OUTBRK News

[p]Hello, Chasers![/p][p]This month, we’re sharing a preview of our upcoming new game mode, Weekly Challenges, along with a look at a new car, updated cloud resolution visuals, soundings, and an update on the production of the new tornadoes.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Our next major update, Weekly Challenges, is in the final phase of testing and is getting close to release. You can see a screenshot from the game below. Full details on how the system works will be included in the patch notes when the update goes live.[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]Here is an in-editor preview of the next car coming to OUTBRK, the Warden. Like the other civilian vehicles in the game, it will be fully customizable, and all customization options you’ve previously purchased will be compatible with it.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Integration with the new weather model resolution is now complete. We are nearly finished fine-tuning the clouds using this updated data, and the results are aligning well with the intended visual and structural improvements.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The update also includes a new radar resolution, bringing increased detail and clearer gate-to-gate velocity. This allows for sharper storm structure representation and improved readability during severe weather analysis.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The finer resolution also reveals more subtle and dynamic features, including clear slots, more defined inflow notches, and better realism of hail signatures outside the main precipitation core near the mesocyclone. These details contribute to a more accurate and immersive storm analysis experience.[/p][p]Weather soundings are now fully integrated into these new scenarios. The current “Surface” map will be renamed to Analysis, and it will include surface plots along with weather sounding stations. Players will be able to select from a sounding station to generate a sounding specific to that area. Soundings will not refresh every minute; instead, they will update at longer intervals. Within the sounding interface, players will be able to review the three previous soundings in addition to the current one, making it easier to observe trends and the evolution of weather patterns over time.[/p][p][/p][p]The new scenario resolution will be entering the testing queue shortly.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Most of the core technology for the new tornado system is now complete. The Catalyst team has finalized the integration of the new tornado system into our cloud rendering pipeline.[/p][p]The current focus is on final adjustments, small bug fixes, and integration into scenarios. Upgrading all existing scenarios to use the new tornado rendering will require a fairly complex conversion process, and some scenarios may need to be regenerated. While this adds additional work, it will result in significantly greater variety in tornado shape, size, and visual features across the board.[/p][p]More updates to follow as testing progresses.[/p][p]

[/p][p]That’s all for this update![/p][p]You can follow our detailed development on Trello here: [/p][p]https://trello.com/b/nsBmMfIa/outbrk-game[/p][p] [/p][p]Consider leaving a review on the Steam store to help us reach more future chasers: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]Till next time,[/p][p]-The OUTBRK Team[/p][p]

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[p]Hello, Chasers![/p][p]This month, we’re sharing a preview of upcoming gameplay features, updates on our weather development, and details about our presence at the National Storm Chaser Summit 2026, taking place February 5 to 7.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Last week, we released a major update that significantly improves the stability of our voice and text chat features while fixing a large number of bugs. Since OUTBRK aims to be a social online multiplayer experience, addressing this backlog of issues and strengthening our social systems was long overdue, and should now allow players to interact with each other far more reliably.[/p][p]Read the full patch notes here: [/p][p]https://steamcommunity.com/app/1107320/eventcomments/695377412021575256/[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p]We’re currently working on the Weekly Challenges feature. We recently shared design mockups here, and our programmers have been hard at work implementing the system in game.[/p][p]One design change we believe players will appreciate is the addition of a community reward granted to all participants, based on the final reward rank achieved during the weekly challenge.[/p][p][/p][p]We can’t wait to show this feature in its full form as soon as it's ready.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Another feature currently in the design stage is Weather Product Chat Callouts.[/p][p]This system will allow players to quickly highlight areas of interest on the weather map for all chasers on the server, improving communication and collaboration during a chase. We’re also adding rich presence indicators (animated mockup for illustration purposes below) so players can see when someone is actively viewing their map.[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]Players will be able to point to a location on the map to send a preformatted system message in global chat, drawing attention to something worth watching. At the same time, an eye icon will briefly appear on the map to help other players quickly spot the referenced location.[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p]This month, we’ve made strong progress toward finalizing our new model-resolution pipeline and validating the features that come with it. As expected, the increase in resolution brings significantly more detail to cloud structures, especially in the lower portions of storms, and the results are already very apparent. Storm bases now exhibit the complex shapes and features storm chasers expect to see in the field, including horseshoe-shaped bases, RFDs, inflow bands, tilted updrafts, and shelf clouds. Motion has also been refined, improving overall fidelity and delivering a more authentic storm-chasing experience.[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p]The Catalyst team has continued to make strong progress on the multivortex tornado system introduced last month. Development has advanced significantly, with the core architecture now supporting multiple subvortices within a single tornado, with total control over them. This brings us much closer to fully realized wedge tornadoes and the complex internal dynamics that define them. With the foundation now largely in place, the next phase will focus on integrating this system into our existing scenarios to ensure a smooth and seamless transition to the new tornado model.[/p][p]
[/p][p]We’ll be at NSCS 2026 from February 5 to 7, hosting an OUTBRK tournament, meeting fans at the summit, and sharing updates across our social media channels. We have a lot planned, so be sure to mark your calendars.[/p][p]Tickets are still available, so grab yours now: [/p][p]https://www.chasersummit.org/[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p]That’s all for this update![/p][p]You can follow our detailed development on Trello here: [/p][p]https://trello.com/b/nsBmMfIa/outbrk-game[/p][p] [/p][p]Consider leaving a review on the Steam store to help us reach more future chasers: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]Till next time,[/p][p]-The OUTBRK Team[/p][p]

