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