SANDSTORM News 1.6 CTE Now Open

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Today we are launching a preview of our upcoming version 1.6 update. This includes a new map ‘Power Plant’, two new weapons (the Tavor 7 and ACE 52), ingame mod support, new cosmetic options, and more!

This content is now playable on the Community Test Environment. However please remember this is a preview build, so some issues are expected (see ‘Known Issues[//]’). If you encounter any problems or have feedback for the development team please respond in the CTE sub-section of the Steam forums or use our 1.6 CTE Feedback Survey[forms.gle].Our team will be monitoring feedback during the CTE and aim to push this update to players on the live version of Insurgency: Sandstorm soon.

You can find some of the key new features and known issues below:

New Features

• New map “Power Plant”
  • Playable in Firefight, Push, Domination, Checkpoint, Hardcore Checkpoint, and Frenzy Checkpoint.
• Tavor 7 battle rifle for the Security Advisor class.

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• Replaces the Mk 14 EBR

ACE 52 battle rifle for the Insurgents Advisor class.

• Replaces the SVD

Mod support for community created content on community servers

• Mod submenu on the main menu will allow you to browse and subscribe to download mods
• Joining a modded community server will prompt you to download required modded content or cancel joining
• Community Server Browser will allow filtering modded servers

Improved Spectator Camera

• Improved spectator camera after being killed to point in direction of killing shot or explosion
  • Player can either click to skip or after a period of time will be forced into regular spectator mode
  • Players can turn this feature off for themselves under Game settings
  • Community Server Admins can turn this off for the server
  • Disabled in Competitive and Hardcore Checkpoint playlists
• Implemented toggleable x-ray trails from thrown projectiles and fire support and a beam indicating the direction a player is facing
• Implemented controller support for spectator mode

New Security Cosmetics

• Compression Shirt
• Headset with various Headgear

New Insurgent Cosmetics

• Leather Jacket
• Smooth Mask

Community Feedback Improvements

• XP Boosts will be listed on playlists
• Selecting Random during a map vote will no longer result in replaying the current scenario
• Players cannot be autobalanced during the last two minutes of a match or during the Last Stand in Push/Frontline
• Added some spawn protection in Versus modes to prevent the Attacking team from being wiped when they are spawned in on final waves

Main Menu Improvements

• Updated the Review pane of the main menu to accept and display dynamic messages
• Added a banner message area for displaying short text messages

Insurgent Fire Support Improvements

• Doubled the number of rockets in the Rocket Barrage and added a delay between each volley
• Doubled the duration of the Chemical Mortar fire support’s smoke clouds to remain after exploding
• Doubled the duration of the Smoke Mortar fire support’s smoke clouds to remain after exploding
• Increased the duration of Explosive Mortar fire support by 50%

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Gameplay Improvements

• Adjusted AI so they will no longer attack players in spawn areas in standard and Hardcore Checkpoint scenarios (they will attack in Frenzy
• Removed insertion and drivable vehicles from all Checkpoint levels to improve level flow and performance

General Improvements

• Replay Improvements
  • Improved reliability of replay recording
  • Improved replay control reliability
• Improved Gamepad Support
  • Implemented multiple sensitivity curves which can be selected from the settings menu
    
  • Implemented Per-Axis Controller Sensitivity
    
  • Updated Controller Button Mapping
    
  • Adjusted Gamepad Weapon Recoil and Sway Modifiers
    
  • Improved aim dampening implementation
    
  • Improved Default UE4 Deadzones
    
  • Added gamepad support most menus
    
  • Implemented Dual Shock 4 controller support

Visual Changes

• Updated the lighting in the main menu
• Updated the look of magazines for the Mk. 18 CQBR and Alpha AK
• Visual optimization pass on Hideout
  • Increased performance in troubled areas of the map
• Improved the flashbang effect to reduce the performance cost when used

User Experience

• Moved Steam notification to stop blocking important UI elements
• Added clock icon to indicate that fire support is on cool down to binocular view for Commander
• Made Preview Selection of Items and Cosmetics consistent between Appearance Screen and Loadout Screen
• Improved visibility of HUD markers and provided multiple preconfigured color schemes
• Improved how HUD markers are anchored to the screen they represent objects outside your field of view (Objectives, Supply Crates, Friendly Players)
• Improved UI hint when close to doors that can be kicked open
  
• Improved tutorial hints for the ADS Focus ability
  
• Updated icons for scoreboard to indicate columns are hidden while player is alive
  
• Added a consistent Apply button to all Settings screens
  
• Improved the visibility of the Find Match button and added a sound for when it is clicked
  
• Improved the visibility of damage indicators
  
• Added a contextual hit to the screen when players are in the spawn or close to resupply crates to indicate they can Change Class or Change Loadout

Noteable Fixes

• Removed unintended exploitable rooftop access from various maps
  
• Fixed exploitable capture zones in some Domination layouts
  
• Fixed Farmhouse Checkpoint map to correctly display the supply crate location
  
• Fixed bullets not showing up in the 3rd person reload animations on rifles with stripper clips
  
• Fixed crouched and prone reload animations in 3rd person for some rocket launchers
  
• Improved consistency of Lesson popups

Known Issues

• [Tavor 7] Textures for the Tavor 7 are not final
  
• [Tavor 7] Some animations may clip through player models
  
• [Tavor 7] In the Loadout menu, the magazine is in the incorrect position
  
• Some menus are not accessible using a gamepad
  
• X-ray trails from projectiles and fire support will not display in Replays
  
• Summit Domination still has a placeholder tactical map
  
• The extraction vehicle in the tutorial level will get stuck shortly after you enter it

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