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[p]Hello, Chasers![/p][p]This month, our team is taking some very well-deserved time off during the holidays, but we still have a pretty packed newsletter for you![/p][p]
[/p][p]This month, we released the car tablet module update, followed shortly by a minor update that improved the tornado simulation.

[/p][h2]Tablet module[/h2][p]The tablet module and probe receiver update brought a ton of new shareable moments on social media, and we’re very happy with the overall reception from the community.[/p][p]https://steamcommunity.com/app/1107320/eventcomments/682989180373075585/[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][h2]Tornado simulation improvements[/h2][p]We released an update to our tornadoes shortly after, improving pathing, pressure calculations, and temperature readings. This update was somewhat overshadowed by the major release, but the changes to tornado pathing should now feel much more natural.[/p][p]https://steamcommunity.com/app/1107320/eventcomments/682989526499467247/[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p]Our gameplay development focus is now shifting to the upcoming Weekly Challenge mode. This new mode will let players compete in the same scenario each week, compare their performance on a leaderboard, and earn rewards based on their ranking.[/p][p]More information will be shared as we get closer to the release of this game mode. For now, here’s a screenshot of a Photoshop mockup of the menu:[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]The same system is also laying the groundwork for OUTBRK Forecaster, where players will be able to play real model runs tied to upcoming real-world events.[/p][p]

[/p][p]Work on the new tornado system is progressing very well. Most of the shader work is complete, and integration with the volumetric cloud shader is now underway, along with the first steps toward the new multi-vortex system.[/p][p]We don’t have screenshots to share yet, as this phase is mostly technical, but what’s exciting is that this system gives us the tools to create a massive amount of variation in tornado shape, size, structure, and behaviour. Every tornado will feel unique.[/p][p]
[/p][p]We’re wrapping up the workflow for the new, higher-resolution weather model and are currently testing it with new data products such as weather soundings. We’re also planning how to start releasing scenarios generated with this new system and how to introduce them to players.[/p][p]

[/p][p]We’re working on new hail guards to fit some more rugged-looking cosmetics currently in production. We’re creating a series of more “backyard / home-built”-style chasing accessories, and this new hail guard will be part of that batch:[/p][p]
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We’re getting ready for the OUTBRK competition at the National Storm Chaser Summit in Denver, from February 5 to 7, 2026. We’re all very excited to see familiar faces and meet new people. It’s going to be a great time.[/p][p]Tickets are available at [/p][p]www.chasersummit.org[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That’s all for this development update![/p][p]Thanks for all your support. Consider leaving a review on the Steam store to help us reach more future chasers: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]Till next time,[/p][p]-The OUTBRK Team[/p][p]

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