New Content:
- `Mech of the Month - Quickdraw (18th)
- Hero `Mech of the Month - FireBrand (4th)
- Champion `Mech of the Month - Hunchback-4P© (18th)
- New Pattern(s) - Sherman (4th)
- New Cockpit Item(s) - Spider Statue (18th)
- Special - Sarah's `Mech (25th)
Test Servers
The networking and hardware wizards are hard at work setting up this our new public testing environment. While not necessarily a new feature per se, this new server architecture will allow us to test a range of features from small tuning adjustments to large additions such as 12 v 12 and UI 2.0. This is part of our continued commitment to product quality and stability, along with involving the community in key aspects of the game’s development. The test servers will be coming online in June, and the first major test will feature 12 v 12 functionality.
Company and Lance Improvements
Further lance improvements make their way into the game this month. These adjustments are based of internal testing and player feedback. These new adjustments include text and audio queues when new orders are issued, Company and Lance Commander icons to identify leadership, revised chat color, and revised order icons for more clarity. If you haven’t tried out your leadership skills yet, have a go! Players can take command by pushing “B” for BattleGrid and taking either a Lance Command (4 players) or a Company Command (8 players).
Balancing and Tuning
LRMs, SRMs, and Flamers will receive tuning passes in the first patch of this month. For mid-June expect to see more tweaks to the UAV consumable, and Seismic Sensors. Jump Jets will receive a weight based shake to add a more realistic feel and help to balance out some of the jump sniping meta game. Caustic Valley gets a lighting adjustment for the mid-June patch Expect to see more details about upcoming adjustments in the Command Chair section.
Host State Rewind (HSR) – Missiles
With this latest addition, all weapon systems are now affected by HSR. HSR helps high ping players achieve more reliable hits, improving the gameplay experience and making them more competitive.
Bugs and Stability
A lot of effort has gone into improving and fixing some of the more difficult technical issues, among them the HUD bug (last month). This month we are introducing fixes for some to the more frequent black screen and disconnect issues some players may experience.
Looking Forward
- 12 v 12 is due out for first patch in July.
- Training Grounds (tutorial) will make it's way live mid-July to early August.
- Third Person view will be pushed to test servers in the next 30-60 days.