Age of Rust Update #18

Development Status Update

Hey everyone,
First off, I truly appreciate the patience and support you’ve shown for Age of Rust. I want to keep you all in the loop and be as transparent as possible about where I am in the development process.

Ongoing total commitment

I’ve been dedicating every waking hour to the game — working 12–14 hours a day, 7 days a week. While this might sound intense, it’s necessary to make “Age of Rust” the game I’ve always envisioned. I genuinely wish things could move faster, but quality game development often takes time.

Enemy Dynamics

Recent development has seen me stress testing the enemies in various scenarios. In earlier versions, enemy behavior was comparatively simple. However, I’ve made major advancements in this area. Now, enemies in the game don’t just follow straightforward patterns; they have a lot more going on. They chase and actively search for the player. They’re attuned to their surroundings, reacting to sounds, especially gunshots, and might use tools like flashlights in their search. When they come across fallen allies, they respond, calling it out and adapting their strategy. Depending on the player’s position, they might change their weaponry, like switching to a rifle for more distance. Their movements have also diversified — they might jump through windows, kick doors, and even seek cover when under fire. They’re not just silent entities either; they’ll call out when they’re hit. Plus, for those with a knack for details, if you have thermal vision on, a killed enemy will turn cold. Given that much of the gameplay revolves around evasion and stealth, refining the enemies to be more reactive and intelligent was a priority for me.

Graphics & Performance

Balancing top-notch graphics with smooth performance has been a formidable challenge, particularly on the Unity platform. While many Unity games often lean towards simpler, stylized graphics, creating a high-end 3D FPS-style game felt like stepping into uncharted territory. But the dedication has borne fruit. From early alphas running at 12fps, I’ve elevated the performance to about 100fps on high-end desktops.

Intro Sequence

To enhance immersion, I’ve dedicated time to craft a detailed 10-minute intro sequence, filled with animations and dialogues. This not only sets the mood but also introduces players to the “Age of Rust” universe in a captivating way.

Release Date & Looking Ahead

As for the release date of “Age of Rust” on the Epic Game Store, I’m still uncertain. My commitment remains unshaken — to deliver a game that’s polished and true to my vision and your expectations. The journey has been longer than I ever anticipated. Still, I’ve acted upon every piece of feedback and rectified every glitch. I’m also excited to release a new gameplay demo soon. While the puzzles retain their original charm, the action sequences now closely mirror my envisioned gameplay.

If you ever spot me active on Discord at 3am, it’s merely my passion and commitment in action. Your continued support propels me forward.

Thank you for being part of this journey.