Crunch Element News

[p]Hey everyone![/p][p]I just dropped a full devlog video walking through all the major features, improvements, and design changes.[/p][p]From revamped AI and level progression to new weapons, mechanics, and a massive visual upgrade, this video breaks it all down.

▶️ Watch it here:[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]Even if you have already been playing, you might discover some new systems or mechanics you didn’t realize were added![/p][p]Thanks again for all your patience and support! It’s come a long way, and I’m excited to keep sharing more behind-the-scenes updates soon.

[/p][p] 💬 Discord: [/p][p]https://discordapp.com/invite/vutD5y4[/p][p][/p][p] 📣 Crunch Element X: [/p][p]https://x.com/CrunchElementVR[/p][p][/p][p] 📣 Dev Account: [/p][p]https://x.com/blakezonca[/p][p][/p]

[p]The Overhaul Update is now officially live on the default branch of Crunch Element! After nearly a year of rebuilding and redesigning core systems from the ground up, this update marks the beginning of a new chapter for the game.[/p]

[p]The old version of the game has been moved to the “legacy” branch.
To access it:
Steam Library → Right-click Crunch Element → Properties → Betas → Select legacy from the dropdown.[/p]

[p][/p][h2]What’s New[/h2][p]This update is a new foundation for Crunch Element. The mission structure, objectives, progression systems, networking, and enemy AI were rebuilt based on player feedback, and support a scalable framework to build on moving forward.[/p][p]While new modes and content are coming soon, this update introduces the systems that will drive them. Here’s what’s live:[/p][h3][/h3][h2]New & Improved Gameplay Features[/h2][p]✅ New Contract System – Missions are now structured as multi-stage contracts with modular objectives, story integration, and reward progression.
✅ Player Progression System – Earn XP, level up, and unlock gear to shape your loadout and playstyle.
✅ Smarter Enemy AI – Enemies now coordinate, investigate, call out threats, flank, and take cover. Behaviors are more dynamic and lifelike than ever.
✅ New Enemy Types – Face off against a variety of Cultist units: bomber enemies, turrets, and riflemen. Enemies can now drop from the skies or emerge from tunnels.
✅ Compound Alert System – Compounds now shift between stealth and high-alert states with dynamic music, security levels, and enemy responses.
✅ Massive Performance Gains – Hitboxes, physics, destruction systems, and lighting have all been rewritten for higher frame rates and VR responsiveness.
✅ Hideout Rework - The hideout is now more expansive with a ship hangar, contract terminal, and a cantina to relax with friends!
[/p][h2]New Player Tools & Gear[/h2][p]🔑 Keycard System – Unlock secured areas, crates, and even turrets.
🛠️ New Hacking Stations – Interact with enemy tech to disable defenses, open doors, and progress objectives.
🎯 New Ammo Types – Equip tracer rounds, slugs, and special projectiles to suit your tactics.
🔍 Scanner Attachment – Spot enemies and hidden points of interest.
🧠 FPV Missile Headset & Airstrike Grenades – Take over a missile and guide it in first-person for precision strikes, or throw an airstrike grenade to trigger a bombing run. These are hidden in certain stages, but may be built on in the future.
📡 Tablet-Controlled Grenade Turrets – Drop automated turrets and rain fire from afar.
🛡️ New Armor System – Armor choices now directly impact survivability and movement.
🧰 Item Mod System – Enhance your weapons and gear with passive modifiers like faster reload, stealth bonuses, or explosive power.
🎭 Hat System – Unlock cosmetics to express your style while blowing holes in cultist fortresses.
🎒 Pouch-Based Ammo System – Overhauled inventory for smoother, more intuitive VR ammo management.
💣 Timer-Activated C4 Charges – Time your explosives with precision.
🔨 New Breaching Hammer Charge – Hold to build power and shatter entire walls with force.[/p][p][/p][h2]World & Immersion Upgrades[/h2][p]🎨 All-New Art Style – Environments, enemies, weapons, and effects completely reimagined for a gritty tactical sci-fi VR feel.
🧱 Custom Shaders – Real-time gameplay feedback through stylized hits, impacts, and effects—from bullet pings to wall fractures.
🌟 Fully Precomputed Lighting – 100% baked GI and directional lighting for massive performance boosts across systems with improved visuals.
🚀 Player Ship Replaces Truck – Start every mission aboard a dropship that handles arrival and extraction.
🎧 New Sound Design – Hear the difference with enhanced impact sounds, voice lines, alerts, and graze zones as bullets fly by.
🎮 Overhauled UI & HUD – New hand menus, objective tracking, mission selection interfaces, and feedback systems. If you prefer a more hardcore experience, you can disable the HUDs in the settings.
📡 Real-Time Transmissions – Missions now feature in-world NPC transmissions for briefings, updates, and story progression.
🖥️ Security Cameras – Watch your six. Cultists now monitor their compounds with cameras that report intrusions.
🎢 Ziplines & Elevators – Navigate vertically and escape quickly with new traversal tools.
💥 Massively Improved Destruction – Every explosion, wall breach, and shattering event is smoother, more immersive, and more satisfying.[/p][p][/p][h2]📣 Join the Mission[/h2][p]Found a bug? Have a suggestion?
Submit it here: [/p][p]https://crunchelement.featurebase.app[/p][p][/p][p]Follow on Twitter/X for real-time updates: @CrunchElementVR[/p][p][/p][p]Stay tuned for patches and announcements about the future roadmap. The Cultists are mobilizing. New missions are on the horizon. And your loadout is ready.[/p][p]See you in the hideout,
— Blake[/p]

