12:00am EST - With two weeks till the August update, the team is trucking on fixes and new functionality.

Metal Detector Changes

Some solid quality-of-life tweaks are coming to the metal detector system. Now, weapons in backpacks can be buried after the backpack despawns, adding a nice bit of immersion (and a little extra mystery when scanning). When digging these weapons back up, they’ll retain their original condition, so you won’t lose durability in the process.

Also fixed are issues with ownership not being properly set on recovered items, and better handling of cases where multiple buried items had the same expiry times. All in all, these updates should make treasure hunting just a bit more rewarding — and a bit less buggy.

Pilot Hazmat DLC

A new DLC is on the horizon, and it's taking off with an aviation-inspired theme. The Pilot DLC includes a sleek remodel of the Semi-Auto Pistol — now dubbed the M15 — featuring a unique frame and glow-in-the-dark sights for low-light precision. While it still uses default sounds for now, a custom audio pass is likely in the works.

Also on deck is a brand new Pilot Hazmat suit. It’s not in just yet, but early looks show off a sharp, flight-ready aesthetic. Storage and decor are getting some love too, with a high-detail “Black Box” remodel for the small wooden box and a new Flight Control code lock skin that keeps your loot safe with a bit of cockpit flair. And for those looking to chill like a crashed pilot, there’s even a Salvaged Ejector Seat in the works, currently borrowing the Ice Throne model as a placeholder.

No exact release date yet, but it’s shaping up to be a cool addition for collectors and cosmetics fans alike. See more details on Protox’s video.

NPC Scientist AI Improvements

The overhaul to Scientist NPC behavior keeps rolling forward, and this week brings some fun and functional changes. For starters, those awkward moments where a patrolling scientist just stares at a wall (like they’re taking a leak) should be a thing of the past. Scientists are also now limited by a turning speed, meaning no more instant 180 snap-turns — a small change that should make encounters feel more natural.

Some deeper AI logic has also been refined. Scientists will now consider zone relevance when peeking, helping avoid wasted behavior (like top-floor oil rig scientists burning through global peek budget when they clearly can’t see anyone). On the communication front, they’ll actually hold conversations with each other instead of just muttering to themselves — and grenade misfires no longer lead to endless “come with me” spam.

All in all, another round of polish and performance for these AI foes.

Hardcore Refresh Progress

The refresh of Hardcore mode is ramping up with a batch of changes that push things further toward that stripped-down, survival-focused vibe. Following last week’s addition of the handheld compass, this week we’re seeing some big structural tweaks — namely, guns are gone from the tech tree. That’s right: new Hardcore-specific T0, T2, and T3 tech trees have been added, mirroring the vanilla ones but with all firearms stripped out. If you want a gun in Hardcore, you’ll have to loot or trade — no crafting your way there.

There’s also a few tweaks to balance and quality of life. Upkeep costs have been bumped to 2x across the board, and you can now craft an Eoka, giving players at least one basic ranged option from the jump. For navigation, players no longer see their icon on the map or any underground layers — unless they’ve got a compass in their belt bar, in which case their position will now show. Global chat has also been re-enabled, which should make the brutal mode feel a bit less isolating — or at least give you a chance to yell “roof camper!” before respawning.

Other stuff

Weapon stats update when changing attachments
Added ability to see the map of a server in the connect window before you join (rough prototype related to new menu)
Allow shelves to be placed on: Half & low wall, door & window frame, tugboat
More progress on the Pilot Hazmat DLC
WIP: Spraycan supports reskinning codelocks (for Pilot Hazmat DLC lock)
More work on benchmarking
More improvements to environmental effects like fog and weather
More progress on the Naval Update (boat building, floating cities, etc.)
Optimizations for the death screen
More work on the Decor Lighting DLC (chandelier in the works)
Fixes to Attack Heli headlights
Fix flashlight and laser sight attachment effects getting stretched when toggled during inspect animation or by unequipping/equipping the weapon
Removing end frame offset so that camera loops correctly on syringe when injecting self