With the next Rust update still about two weeks out, development on staging is starting to ramp up with several major systems taking shape. From workbench upgrades and vending machine overhauls to early looks at new DLC content, here’s what’s currently in the works.

Workbench Upgrades

Workbench upgrades are continuing to take shape as a major new system, with both visual and gameplay elements coming together. Each upgrade now physically appears on the workbench itself, adding props and visual changes as you install them. The system currently supports up to 10 upgrade slots for testing, and the HUD has been updated to display multiple upgrade icons at once, expanding into additional rows when needed.

Functionality is still being finalized, but we now have a much clearer picture of what each upgrade is intended to do. Placement rules are also being introduced, with clearance zones preventing upgrades from being installed if the surrounding area is blocked. On top of that, new icons, models, LODs, and gibs are being added across all upgrade types as the system moves toward a more complete state.

Prototype Upgrade – Allows unlocking any tech tree item regardless of progression at double cost, with a 10% chance to fail and still consume resources
Range Upgrade – Doubles the workbench crafting radius
Comfort Upgrade – Provides a 100% comfort zone around the workbench
Salvage Upgrade – Reduces scrap cost of tech tree unlocks by 20%
Defensive Upgrade – Guarantees crafted clothing has at least one armor plate slot
Efficiency Upgrade – 10% chance to produce a free bonus item when crafting in batches (excluding rockets and C4)
Recycle Bin Upgrade – Chance to refund 0–10% of crafting ingredients as raw materials
Reinforced Upgrade – Increases workbench health by 150% and adds explosive resistance
Accelerated Upgrade – Increases crafting speed based on batch progress
Surplus Upgrade – Chance to produce random surplus parts used in alternative recipes (work in progress)

Apartments & Rent System

The apartment complex monument is shaping up to be much more than just a location, with a full rent and upkeep system continuing to take form. Apartments calculate upkeep based on stored items, with players able to deposit scrap into dedicated upkeep terminals to maintain their space. A new “Rent Due” HUD indicator warns players when upkeep runs out, and the entire system now persists properly across restarts.

There’s also been a strong push toward making apartments feel safe and livable. The monument is now fully integrated with safezone rules, and players who disconnect inside won’t be killed anymore—instead, they’ll be teleported back into their room when possible. Alongside all this, the monument itself continues to receive heavy polish, including new materials, trims, and ongoing work on higher-end apartment variants like penthouses. Not merged into staging yet, it’s unclear which update this will go live.

Vending Machine UI Overhaul

The vending machine UI has seen a major overhaul and is now deep into its polish phase. The new interface allows for drag-and-drop item listing directly from inventory, easier order creation, and reordering of listings without digging through menus. A suggestion system has also been added to help streamline setup, alongside support for separating skinned items into their own listings.

Recent work has focused heavily on fixing usability issues and cleaning things up. The search bar and input fields have been reworked, alignment issues fixed, and interactions improved so things like clicking into inputs no longer trigger your hotbar. The UI has also been updated visually with a lighter, more transparent theme. It’s still a work in progress, but the direction here is a much faster and more intuitive vending experience.

Industrial DLC Expands

Work continues on the industrial-themed DLC, with new deployables and assets coming online. This week includes progress on industrial storage, a new industrial garage door, and further updates to the industrial auto turret with improved models, textures, and LODs.

Existing items like the industrial electric furnace and shelves are also receiving continued polish, with fixes and visual updates helping bring everything in line. Overall, the scope of the DLC continues to grow beyond its initial pieces, suggesting a broader set of industrial building options.

Mortar Progress

The mortar continues to evolve with a stronger focus on usability and player feedback as it moves closer to a finished state. A new info panel now displays range directly in the inventory, giving players a clearer idea of shot distance. There’s also groundwork being laid for a more advanced aiming overlay, which should eventually help with angle and trajectory control.

On the gameplay side, several important tweaks have been made. Mounted protection has been removed, socket spacing has been adjusted to prevent clipping and shooting through walls, and additional impact effects have been added. A number of visual and technical issues have also been cleaned up, including widescreen UI scaling, shell LOD problems, and handle clipping. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s starting to feel more refined and much easier to use.

Game Room DLC

A new DLC appears to be in the works centered around game room-style content, bringing more social and decorative gameplay into Rust. Early commits show the addition of pool tables and dartboards, along with initial setup for a playable darts minigame. Animation work tied to these features is also underway, suggesting these won’t just be static props but fully interactive elements.

It’s still very early, but the direction is clear—this looks like a themed DLC focused on giving players more things to do inside their bases beyond survival and combat. Between the minigame setup and supporting assets, this could end up being a fun, social-focused addition when it lands.

Fixes

Vending machine UI fixes across search, input fields, and interaction bugs
Elevator fixes to prevent unintended player damage and improve cable behavior
Custom item stacking fixes to prevent mismatched items combining incorrectly
Viewmodel and animation fixes for grenades, bandages, and syringes
Mortar fixes for UI scaling, clipping, and visual issues
Roadsign spawners restored across monuments
Various AI, navmesh, and NPC-related bug fixes
General stability improvements tied to backend systems and player caching

Other Stuff

Ongoing AI overhaul as NPCs (scientists, tunnel dwellers, animals) are migrated to a newer navmesh system for improved movement and fewer stuck cases
New binoculars model with proper world model when dropped
Barrels can now be reskinned (feature still being finalized)
Continued drag-and-drop improvements and general UI polish across multiple systems
Social menu performance improvements, reducing stutter for players with large friend lists
New Unity input system package added, hinting at future UI/input updates
Harbor changes to improve cargo ship navigation and reduce collision issues
Ongoing relay server and backend updates, including encryption improvements