[p][/p][h2]The Overhaul Update is Live on Experimental![/h2][p]After nearly a year of rebuilding core systems, the Overhaul Update is now available on the Experimental Branch of Crunch Element on Steam![/p][p]This update is a foundational rewrite of the game—from mission structure to NPCs, objectives, and progression systems. While it’s not a full release yet, it sets the stage for what’s to come.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]🚧 How to Access the Experimental Branch[/h3][p]To opt into the experimental version:[/p]

1. [p]Right-click Crunch Element in your Steam Library[/p]
2. [p]Select Properties > Betas[/p]
3. [p]Choose experimental from the dropdown[/p]

[p]This build is under active testing—expect bugs and balance issues, but also tons of new systems and content.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]📜 Changelog, Trailer, & Official Release Coming Soon[/h3][p]A full changelog, trailer, and default branch update will arrive once we collect feedback and finalize polish. This experimental release is your chance to help shape the game before its public return.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h3]🛠 Found a Bug? Have a Suggestion?[/h3][p]Use our new public feedback board:[/p][p]👉 https://crunchelement.featurebase.app[/p][p][/p][p]Post bugs, feature requests, or gameplay impressions. We're listening and iterating rapidly.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]🛰 Stay in the Loop[/h3][p]Follow us on X/Twitter for real-time updates, dev insights, and future content drops. This is the best way to get in touch:[/p][p]🐦 @CrunchElementVR[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]Thank you to everyone who’s stuck with Crunch Element. This update has been a long time coming—and it’s only the beginning.[/p][p][/p][p]See you in the hideout.
— Blake[/p]

It’s time for an update! Over the past several months, we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes, completely overhauling Crunch Element with new features, gameplay improvements, a sprinkle of lore, and a fresh coat of explosive chaos.

We’re not just talking about tweaks and polish—this is a huge transformation, bringing new mechanics, visuals, enemies, tools, and an improved experience to every mission. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s been added:

[h3]New & Improved Gameplay Features[/h3]
✅ New contract system – Stages, objectives, and contract progression have been reworked for a more structured and immersive experience.
✅ Progression system - earn XP after every stage and level up to unlock new gear to create your perfect loadout.
✅ New enemy AI – Smarter, deadlier foes with improved behaviors, better animations, and dynamic responses. Enemies now call out threats, take cover, investigate suspicious activity, and give you a fight like never before.
✅ New enemy types – The cultists are your opposition and they are fearless. Face off against bomber enemies, riflemen, and even enemy turrets guarding their compounds. Be aware of the compounds they lurk in or the skies they drop down from...
✅ Enemy alert system – Compounds now shift between stealth and high-alert states, affecting enemy responses, security measures, and even dynamic music changes.
✅ Huge performance improvements – Everything from hitboxes, physics, destruction, and lighting has be optimized for performance.

