January Sitrep has Released
Happy 2025 Community!
We hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season. We have another month of new information and exciting updates for you. Briefing #4 will answer a question people have been asking ever since the release of Update 1.14 and the Devs’ Desk will be releasing some information about updates that will be coming to our Co-Op modes.
Since our last Sitrep, the main question we got was why we’re removing the G3A3 and M1911. So we wanted to take a moment and provide you more details on why that decision was made. When we were first contemplating updating all weapons in the game we took a look at the current roster, and noticed that these two weapons in particular are both quite dated weapons. More importantly, they are no longer in active use by modern militaries, let alone special forces operators such as MARSOC and Volk.
When looking at potential replacements, the RPK-74 is a widely used and more modern light support weapon, and fits the role the G3 currently fills. Additionally, it has some added benefits like allowing for mag swaps between weapons chambered in 5.45x39mm. Similar to the G3 the M1911, legendary as it is, has been retired from nearly all military service within NATO countries. The M45A1 is a modernized version of the same weapon, which will provide modern features such as support for a picatinny rail, and is a more realistic option that better reflects the modern battlefield. We’re really looking forward to seeing these new weapons in your virtual hands soon™.
[h2]Briefing 4 of 6[/h2]
Most players noticed with Update 1.14 that our loading screen artwork was updated. Not just to showcase new environment art, but to also include more unique looking soldiers. Over the next couple months we will be introducing these Operators and providing you with their backgrounds.
[h3]Operator Selection[/h3]
We’re excited to announce a huge feature that has been in the works for a very long time: the ability to choose your character in-game! Soon you will now be able to select from a roster of 10 unique operators per faction, each with their own distinct look and backstory. A new operator menu will allow you to set your VOLK and MARSOC characters, letting you express yourself with a unique appearance while enhancing teamwork by helping teammates identify each other more easily on the battlefield. This improvement doesn’t just look good - it improves communications, callouts, and overall gameplay. All operators will be available to all players at launch, there are no additional operators available through purchase.
This update marks a massive leap forward in immersing players into the high-stakes MARSOC vs. VOLK conflict. For the first time ever, every operator on the battlefield is more than just a combatant—they are a fully realized persona that embodies the global stakes of modern warfare.
We’re doing this to build upon Onward’s long-standing legacy and add depth to its mysterious lore. After years of intense battles between MARSOC and VOLK, the community will finally gain more insight into the factions and the soldiers who fight for them. This update gives players a deeper connection to the conflict, making every match feel more personal and engaging than ever before.
Here is a sneak peek at some of the operators that will be available.
More details about these Operators will be released soon on our Instagram account.
[h2]Milestone Update [/h2]
We're excited that this next update will be the biggest and most significant one yet, marking a major milestone in the game's development. With all the new features and upgrades coming your way, we've decided to call this update "Update 2.0" - a name that reflects the scale of the changes.
Update 2.0 will not only bring exciting new gameplay mechanics but also mark the end of Onward's Early Access phase. Since its release on Steam in 2016 and Oculus PCVR in 2017, we've been working tirelessly to create the ultimate immersive tactical VR shooter. We're thrilled with the progress we've made over these 9 years.
We have an important update regarding changes that will be happening to Co-Op when Update 2.0 releases. When we reformatted the AI and how Co-Op worked, we were happy to see the positive response it received and the amount of people that jumped in to play that mode.
We understand that not everyone was pleased with the changes made to Hunt Mode. Some of you felt that the update reduced the challenge and excitement of the game. We heard your feedback and have been working hard to address it.
After refactoring the AI behavior in Update 1.13, we faced a challenge in bringing back higher enemy counts without affecting the game's overall performance. However, we didn't forget about your concerns. With the significant work and adjustments made in Update 2.0, we were able to revisit the issue and not only bring back the previous bot count options but also expand on them.
