GROUND BRANCH News

Patch #16 is now live on the Community Test beta branch!

[h3]❓ How to join the Community Test beta branch[/h3]

• Right-click GROUND BRANCH in your Steam Library and select Properties…
• Click BETAS on the left-hand list menu
  
• Select 'communitytest - Community testing branch' from the drop-down menu
  

Steam will begin downloading the files for the new testing branch.

[h3]🐞 Where to report bugs[/h3]
You can report bugs and issues using any of these methods:

• The in-game Bugs & Issues screen (press [Esc] once in-game and look along the top menu)
  
• The Steam forums: steamcommunity.com/app/16900/discussions/
• The #bug-reports channel on the official GROUND BRANCH™ Discord

Your reports help us locate and fix issues faster, so keep them coming!

[h2]Patch notes[/h2]

• Fixed DLAA not enabling
  
• Fixed IsDLAAEnabled in AA widget (causing it to not enable it through console)
  
• Hostage Rescue (PvP) mode now available on Compound, Docks, Power Station, 747 (Plane Interior), Creek, City, City (Subway) and Tanker
• Fixed bug where spectate option was not shown on Ops Board for DTAS and Hostage Rescue game modes
  
• Miscellaneous tweaks and bug fixes to Hostage Rescue game mode and validation script
  
• Replaced pallet stacks in Docks with merged assets and rebuilt AI paths/cover
• Lighting optimizations on Power Station
  
• Turned off cover point debugging accidentally left enabled in City map
  
• Spectator Mode overlay hopefully fixed now
  
• Updated mount for PMII 5–25x scope: replaced railed scope ring caps with non-railed caps (this is still a temporary mount)
  

Patch #15 is now live on the Community Test beta branch!

[h3]❓ How to join the Community Test beta branch[/h3]

• Right-click GROUND BRANCH in your Steam Library and select Properties…
• Click BETAS on the left-hand list menu
  
• Select 'communitytest - Community testing branch' from the drop-down menu
  

Steam will begin downloading the files for the new testing branch.

[h3]🐞 Where to report bugs[/h3]
You can report bugs and issues using any of these methods:

• The in-game Bugs & Issues screen (press [Esc] once in-game and look along the top menu)
  
• The Steam forums: steamcommunity.com/app/16900/discussions/
• The #bug-reports channel on the official GROUND BRANCH™ Discord

Your reports help us locate and fix issues faster, so keep them coming!

[h2]Patch notes[/h2]

• Fixed door in Small Town's building A opening too far
  
• Fixed glowing foliage piece used mainly in Small Town
  
• Some small lighting optimizations on Small Town
  
• Fixed a few meshes in Storage Facility culling out too early
  
• Reduced specular value on IR Strobe clear plastic section to make it less visible in the dark
  
• Updated default character appearance/loadout to look better and be more rounded in terms of equipment
  
• Updated PMII 5–25x scope model (will temporarily use the same Burris mount as LPVOs)
  
• Updated DLSS/DLAA/AA settings:
  
  
  • DLAA is now under "Anti-Aliasing (AA)" in Settings › Video
    
  • Using DLSS will now correctly disable other AA methods
    
  • Removed "Ultra Quality" DLSS option
    
• UI/art pass on Customize Patches dialog (WIP)
  
• Hostage Rescue tweaking/fixing:
  
  
  • Added Restrict Defenders option to hostage rescue game mode: if set to "Yes", then defenders are blocked from leaving spawn building during setup time. Otherwise, they can move to other buildings from the start (albeit with spawn protection effects during the transition)
    
  • Improved handling of switch between Building Assault and Hostage Rescue
    
  • Hostage Rescue won't kick in until there are 5 players now (or 3 if "Force Hostage Rescue" is enabled)
    
  • Added basic AI to Building Assault for when there is a single player on the server
    
  • Added validation script for Hostage Rescue missions
    
  • Hostage Rescue now available on Run Down and Depot (Compound)
  • Set default for "Force Hostage Rescue" to "No"
    
  • Changed defender setup time in Building Assault from 5 seconds to 10
    
  • Added location markers in Hostage Rescue to show possible hostage starting locations
    
  • Tweaked scoring
    
• Some small lighting optimizations on Rig
• Fixed some glowing glass materials
  
• Cleaned up some pallet stacks in Docks for better collision (and merged for performance as well)
  
• Added 6 more skins for both Boonie Hat styles: M81, DCU, AOR-1, AOR-2, Tiger Stripe and Desert Tiger
  
• Slight tweak to Helmet (HC) velcro color
  

Patch #14 is now live on the Community Test beta branch!

[h3]❓ How to join the Community Test beta branch[/h3]

• Right-click GROUND BRANCH in your Steam Library and select Properties…
• Click BETAS on the left-hand list menu
  
• Select 'communitytest - Community testing branch' from the drop-down menu
  

Steam will begin downloading the files for the new testing branch.

