Facepunch Studios has embraced a bold mantra with the release of the November Rust update: “Pivot or die.” This latest patch builds upon last month’s contentious changes, elevating the stakes for players who strive to maintain their position among Steam’s most popular survival games. The update aims to rekindle the thrill of exploration and discovery that initially captivated players, striking a delicate balance between innovation and the familiar.
Revamping Progression
Alistair McFarlane, COO of Facepunch, emphasizes the studio’s commitment to making “meaningful experimental changes” to Rust’s progression system. The team is taking significant steps to enhance the player experience by simplifying progression. McFarlane notes a critical issue: “The majority of servers don’t blueprint wipe, including our Facepunch servers.” This situation undermines the excitement of starting anew, as players often enter freshly wiped maps with all blueprints unlocked, effectively bypassing the early and mid-game stages.
To address this, Facepunch has introduced a comprehensive wipe of all blueprints while simultaneously slashing the costs associated with tech tree and research unlocks. The new pricing structure is as follows:
- Common: 15 (down from 20)
- Uncommon: 30 (down from 75)
- Rare: 60 (down from 125)
- Very Rare: 120 (down from 500)
Additionally, scrap crafting costs have been eliminated from workbenches, leaving only blueprint fragments, which were reintroduced last month.
McFarlane elaborates, “By drastically reducing unlock costs and removing scrap from workbench crafting, the progression curve will feel smoother without diminishing the sense of effort or reward.” This approach encourages players to engage with early-tier items, fostering a natural progression through the game. The reinstatement of blueprint wipes aims to restore the sense of discovery and pacing that Rust was originally built upon.
While the new progression model is a significant shift, McFarlane hints at the possibility of regular blueprint wipes, stating, “Does this mean we’ll be force-wiping blueprints every month? Maybe. We’re not committing to anything yet.” The team is committed to observing player feedback before making any long-term decisions.
New Features and Enhancements
The November update also introduces a variety of new features designed to enrich gameplay. Storage Adaptors can now be powered, offering players multiple sorting options, including alphabetical, condition, count, or category. Users can even create a custom layout and ‘snapshot’ it for future organization.
Among the new deployables is the Mini Fridge, perfect for early-game strategies and compact base designs. With 18 slots and a power requirement of just three, it fits seamlessly under half-height floor builds. The update also expands the number of cameras that can be integrated into a computer station, along with new CCTV locations at the Cargo Ship and Ferry Terminal.
Monument puzzles have made a comeback, leading to increased player interactions around high-traffic areas. Facepunch acknowledges the classic strategy of ambushing players at these locations but has adjusted how keycard monuments refresh to prevent camping from hindering loot respawns. Players will now experience temporary bursts of “severe and unsurvivable” radiation to encourage movement away from these hotspots.
In a nod to equine enthusiasts, medical syringes can now be used on horses, providing a healing boost and a temporary increase in gallop speed. Vending machines on the main map will indicate drone accessibility, while elevators have been optimized for speed, requiring only one power input plug per floor to operate.
Helicopter pilots should take note of significant adjustments as well. Attack helicopters, recognized as the apex of offensive vehicles, have undergone changes to enhance balance. Players can no longer supplement the built-in flare launcher with additional flares, as homing missiles will ignore them. Furthermore, helicopters can no longer be repaired in-flight, and pilots are restricted from consuming healing foods while operating any vehicle. To level the playing field, the minicopter and scrap transport chopper have been equipped with flare launchers.
Additional refinements include a revamped painting menu featuring a full color wheel and picker, allowing players to store up to ten favorite hues. Off-ground foliage now reacts to moving objects, adding a layer of realism to stealth tactics.
The Rust November update, ‘Pivot or Die,’ is now live, inviting players to explore the full patch breakdown from Facepunch Studios for a comprehensive overview of all changes and improvements.
