Dust Alpha 0.8 — Foundations

We rebuilt our networking backend and added user accounts. On top of that: a new game mode, a new combat class (Roller), co-op PvE experiments, and a long list of class tuning and performance work — far more than fits in a single post.

🏟️ Arenas

• New Domination mode: capture multiple zones around the maps (which you can see through walls).
• Target Drone NPCs can be spawned and battled in all arenas as we experiment with co-op PvE.
• Arenas are now linked together via doors, so you can travel between them as one interconnected world.
• Added experimental Gravity Fields that flip your orientation to let you walk on ceilings and walls.
• Improved spawn barriers to reduce spawn camping and shooting from inside safe zones.
• Added start zones that 2+ players must stand in to start the match.
• Improved baked lighting.
• Added new starry skies over the nighttime arenas.
• The Hub: new team color picker added to the Arcade, reworked a few areas, and hid some secrets.

💥 Combat Classes

Each class had more changes than listed below. Across the board:

• All classes got jiggly animation on their lower bodies.
• All classes now capture zones purely with their heads.
• All classes take more self-damage from explosions.
• Player nameplates now float above nearby players.

• Seraph — Hookshot visual is network-synced and far more visible. Rifle reload now 1.35s; orb explosion deals 25 damage.
• Golem — Ground slam now 10 damage on a 2s cooldown (no longer spammable).
• Sparrow — New charged bow: hold longer to charge piercing arrows for more damage.
• Crossbolt — Bolt guns are now full auto. New experimental Health Fountain ability drops pickup-able health cubes.
• Kobold — Buckshot now 21 pellets (1 damage each); carbine retuned; glide now draws more energy.
• Reaper — Rocket and flamethrower reworked; dash cost reduced.
• Assassin — Swords deal damage anywhere on the blade; dash now needs ground to reset.
• Grappler — Removed grapple cooldown and improved cable visuals. Adjusted punch damage and cooldowns.
• Boulder — Can spawn rocks mid-air that can be climbed on or used as in-place shields.
• Roller (new, experimental) — Hamster-wheel locomotion, bouncing grenades, and sticky nades.
• Scarab — AR does more damage (7 dmg); scroll wheel switches weapons.
• Drone — Improved scroll wheel to adjust FOV. Reduced max speed.

🛠️ Technical & Settings

• Networking reliability fixes (fewer desyncs and ghost corpses, cleaner disconnects).
• Settings now save correctly, particularly slider settings such as volume.
• 🎙️ Push-to-talk: left joystick click for VR players, Left Alt for screen mode (toggle in Tablet audio settings).
• Optimized mesh-based text system for scoreboards, timers, and nameplates.
• 📺 Screen-mode FOV slider for flatscreen players (50 to 120).
• Fixes for door portals, sinking through stairs, and several crashes.
• Added basic controller support for Scarab/Drone (Xbox controller only; via Steam, any controller should work).
• 🎵 New Punch Deck music tracks in the jukebox. Engine updated to Unity 6000.2.4f1.

This is a big one. It was mostly unseen backend changes, but they unlocked our ability to do more, and soon™ our skin system.

In an update this size we expect plenty of balance issues and bugs. Hop into our Discord to report bugs and share balancing suggestions — or just hang out:

 Join the Dust Discord