[h3]🐞 Where to report bugs[/h3]
You can report bugs and issues using any of these methods:

• The in-game Bugs & Issues screen (press [Esc] once in-game and look along the top menu)
  
• The Steam forums: steamcommunity.com/app/16900/discussions/
• The #bug-reports channel on the official GROUND BRANCH™ Discord

Your reports help us locate and fix issues faster, so keep them coming!

[h2]Patch notes[/h2]

• First public test release of Hostage Rescue PvP game mode (see accompanying notes below)
  
• Tentative crash fix involving M4- and HK416-series animations
  
• Optimized material usage on Run Down architecture meshes
  
• Set lots of cull distances, merged various meshes in non-playable areas and reduced material usage on more architecture meshes
  
• Tentative crash fix involving VOIP
  
• Bug fixes for resurrect function
  
• New admin resatme function to resurrect at the invoking player's position
  
• Dedicated servers now load the localization CSVs again (fixes format commands like "X killed Y" in Deathmatch)
  
• Fixed MOUT acronym definition in Small Town description
  
• Added new Lua library call player.HasGameplayTag() to allow Lua script to check if a character has a GameplayTag set
  
• Fixed vote change map problem (overlay was visible that shouldn't have been)
  
• Further small tweaks to TAA settings
  
• Made sure lights in spawn areas for Arena maps are on for all TOD
  
• Turned off cast shadows on various smaller meshes
  
• Removed light array from Small Town light switches (gets rid of log warnings)
  
• Updated City: parse on nav mesh with new tool for adding nav mesh modifier(s), corrected collision on some misc static meshes e.g. skipping rope
  

[h2]Hostage Rescue (PvP): Rules of Engagement[/h2]
This patch introduces new PvP game mode Hostage Rescue!

It is currently only setup for Small Town, but as we test and refine it, it will be expanded to more maps. Keep in mind that larger player counts may not work particularly well in Small Town.

Here are the rules:

[h3]Hostage Rescue — Game Rules[/h3]
A random player of the attacking team has been taken hostage in one of the buildings, selected at random by the game mode. The defenders' movements are restricted to within that building, unless the hostage escapes it. The hostage player is hooded and cuffed, limiting their vision and world interactions.

Defenders can lead the hostage around the building or simply hold them in place by holding the Interact key (default F). They can also intimidate the hostage into silence by pointing a gun at them, but you will need two defenders to both lead/hold and intimidate the hostage at the same time.

Attackers can select any insertion point and will have to find the building where the hostage is being held — possibly with the assistance of the hostage making some noise with the Talk (VOIP) key (default V) — and then breach the building and rescue the hostage. If the hostage has their cuffs released by the attackers, they will regain a full range of movement and team communication (i.e. radio and text chat).

[h3]Win conditions[/h3]
ATTACKERS
To win the round, at least one attacker must escort the hostage to any of the available extraction points. Alternatively, attackers will win if the defending team is eliminated.

DEFENDERS
To win the round, the defending team must eliminate all attackers, or survive the assault until the time runs out.

› Any team that kills the hostage will instantly lose the match. Careful with those frags, people.

[h3]Building Assault[/h3]
If there are not enough players to start a Hostage Rescue round (default 3), then the stripped-down Building Assault mode will start, in which the defenders are still restricted to a building, but there is no hostage and the teams must simply eliminate each other. The gloves are off in this mode!

• Admins can force the Building Assault mode, similarly to how Fox Hunt can be forced in DTAS.
  
• Building Assault currently requires at least 2 players. Like DTAS/Fox Hunt, it is envisaged to spawn in an AI bot if only one player joins a round, but this has not yet been implemented.
  

[h3]Players and balancing[/h3]

• We recommend 5–7 players minimum for a more satisfying Hostage Rescue experience.
  
• Hostage Rescue uses quite aggressive auto-balancing to maintain fair teams, so make sure both your Red and Blue team kits are up to date.
  
• Auto-balancing can be customized to be less aggressive if you don't mind uneven teams.
  

We kindly ask that testers give this new mode some special attention if possible, as we are interested to know what works and what doesn't — whether it's bugs or the game's rules and mechanics.

So keep the feedback and reports coming. We're very grateful for them!

Patch #13 is now live on the Community Test beta branch!

[h3]❓ How to join the Community Test beta branch[/h3]

• Right-click GROUND BRANCH in your Steam Library and select Properties…
• Click BETAS on the left-hand list menu
  
• Select 'communitytest - Community testing branch' from the drop-down menu
  

Steam will begin downloading the files for the new testing branch.