[h3]New Player Tools & Gear[/h3]
🛠️ New hacking stations – Take control of key systems inside enemy compounds.
🔑 Keycard system – Unlock doors, crates, and turrets with security access.
🎯 New ammo types – Tracer rounds, slugs, and projectiles for enhanced combat tactics.
🔍 Scanner attachment – Get better visibility on enemy positions and points of interest.
🛠️ Item Mod System – Customize and upgrade your gear with powerful modifications.
🔍 FPV Missile Headset – Take control of guided missiles for precise strikes.
📡 Tablet-Controlled Grenade Turrets – Set up automated defenses and rain fire on enemy positions.
🛡️ Armor system – Players now have armor that affects survivability, adding more depth to combat encounters.
🎭 Hat System – Because even tactical operatives need some drip.
🎒 Pouch-based ammo system – A more intuitive and streamlined inventory system, making ammo management smoother and more natural.

[h3]New World & Immersion Features[/h3]
📡 Real-time transmissions – Key moments now trigger NPC dialogue, status updates, and mission briefings, keeping you engaged and informed.
🌌 New art style and models – Environments, enemies, and effects have been greatly improved visually.
🚀 Player ship replaces truck – Your spawn point is now a fully functional dropship.
🛠️ New mission objectives – Entry-based objectives, wave defense, and elimination missions add new layers of strategy.
🎧 Graze zone system – Experience realistic whizzing sounds as bullets fly past.
🎮 New UI elements and sound design – A completely refreshed interface and audio mix for better immersion.
💥 Greatly improved destruction – Smoother destruction physics and stylized visuals.
🖥️ Security cameras – The cultists have some extra eyes to watch out for...
⚡ Ziplines & elevators for fast traversal – Because sometimes, you just need a quick escape.

[h3]What’s Next?[/h3]
While the update isn’t out just yet, we’ll be dropping teasers, gameplay clips, and deep dives into the new systems over the next week and beyond. Make sure to follow our X (Twitter) @CrunchElementVR for exclusive first looks and casual clips as we continue development.

Stay sharp, the next phase of Crunch Element is almost here.

[h3]Summary[/h3]
Start with a minimal kit, acquire weapons and attachments along the way, and survive as many rounds as possible with ever increasing difficulty!

[h3]Mystery Boxes[/h3]
Spend credits at the Mystery Boxes located in every level to acquire new weapons during a run!




[h3]Upgrader[/h3]
Drop your weapon in the upgrader located in the truck and level up your loadout during a run!





A complete overhaul to the enemy AI system has finally been done. This fixes many bugs with the old system, introduces more engaging gameplay, and improved performance to support more enemies per map!

Wandering - Enemies now wander around the map.

Difficulty - A Difficulty setting has been added for freeplay stages and enemies become progressively more difficult in rogue mode.

Investigation - Enemies now investigate suspicious activity and combat areas.

Performance - Performance of the AI has been improved which allows more enemies per map.

[h2]Changelog[/h2]
- Added new rogue mode
- Added mystery weapon boxes to all levels for rogue mode and operations
- Added new weapon upgrader in the truck for rogue mode and operations
- Added more starting magazines to the S12
- Added credit reward for completion of objectives
- Added credit display to the wrist watch
- Added new tactical gloves for the player hands
- Complete enemy AI rework
- Added difficulty adjustment to enemies that can be selected on stages
- Update credit tracking to be individual instead of shared across all players
- Fixed issue with new players joining a session not spawning with full health
- Added lifetime stat screen in the hideout
- Fixed issues with hitbox accuracy on map obstacles
- Fixed issues with espionage objective occasionally not spawning
- Fixed issue with building modules not spawning on certain game resets
- Fixed issue with movement speed being different for different HMDs
- Fixed issue with enemies clipping through walls and various other bugs
- Updated hand swap mode to also swap the menu button
- Updated player icon to show Steam avatar