Hard Bullet News

Hey people!

We wanted to share quick tips & tricks for SteamVR Streaming issues that could be helpful for you, mostly about lagging when multiple enemies are nearby and instant frame drops/freezings. which we only see when the game is not started properly according to the current OpenXR settings.

We have seen this issue raised on Discord and Steam Reviews so we wanted to take a moment to help you out with configuring your settings properly to use Meta Quest Link with HARD BULLET. These issues mostly happen because of the mismatch of the Runtime settings.

[h2]How to properly configure your OpenXR Settings?[/h2]

1️⃣ Make sure that your current OpenXR Runtime is set to Oculus, instead of SteamVR for this tip. You can find this tab by launching SteamVR on Steam and going through Settings.



2️⃣ Open the Meta Quest Link app on your PC and go to Settings. On the General tab, your OpenXR Runtime should be Meta Quest Link.



3️⃣ Launch the game directly from the headset - instead of launching the SteamVR app first. This will help with most of the lag issues related to the mismatching of SteamVR Runtime and how you start the game. Because we set the Runtime to Oculus in the first step, launching the SteamVR app will raise mismatch problems.

[h2]Virtual Desktop Players[/h2]

⚠️If you are using Virtual Desktop, we advise you to use Steam Link or Meta Quest Link for the best performance. But if you would like to keep using it, you don't have to make the changes above! Virtual Desktop automatically changes your Runtime to SteamVR when you launch the game.
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And last but not least; here’s a quick reference table showing how different streaming apps integrate with your system and HARD BULLET:



These steps should help you for a smooth HARD BULLET experience! Please give it a try and let us know if it works for you.

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/1294760/HARD_BULLET/

[h3]Hey everyone![/h3]

Your favorite time is back! HARD BULLET will be OFF for 20% until February 5th!



If you missed our latest update on 2025 plans, 2024 recap and Quest Release, check out the Devlog below!

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1294760/view/761771660008227607?l=english

We'll see you in the Arena!

Check out our Socials and have a chat with us! Twitter Discord Mods Patreon

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1294760/HARD_BULLET/

[h3]Hey everyone![/h3]

Are we late to the recap party yet? No? Can we still share some insight? COOL!



2024 was a wild one for us, with lots of updates and learnings along the way! We couldn't be any prouder than we are right now, with all the love from you all! HARD BULLET came a long way as well, now that we are going into the fifth year! 5 YEARS, isn't that great?! Sometimes, we can't even believe it ourselves. 👀

So what have we worked on during 2024? Here is a quick recap:

• New Mode: Wave, New enemy classes, updated Market and Dead End Arenas
  
• Different spawnable enemies in Sand Box, optimization, updated melee weapon models, quality of life settings
  
• Many bug fixes and improvements during February
  
• New physics for firearms and melee weapons
  
• RIDE Game Mode, Player Progression, Gun Skins, New Backstreet Arena
• A huge performance update, many bug fixes, and optimizations, reworked firearms with gun weight, inertia, recoil & spread, impact effects, and mirror in the lobby!
  
• Another performance update, new explosives, player customization, endless RIDE mode, new gun skins, updated UI for challenges & unlocks, and a new lighting system!
  
• More bug fixes, performance updates, and optimizations.
  
• Announcement of brand new Story Mode and Meta Quest release.
• Gore and blood effects rework, more firearms for enemies, performance improvements.
  
• Haunted Harvest Halloween Event, new event skins.
  
• Holiday Gun Range Winter Event, Graphics and Real-time Shadows
  

Whoa, that was a wild RIDE indeed! 🎢 And it's all because of you - our passionate community. Even more exciting stuff is coming in 2025 - hold tight in there!

[h2]🆕What's next for HARD BULLET in 2025?[/h2]

The biggest milestone for us right now is the Quest 3/3s release, and we’re making great progress every day. Our goal is to bring the full functionality of the PC version to Quest while polishing the mechanics to deliver the best possible experience.

Since 2020, Hard Bullet has grown and evolved tremendously, thanks to the incredible support and creativity of our community. Together, we’ve built a game with a solid concept, unique features, and a clear path toward version 1.0, including the highly anticipated Story/Roguelite mode.

