The latest update for Rust, titled “Upgrade Hard, Raid Harder,” has officially launched, fulfilling developer Facepunch’s commitment to introducing mortars aimed at curbing rooftop camping. However, this update offers much more than just artillery. Central to the new patch are nine rare workbench upgrades that promise to enhance gameplay significantly.
New Features and Enhancements
Players can now explore a new upgrade system for workbenches, featuring nine unique effects that are not craftable or easily found. These upgrades can be applied directly from the workbench inventory, with visual indicators showing which enhancements have been installed. The upgrades are not mutually exclusive, allowing dedicated players the chance to collect them all through hard work and a bit of luck.
The introduction of mortars is set to become a hot topic in the community. Functioning similarly to cannons but designed for flat terrain, mortars require players to gauge distance and angle without a visual guide. To assist in this endeavor, binoculars have received a significant update, now featuring a new model and animations, along with three levels of zoom and a range finder displayed in the corner. Mortars come with two types of shells: one for players and another for structures. To balance their power, Facepunch has incorporated shot recoil and a small inaccuracy factor, reducing the likelihood of repeated strikes landing in the same spot.
Additionally, tin can alarms have been enhanced to accommodate a variety of items, allowing players to choose between warning signals like flash or smoke grenades, or more lethal options such as molotovs or bee grenades. The Salvaged Cleaver has also received a visual and animation refresh, adding to the overall aesthetic improvements.
The vending machine interface has undergone a complete redesign, streamlining the process for setting up vending orders through a built-in inventory. Players can now reorder listings without needing to delete and recreate them, and individual skin sales can be easily managed. The purchase page has also been updated for a more user-friendly experience. For those who have lost their ships, the Floating City boat vendor now offers modular parts to facilitate ocean travel.
In a move to balance gameplay, Facepunch has adjusted the loot distribution in the Deep Sea area, reducing its generosity compared to other monuments. This change also means fewer firearms will be found on Scientist boats. Furthermore, drag has been significantly increased for boats with flat bows, prompting players to carefully consider their designs for optimal speed.
Among other updates, third-person grenade-throwing animations have been refined for consistency, and monuments with multiple no-build zones will now display all zones correctly. The computer station now requires power for use, and a longstanding issue where using the last item in a stack would prematurely stop its animation has been resolved, affecting items like bandages, medical syringes, and grenades.
The “Upgrade Hard, Raid Harder” update is now live, and players can access the full patch notes from Facepunch Studios for a comprehensive overview of bug fixes and minor adjustments. New achievements tied to the Naval update and Deep Sea zone have also been introduced, and the server browser now offers improved location estimation for optimized ping.
In conjunction with the update, Facepunch has launched a Discord shop, allowing players to browse and purchase DLC directly from the platform. To celebrate this launch, all Steam Item Store DLC released prior to 2026 will be available at a 20% discount through the Rust shop on Discord from May 7 to May 21. COO Alistair McFarlane expressed enthusiasm for this new convenience, highlighting the significant catalog discount as an exciting kickoff.
Finally, Facepunch is actively working on backend optimizations and is in the process of upgrading to Unity 6. This transition will result in the discontinuation of support for Windows 8, although the team notes that “none of our players” are currently using it. However, server hosts will need to upgrade to at least Windows Server 2019 by the end of the month, as Windows Server 2016 will no longer be supported.
