning to ADS. This has in turn increased the length of the inaccuracy period when transitioning between hip fire to aiming down the scope.
- Hip Fire / Noscope is now considerably more accurate.
- ADS Transition Speed increase/buff from 0.35 > 0.31 (MU1 ADS time was 0.25)
- ADS Move speed increase/buff from 1.0 > 0.8
- Weapon Holster speed increase/buff from 0.333 > 0.233
- Hip Spread Recovery Rate After Moving 20 > 32 (Explained: After you stop moving, you will see your crosshair return to the centre. This an important assisting mechanic for no scoping. Although the snipers are more inaccurate from hip than the Kar98, they recover their static hip fire accuracy almost 35% faster than the Kar98. The crosshair is 100% accurate to the area where the noscope can land.
- Sniper scope FOV increased
Rife changes
- Kar98 Scoped noscope accuracy buff
Heavy Weapons
- The BAR is now a 3 shot weapon across all ranges instead of 3-5 shots at range.
- The BAR ADS animation was tweaked to feel more snappy and responsive.
- The STG44 is now a 3-4 shot weapon instead of 3-5 shots.
- Both STG44 & BAR stationary hip fire accuracy slightly increased.
- STG rate of fire (time between shots) decreased from 0.09 > 0.11
SMGs
- MP40 Horizontal Recoil Slightly Reduced.
Shotguns
- Max range damage slightly reduced.
- Min range damage increased slightly.
- Crosshair spread decreased to more accurately portray pellet spread.
- Reduced shotgun fire rate.
- Can now hold 6 shots instead of 5.
Eco Weapons
- Grease Gun & MP28 rate of rire (Time between shots) increased from 0.13 > 0.125
Weapon Penetration Values
- Bomb box no longer penetrable
- Adjusted penetrable meshes
New Sounds:
- Added a server side ‘takeoff’ sound when a player jumps.
- New Gewehr Sound.
- New STG44 Sound.
- New Thompson Sound.
- New Luger Sound.
- New M1911 Sound.
- New Headshot Sound.
- New Hitmarker Sound.
- New Footsteps Sounds.
- New Token Pickup Sound.
- New Attenuation/Falloff.
- Adding an Ambient Sound Slider
- Added grenade pick up sounds.
- Added new hitmarker sound effect.
- Added new headshot sound effect.
- Added ambient volume slider.
- Added main menu music volume slider
- Added subtle audio occlusion.
- Added new in-game music for Wartide gamemode.
- Added new announcer voice for Wartide gamemode.
- Bomb Ticking now gets faster depending on time left on the bomb.
- Increased bomb planting sound radius.
- Fixed a bug where other player's Garand 'ping' would trigger at incorrect times.
Player:
Weapons:
- Improved gun sound attenuations.
- Added new mechanical sound to guns when they are running out of ammo (first person only).
- Improved gunshot sounds for STG44, Thompson, Trench Gun, BAR, Mp40, Luger, Colt 1911 and Gewehr.
- Added knife stabbing sounds.
Performance Gains
- Blueprint Navisation (drastically decreasing load times and increasing performance).
- Level Specific Optimisations (reducing draw calls).
- General Optimisations (reducing unnecessary clutter within the project).
- Animation Optimisation (only visible information is sent to clients).
Settings/Menu Configs
- No config resetting
- More in-game config settings
- ini files will be locked
- Some restrictions on certain config settings
Misc
- 144hz / fullscreen issue fixed (For extra assurance, make sure your Windows refresh rate is set to 144hz, not just Nvidia graphics settings, Battalion uses windows refresh rate setting when not in true full screen)
- Amazon servers
Updated Smoke Grenade
Our new smoke grenade effects are now more consistent and act as a solid visual wall to allow players to cross gaps to safely and maneuver past long sightlines with confidence... or even get a cheeky ninja defuse!
https://youtu.be/9BkkfyzMrVA
Introducing Ladders!
https://youtu.be/Lp2FYMuW86w
All of the above changes have been made to polish the core of Battalion 1944 before we move onto Major Update 3’s development where we will start focusing on polishing arcade game modes (FFA, TDM, CTF & DOM) and the overall user experience from rewards and stat tracking to medals and UI.
Introducing ‘Battlerank’ - New Cosmetic Progression System!
When looking at the list of issues with the Early Access launch version of Battalion, at the top of the list was giving reasons for players to keep playing whilst rewarding those who do keep booting up and playing for their efforts. We had these kind of changes down to be worked on ready for Major Update 3 - but we’ve decided to run a small ‘beta season’ of our new leveling system within Major Update 2 called ‘BattleRank’.
BattleRank Beta Season 2018 is the first step towards making Battalion the engaging and rewarding game it was always intended to become. With every BattleRank season will come new exclusive rewards and weapon skins that can only be acquired during that period.
BattleRank is a system designed to reward you for playing Battalion 1944 - due to this, all players’ XP will need to be reset to make way for this new era of BattleRank.
Every player who boots the game during the very first beta season will receive a participant coin and a participant weapon skin as a thanks for checking out the changes to the game during MU2.
However, players who stick around past the MU2 launch will get the chance to ‘level up’ their BattleRank to higher tiers. This is done by gaining experience point (XP) by playing the game and completing matches. In the 2018 Beta Season of BattleRank, every 10 levels will reward you with a new & exclusive weapon skin that can be sold or traded on the community market. Also, every single level up will upgrade your publicly displayed BattleRank icon and also reward you with a free War Chest!