[h3]Hunt Reinforments[/h3]
Hunt will be bringing back higher enemy count options. Once Update 2.0 is released, you will have additional options for 48, 64, 96, 128, 256, 512 enemies. That’s a lot of AI! How will we fit them all on one map you ask?
Settings for enemies under 32 will continue to work as they do now, all spawned in at the start of the round. Any settings higher than those will spawn reinforcements once an enemy dies. For example, if you choose 96, you will start with 32 on the map, as each AI is killed a reinforcement is sent. This will continue until your team clears the set number of AI or your team is eliminated. We will be using an AI spawning method and have the AI spawn in locations that work more like a method of Volk having called in reinforcements. So previously cleared areas may have enemies again.
Given the high amount of enemies that will be coming in, we understand resources will be limited, even with the weapons and extras dropped by AI. Hunt settings with higher than 32 bots will have ammo crates appear throughout the map. After all, if Volk gets reinforcements, so should you.
[h3]New Co-Op Mode - Retrieval[/h3]
Coming off the success of the newest Co-Op addition, Mercenary Mode, we developed a way for the players to experience a fan favorite mission, Extract, as its own game mode. The new mode “Retrieval” will operate very similarly. Get In, Secure the Hard Drive, Get Out. Taking down AI is optional. You can choose stealth or sweep tactics, whatever you need to do to get the data and escape with it. Additionally Retrieval has “Blackout Mode”, an option to play without the hard drive appearing on the map, forcing players to locate the hard drive manually while under fire.
We're thrilled to be sharing all these exciting features and updates that Update 2.0 has in store for you. Join us on our Discord channel and be a part of the conversation! Share your reactions, feedback, and thoughts on this month's Sitrep - we want to hear from you!
Our Custom Map Makers are adding great new environments to our game weekly. There is a community of custom map enthusiasts who host contests, tournaments, and playtests for a variety of new maps coming in. If you would like to join them and provide feedback on the maps and vote in the contests, please join them in their Discord server.
There’s still more coming.
We hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season. We have another month of new information and exciting updates for you. Briefing #4 will answer a question people have been asking ever since the release of Update 1.14 and the Devs’ Desk will be releasing some information about updates that will be coming to our Co-Op modes.
Since our last Sitrep, the main question we got was why we’re removing the G3A3 and M1911. So we wanted to take a moment and provide you more details on why that decision was made. When we were first contemplating updating all weapons in the game we took a look at the current roster, and noticed that these two weapons in particular are both quite dated weapons. More importantly, they are no longer in active use by modern militaries, let alone special forces operators such as MARSOC and Volk.
When looking at potential replacements, the RPK-74 is a widely used and more modern light support weapon, and fits the role the G3 currently fills. Additionally, it has some added benefits like allowing for mag swaps between weapons chambered in 5.45x39mm. Similar to the G3 the M1911, legendary as it is, has been retired from nearly all military service within NATO countries. The M45A1 is a modernized version of the same weapon, which will provide modern features such as support for a picatinny rail, and is a more realistic option that better reflects the modern battlefield. We’re really looking forward to seeing these new weapons in your virtual hands soon™.
[h2]Briefing 4 of 6[/h2]
Most players noticed with Update 1.14 that our loading screen artwork was updated. Not just to showcase new environment art, but to also include more unique looking soldiers. Over the next couple months we will be introducing these Operators and providing you with their backgrounds.
[h3]Operator Selection[/h3]
We’re excited to announce a huge feature that has been in the works for a very long time: the ability to choose your character in-game! Soon you will now be able to select from a roster of 10 unique operators per faction, each with their own distinct look and backstory. A new operator menu will allow you to set your VOLK and MARSOC characters, letting you express yourself with a unique appearance while enhancing teamwork by helping teammates identify each other more easily on the battlefield. This improvement doesn’t just look good - it improves communications, callouts, and overall gameplay. All operators will be available to all players at launch, there are no additional operators available through purchase.
