Today we are launching a preview of our upcoming version 1.6 update. This includes a new map ‘Power Plant’, two new weapons (the Tavor 7 and ACE 52), ingame mod support, new cosmetic options, and more!
This content is now playable on the Community Test Environment. However please remember this is a preview build, so some issues are expected (see ‘Known Issues’). If you encounter any problems or have feedback for the development team please respond in the CTE sub-section of the Steam forums or use our 1.6 CTE Feedback Survey.Our team will be monitoring feedback during the CTE and aim to push this update to players on the live version of Insurgency: Sandstorm soon.
You can find some of the key new features and known issues below:
New Features
- New map “Power Plant”
- Playable in Firefight, Push, Domination, Checkpoint, Hardcore Checkpoint, and Frenzy Checkpoint.
- Tavor 7 battle rifle for the Security Advisor class.
- Replaces the Mk 14 EBR
- ACE 52 battle rifle for the Insurgents Advisor class.
- Replaces the SVD
- Mod support for community created content on community servers
- Mod submenu on the main menu will allow you to browse and subscribe to download mods
- Joining a modded community server will prompt you to download required modded content or cancel joining
- Community Server Browser will allow filtering modded servers
- Improved Spectator Camera
- Improved spectator camera after being killed to point in direction of killing shot or explosion
- Player can either click to skip or after a period of time will be forced into regular spectator mode
- Players can turn this feature off for themselves under Game settings
- Community Server Admins can turn this off for the server
- Disabled in Competitive and Hardcore Checkpoint playlists
- Implemented toggleable x-ray trails from thrown projectiles and fire support and a beam indicating the direction a player is facing
- Implemented controller support for spectator mode
- Improved spectator camera after being killed to point in direction of killing shot or explosion
- New Security Cosmetics
- Compression Shirt
- Headset with various Headgear
- New Insurgent Cosmetics
- Leather Jacket
- Smooth Mask
- Community Feedback Improvements
- XP Boosts will be listed on playlists
- Selecting Random during a map vote will no longer result in replaying the current scenario
- Players cannot be autobalanced during the last two minutes of a match or during the Last Stand in Push/Frontline
- Added some spawn protection in Versus modes to prevent the Attacking team from being wiped when they are spawned in on final waves
- Main Menu Improvements
- Updated the Review pane of the main menu to accept and display dynamic messages
- Added a banner message area for displaying short text messages
- Insurgent Fire Support Improvements
- Doubled the number of rockets in the Rocket Barrage and added a delay between each volley
- Doubled the duration of the Chemical Mortar fire support’s smoke clouds to remain after exploding
- Doubled the duration of the Smoke Mortar fire support’s smoke clouds to remain after exploding
- Increased the duration of Explosive Mortar fire support by 50%
Gameplay Improvements
- Adjusted AI so they will no longer attack players in spawn areas in standard and Hardcore Checkpoint scenarios (they will attack in Frenzy
- Removed insertion and drivable vehicles from all Checkpoint levels to improve level flow and performance
General Improvements
- Replay Improvements
- Improved reliability of replay recording
- Improved replay control reliability
- Improved Gamepad Support
- Implemented multiple sensitivity curves which can be selected from the settings menu
- Implemented Per-Axis Controller Sensitivity
- Updated Controller Button Mapping
- Adjusted Gamepad Weapon Recoil and Sway Modifiers
- Improved aim dampening implementation
- Improved Default UE4 Deadzones
- Added gamepad support most menus
- Implemented Dual Shock 4 controller support
Visual Changes
- Updated the lighting in the main menu
- Updated the look of magazines for the Mk. 18 CQBR and Alpha AK
- Visual optimization pass on Hideout
- Increased performance in troubled areas of the map
- Improved the flashbang effect to reduce the performance cost when used
User Experience
- Moved Steam notification to stop blocking important UI elements
- Added clock icon to indicate that fire support is on cool down to binocular view for Commander
- Made Preview Selection of Items and Cosmetics consistent between Appearance Screen and Loadout Screen
- Improved visibility of HUD markers and provided multiple preconfigured color schemes
- Improved how HUD markers are anchored to the screen they represent objects outside your field of view (Objectives, Supply Crates, Friendly Players)
- Improved UI hint when close to doors that can be kicked open
- Improved tutorial hints for the ADS Focus ability
- Updated icons for scoreboard to indicate columns are hidden while player is alive
- Added a consistent Apply button to all Settings screens
- Improved the visibility of the Find Match button and added a sound for when it is clicked
- Improved the visibility of damage indicators
- Added a contextual hint to the screen when players are in the spawn or close to resupply crates to indicate they can Change Class or Change Loadout
Noteable Fixes
- Removed unintended exploitable rooftop access from various maps
- Fixed exploitable capture zones in some Domination layouts
- Fixed Farmhouse Checkpoint map to correctly display the supply crate location
- Fixed bullets not showing up in the 3rd person reload animations on rifles with stripper clips
- Fixed crouched and prone reload animations in 3rd person for some rocket launchers
- Improved consistency of Lesson popups
Known Issues
- [Tavor 7] Textures for the Tavor 7 are not final
- [Tavor 7] Some animations may clip through player models
- [Tavor 7] In the Loadout menu, the magazine is in the incorrect position
- Some menus are not accessible using a gamepad
- X-ray trails from projectiles and fire support will not display in Replays
- Summit Domination still has a placeholder tactical map
- The extraction vehicle in the tutorial level will get stuck shortly after you enter it
- Spawning a vehicle in the Shooting Range will not work correctly
- The new cosmetics are not yet available in the Appearance menu
- Localization of new content has not yet been implemented
- Power Plant image is missing for map vote screen
- Some scenario name strings are being shown instead of game mode in various maps
- In the Coop New Map: Power Plant playlist, scenarios are not being properly labeled with Frenzy and Hardcore