[h3]🐞 Where to report bugs[/h3]
You can report bugs and issues using any of these methods:

• The in-game Bugs & Issues screen (press [Esc] once in-game and look along the top menu)
  
• The Steam forums: steamcommunity.com/app/16900/discussions/
• The #bug-reports channel on the official GROUND BRANCH™ Discord

Your reports help us locate and fix issues faster, so keep them coming!

[h2]Patch notes[/h2]

• Added distance cull setting to base door blueprint with default of 2500 units
  
• Added door handles to Compound, Small Town, Run Down and Tanker doors
  
• Fixed dark splotchy lighting inside several buildings in Compound
  
• Fixed some clipping issues with Combat Pants and Fleece Hoodie
• Fixed some mesh culling issues on City and Run Down
  
• Added black version of Specter DR 1x/4x
• Added a variable length delay when turning on strobes, to desync them a bit
  
• Added billboards to Sea Grass meshes (used in Depot too)
  
• Texture size optimization (on assets used in Small Town, will be a small amount of crossover in other maps)
  
• Mesh build setting optimization (again on assets used in Small Town, will be small crossover)
  
• Removed inconsistent sprint related hack in AnimAction_Reload_Master
• Updated handgun and PMM reloads to split mag check into compressed and non-compressed, as originally intended (fixes PMM mag check being played twice)
  
• Hooked up firing & charge animations MK46 belt
  
• Disabled multi-threading on AI light detector component (prefer stability over performance right now)
  
• Crash fixes in modding manager relating to Lua state being used before initialized
  
• Fix to skylight override volume where minimum light level was not set properly for AI light checks when exiting the volume(s)
  
• Cleaned up some foliage in big rocks on Storage Facility
• Made truck window glass in Compound not glow at night
  
• Fixed strange particle collision, switched affected emitter from GPU to CPU
  
• Fixed bug in Team Scores function
  
• Fixed a few bad lighting channels on doors in Small Town
  
• Fixed issue with UMP45 stock being offset
  
• Updated MK8 CQBSS 1–8x LPVO: added proper reticle (M-TMR), tweaked magnification values and fixed magnification ring rotation
  
• Updated Vudu 1–6x LPVO: reduced max reticle brightness and tweaked reticle color based on reference
  
• Updated PSO-1M2 4x scope: removed eyecup to improve sight picture and added reticle illumination (for now, works like other optics — brightness levels rather than on/off like the real thing)
  
• Applied subtle greenish-yellow tint to 1P78 Kashtan 2.8x and PSO-1M2 4x scopes (characteristic of Russian scopes)
  
• Fixed magnification ring rotation on all LPVO-type scopes
  
• Fixed some scopes using a static "fake glass" texture on the rear lens
  
• Updated display names for scopes: removed brackets around magnification to make names shorter — e.g. ACOG (4x) is now ACOG 4x
• Adjusted LOD distances on Sea Grass and allowed AI visibility blocking
  
• Tweaked some light culling distances on Compound
  
• Tweaked Mesh culling distances on Power Station and Run Down
  
• Fixed a few collision issues on Creek
• Standardized vehicle glass material between vehicles in maps
  
• Streamlined some antialiasing (AA) settings to hopefully help with Temporal AA (TAA) issues
  
• Fixed glowing window glass in Storage Facility
  
• Visual adjustments made to the flesh bullet impact (VFX)
  
• Fixed missing third-person PKM sound and updated Depot audio level
  
• Fixed a few collision issues on 747 and PowerStation maps
  
• Fixed character lighting in dark tunnel issue on Power Station
  
• Cleaned up some light leaking in Docks
  
• Auto balance routines moved to game mode Lua library
  
• Using vote map change now merges game mode and mutator options set in the maplist with the standard game mode options
  
• Fixed function name in WeaponRestriction mutator (weapon restrictions now working again)
  
• Initial reticle sight brightness now depends on sun intensity (night = 1, day = 3, dawn/dusk = somewhere in-between)
  
• Spectator night vision now usable if following character (because some follow camera modes can use it)
  
• Changed way NVG eye light color is done to try avoid replication type issues and to simplify things
  
• admin startround command should work a little better
  
• Spawn behavior improved in cases where players are brought into a round without a valid insertion point selection (under-the-hood change)

Patch #12 is live for the Community Test beta branch!

This is a quick set of fixes for a few game breaking issues (with a couple content things thrown in).

• Added door handles to City doors
  
• Replaced old STANAG mag with newer model
  
• removed erroneous dump pouch from the BattleBelt_TF.kit file.
  
• This should fix kit saving issues
  
• Fixed reticle disappearing issue with AK105 using a riser and G33
  
• Fix full auto loop bug caused when someone begins firing while you are / are not watching them, then stops firing while you are not / are watching them. This will need extensive testing.