This update marks a massive leap forward in immersing players into the high-stakes MARSOC vs. VOLK conflict. For the first time ever, every operator on the battlefield is more than just a combatant—they are a fully realized persona that embodies the global stakes of modern warfare.
We’re doing this to build upon Onward’s long-standing legacy and add depth to its mysterious lore. After years of intense battles between MARSOC and VOLK, the community will finally gain more insight into the factions and the soldiers who fight for them. This update gives players a deeper connection to the conflict, making every match feel more personal and engaging than ever before.
Here is a sneak peek at some of the operators that will be available.
More details about these Operators will be released soon on our Instagram account.
[h2]Milestone Update [/h2]
We're excited that this next update will be the biggest and most significant one yet, marking a major milestone in the game's development. With all the new features and upgrades coming your way, we've decided to call this update "Update 2.0" - a name that reflects the scale of the changes.
Update 2.0 will not only bring exciting new gameplay mechanics but also mark the end of Onward's Early Access phase. Since its release on Steam in 2016 and Oculus PCVR in 2017, we've been working tirelessly to create the ultimate immersive tactical VR shooter. We're thrilled with the progress we've made over these 9 years.
From the Devs’ Desks:
We have an important update regarding changes that will be happening to Co-Op when Update 2.0 releases. When we reformatted the AI and how Co-Op worked, we were happy to see the positive response it received and the amount of people that jumped in to play that mode.
We understand that not everyone was pleased with the changes made to Hunt Mode. Some of you felt that the update reduced the challenge and excitement of the game. We heard your feedback and have been working hard to address it.
After refactoring the AI behavior in Update 1.13, we faced a challenge in bringing back higher enemy counts without affecting the game's overall performance. However, we didn't forget about your concerns. With the significant work and adjustments made in Update 2.0, we were able to revisit the issue and not only bring back the previous bot count options but also expand on them.
[h3]Hunt Reinforments[/h3]
Hunt will be bringing back higher enemy count options. Once Update 2.0 is released, you will have additional options for 48, 64, 96, 128, 256, 512 enemies. That’s a lot of AI! How will we fit them all on one map you ask?
Settings for enemies under 32 will continue to work as they do now, all spawned in at the start of the round. Any settings higher than those will spawn reinforcements once an enemy dies. For example, if you choose 96, you will start with 32 on the map, as each AI is killed a reinforcement is sent. This will continue until your team clears the set number of AI or your team is eliminated. We will be using an AI spawning method and have the AI spawn in locations that work more like a method of Volk having called in reinforcements. So previously cleared areas may have enemies again.
Given the high amount of enemies that will be coming in, we understand resources will be limited, even with the weapons and extras dropped by AI. Hunt settings with higher than 32 bots will have ammo crates appear throughout the map. After all, if Volk gets reinforcements, so should you.
[h3]New Co-Op Mode - Retrieval[/h3]
Coming off the success of the newest Co-Op addition, Mercenary Mode, we developed a way for the players to experience a fan favorite mission, Extract, as its own game mode. The new mode “Retrieval” will operate very similarly. Get In, Secure the Hard Drive, Get Out. Taking down AI is optional. You can choose stealth or sweep tactics, whatever you need to do to get the data and escape with it. Additionally Retrieval has “Blackout Mode”, an option to play without the hard drive appearing on the map, forcing players to locate the hard drive manually while under fire.
We're thrilled to be sharing all these exciting features and updates that Update 2.0 has in store for you. Join us on our Discord channel and be a part of the conversation! Share your reactions, feedback, and thoughts on this month's Sitrep - we want to hear from you!
Community Center:
Our Custom Map Makers are adding great new environments to our game weekly. There is a community of custom map enthusiasts who host contests, tournaments, and playtests for a variety of new maps coming in. If you would like to join them and provide feedback on the maps and vote in the contests, please join them in their Discord server.
There’s still more coming.