The march towards the new map continues adding a final desert region with large flat spaces and scattered brush and a hilly grass region with alien structures. Some new memory optimization processes are also starting up to ensure the map can reach stability at the same time as playability.
If you are a regular explorer of the new map, you may have noticed the shrinking amount of unfinished space on the largest of the islands. Once this island is complete, there will be sufficient space available to run expeditions using the new deployment system and a single server will host the new map. The old map will be retired after the new one comes close to parity in terms of available activities.
Among all the regions of the new map, so far only one is designed in favor of watercraft. Other regions lack watercraft deploy points and are largely inaccessible to the vehicle type. Unfortunately, there really is no such thing as a good region that can accommodate the types of land and water vehicles players build. Instead of butchering every region with enormous rivers and shear coastal cliffs, the northern space of the new map will feature a more compact arrangement of the some of the old map's islands. All of the old islands will be updated to use the new deployment system on the new map.
Join us on Discord for public playtests Friday at 12pm ET, Saturday at 3pm ET, and Monday at 7pm ET.
1.17.8
Major Features
- Added a dusty island region with Castle Orenvaald to the new map.
- Added a grassy cliff region with alien structures to the new map.
Minor Features
- Improved performance on the new map by situationally disabling NPC airmen.
- Some assets on the new map will be loaded as-needed rather than all-a-once to reduced memory usage.
- Sunk the islands in the north of the new map.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed ground forts/outposts in installations spawning above the ground.
- Fixed not being able to drop off rescues at forts on the new map.