With that in mind, we’re committed to making the Quest version feel like a complete, high-quality release — not an early-access title. While some elements like certain physics objects or the extensive variety of firearms might not make it in on day one, we’re ensuring that the core brutality, physics, and fun are all there.

Our strategy is to deliver a polished, visually stunning, and brutal experience to Quest players, gradually bringing it closer to the PC version with updates. Major features like improved AI and the Story/Roguelite mode will roll out later this year, making the game even better across all platforms.

We’re excited to bring Hard Bullet to Quest and make it the best it can be — thank you for being part of this journey!

📸Let's take a glimpse of fresh Hard Bullet Quest 3 footage of a world we are building for you:







Once again;



We appreciate your love and passion for HARD BULLET, and we are aware that some of you have been seeing some annoying issues lately. We have been prioritizing those issues with our team and after our latest update - your gameplay experience should be much smoother! Although we are keeping an eye on this. 👀

We hear you and see your feedback at all times. Here is to a more action-filled 2025 with HARD BULLET! 🍻

Going into 2025 like:



Also, HARD BULLET will be OFF 20% starting today until February 5th!

Thank you!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1294760/HARD_BULLET/

Check out our Socials and keep yourself in the loop! Twitter Discord Mods Patreon

[h2]Simplified Launch System[/h2]
To address the launch issues faced by users with various streaming apps (Quest Link, Steam Link, Virtual Desktop) and reduce confusion from multiple startup options, we’ve streamlined the process to match the current VR headset market more effectively.

Now, you can simply use your preferred streaming app. The game will automatically launch based on your chosen app — no extra steps needed!

Here’s a quick reference table showing how different streaming apps integrate with your system and Hard Bullet:


[h2]Removed New Year decorations[/h2]
For anyone who wants to replay New Year event, you'll find it among others in the Betas.

Notice: we changed Steam Launch options today so if you are running the game with native Meta streaming, you'll need to add -oculus to game launch options in Steam app.


[h2]Old HB versions in Betas[/h2]
To correctly run older versions on Quest without SteamVR, add -oculus to game launch parameters.



[h2]Other Bugfixes[/h2]

• Fixed enemy spawning issues during RIDE sessions.
  

Current game version: EA 0.7.7.7

Please let us know on Discord if anything feels wrong and we'll look into it!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1294760/HARD_BULLET/

Check out our Socials and keep yourself in the loop! Twitter Discord Mods Patreon

[h2]Meta with SteamVR Streaming Fixes[/h2]

We've added tweaks to improve SteamVR streaming performance for a smoother experience.

If you still encounter FPS drops, jittering hands, or image stuttering while using Meta + SteamVR:

• Set Graphics presets to LOW.
  
• Adjust Render Resolution in the Settings (e.g., set it to 90% for a ~10% performance boost).
  

We strive to support all VR devices and launch options, continuously improving third-party solutions launch. However, we still recommend using native Oculus streaming, like AirLink, to minimize additional FPS loss — VR is already demanding on hardware!

Let us know how these updates work for you!

[h2]HBAO is still under development[/h2]
We've been working hard to integrate this graphics-enhancing technology into Hard Bullet, but we encountered some performance issues, particularly with Meta via SteamVR streaming.

While we aimed to have HBAO ready this year, we want to ensure a smooth experience for all our players. Therefore, we've decided to postpone its release until January.

Thanks and sorry for waiting!

[h2]Bugfixes and Improvements[/h2]

• Graphics: Added more precise render scaling, now adjustable in 1% increments.
  
• Graphics: Introduced an HDR on/off option for enhanced visuals.
  
• Head Bag: Fixed an issue where the active Head Bag outfit reverted to the default after restarting.
  
• Range: Updated target destruction sounds for better feedback.
  
• Range: Improved UI button usability for a smoother experience.
  
• Veteran 88 and some other rifles: Fixed reloading issues.
  

Current game version: EA 0.7.7.5

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1294760/HARD_BULLET/

Check out our Socials and keep yourself in the loop! Twitter Discord Mods Patreon