Battlerank ‘beta 2018’ Exclusive Weapon Skin Unlocks
These weapons can only be obtained by playing Battalion 1944 and leveling up via XP during the ‘Beta 2018’ season. These skins are tradable and marketable. Once the Beta 2018 season ends - these weapons will no longer be available to unlock.
Bronze Tier (Rank 2-9) - ‘MP28 | Hazard’ & BattleRank Beta 2018 Participant Coin
Silver Tier (Rank 10-19) - ‘BAR | Hellfire’
Gold Tier (Rank 20-29) - ‘Colt 1911 | Midnight Fade’
Platinum Tier (Rank 30-39) - ‘Grease Gun | CyberPunk’
Emerald Tier (Rank 40-39) - ‘Kar98k | Platinum Plated’
Diamond Tier (Rank 50+) - Animated ‘Springfield | Dragon Breath’ & BattleRank Beta 2018 Completionist Coin
The diamond tier scorched earth Springfield design is the first ever animated weapon skin in Battalion 1944 that reacts to your gameplay. Reign fire upon your enemies and see your springfield rage into life as light emits from the veins of this weapon’s woodwork every time you pull the trigger.
New Warchest - The Aces High War Chest
Along with BattleRank - we’re adding a brand new War Chest!
Say hello to the brand new 'Aces High' War Chest.
Drop chances within these new War Chests are considerably improved. Therefore the chance of you receiving higher tier skins is much higher.
Players will be able to unlock an ‘Aces High’ War Chest every time they level up via BattleRank. Here’s a preview of some of the new weapon skins you’ll be able to get your hands on:
The ‘Chompson’ Weapon Skin - Exclusive to the ‘Aces High’ War Chest
The ‘Red Barron’ STG-44 Weapon Skin - Exclusive to the ‘Aces High’ War Chest
The ‘Axis Nightmare’ BAR Weapon Skin - Exclusive to the ‘Aces High’ War Chest
And many more!
New & Updated Settings Menu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9vxip5z-Co
LAN Server Support - Including Grenade Training (Strat Mode).
After requests from the community we have decided to include Offline LAN server support as well as a grenade training mode. This includes a keybind for a grenade follow feature that allows you to track your grenade/smoke flight path and where it lands in order for you to work on those entry and denial stop nades. We hope you enjoy!
Many aspects of the game can be tweaked from this lan creation menu - meaning it can be a bit overwhelming for new players! We’ll be tidying up all the UI for this feature before full release but for now enjoy the unlimited customisation of your LAN servers.
How to enable strat mode
1] Create your LAN server with strat mode enabled and your desired map selection
2] When in your server type server.givegrenade NUMBER OR server.givesmoke
3] Throw your grenade then press your grenade follow key (default Z) to follow the grenade in the air! Use your mouse to rotate around the grenade mid flight.
4] Get creative! Eventually you’ll find some insane grenade angles to take with you into online servers like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X9IKexi_ms&feature=youtu.be&t=6
Experimental Feature - Adding Bots!
Bots have also been a highly requested feature and we are happy to say that they now can be included into community servers to. These can populate empty spots in a server and can be possessed by dead players. Newly joining players will kick these bots and take their spots!
Bots are WORK IN PROGRESS so you’ll see that they’re not very smart & will potentially have issues that could mean we remove them temporarily from the live servers. They like to follow each other in packs. One of our goals between now and full release is to be constantly improving the bot AI, so expect them to get smarter between now and full release.
Experimental Feature - Match Replays (Demo Viewer)
This is an extremely early version of this feature.
Players can now manually record matches by pressing F4 (Default Keybind) during gameplay which will start locally recording everything that happens in a match until the replay is manually stopped by pressing F4 again. These replays can then be accessed from the settings menu from within the main menu.
At the moment the replays are only in 3rd person with a very simple timeline function as a proof of concept. The replay feature will contain bugs and is likely to entirely break. Obviously this is not ideal. However, we felt it was important to push this feature into MU2 for early testing and to potentially help content creators relive awesome moments that happen during a game.
The match replay feature will be improved upon with the release of the next large content update, Major Update 3 and will be continued to be improved as we heard toward full release next year. We aim to allow players to relieve entire matches from any perspective as if they were spectating them live. Please help us test this very early, yet important addition to Battalion 1944 and send us feedback via our official Discord!
Summary
Hopefully you guys will see the revived potential of Battalion 1944’s future after you try out Major Update 2 today - we’re committed to the future of this game and we’re not going anywhere. Want more? Major Update 3 is not that far away and will bring even more to the table to make Battalion 1944 the game its intended to be.
Gallantry Budapest - The First Major Update 2 Lan Tournament
The very first LAN tournament running Major Update 2 is taking place at Gallantry Budapest. 18 teams from across the globe will compete to try and take the crown from Insomnia 62 winners Team Endpoint & embrace the glory of stamping their team name into Battalion 1944’s history books as the game’s best players during this Early Access period.
You can watch all the action live on Twitch, 13th - 15th July 2018.
Twitch: Gallantry Twitch
Gallantry Events Twitter
Read More: https://gallantry.gg/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmf7mxwXNwE
(Note: Trailer includes outdated Pre-MU2 gameplay footage from past B44 tournaments)
Coming Soon After Major Update 2.
Ever wanted to get into games design or show off your level design skills?
Soon you’ll be able to dive into the Battalion 1944 Developer Toolkit.
More info coming soon!
Thanks,
The Bulkhead Interactive Team