Hard Bullet News

Hey everyone, it's time for some Devlog again! 📜

We are here today to share with you some progress on the Quest port and what's next on the horizon for HARD BULLET.



[h2]Better Graphics for Quest[/h2]
We’ve developed our own render pipeline to deliver realistic visuals on this platform. Here are some glimpses of the Stairways arena running on Quest 3:


[h3]You can check the full footage here:[/h3]
https://youtu.be/PY9gq638MUU?si=i7mGwwGUc0xXRDW1




[h2]More Variative Gameplay[/h2]

As mentioned in our previous post, we're excited to bring fresh and varied gameplay experiences to Hard Bullet. Let’s take a look at two new scenarios available in the second biome, “Skyscrapers.”


Exploring the abandoned skyscrapers introduces thrilling new elements, with the addition of real-time lighting elevating the realism to an entirely new level. Prepare for an atmosphere that will keep you on edge!


We’re working on new interactive objects, like doors! Some of them will be breakable, allowing you to burst through and unleash chaos on unsuspecting enemies. Stay tuned for more dynamic gameplay!






[h2]Shadows and Realtime lights on PC[/h2]
The significant performance improvements we've recently achieved now allow us to introduce real-time shadows and lighting to Hard Bullet.

These highly anticipated graphical upgrades bring a new level of realism to the game. Players will have the option to adjust the quality of these effects or turn them off entirely to suit their preferences and hardware capabilities.
[h3]Shadows ON (How it will be)[/h3]
[h3]Shadows OFF (How it is now)[/h3]

We’re planning to introduce real-time shadows to all open-sky locations, such as Rooftops and Backstreets.

[h2]Horizon-Based Ambient Occlusion[/h2]
We’re enhancing Hard Bullet's visuals with Horizon-Based Ambient Occlusion (HBAO) to deliver more realistic shadow effects on both physics-driven and static objects across all locations.

This technology significantly boosts overall realism and immersion without heavily impacting performance, as it operates independently of real-time shadows.
[h3]Occlusion ON (How it will be)[/h3]
[h3]Occlusion OFF (How it is now)[/h3]
We plan to enable Shadows and add HBAO on PC at the end of 2024.

[h2]AI and Animations: Better Run[/h2]
Here’s a sneak peek at our new animation system in action!

Enemies now move with improved realism, placing their feet accurately based on their actual speed, avoiding obstacles, and stopping naturally.



You’ll also notice they’ve adopted an "aware" behavior, meaning they no longer target the player immediately, adding a more immersive layer to encounters.

We can’t wait to share even more advanced behaviors, like patrolling, searching, and navigating complex environments. Stay tuned for updates!

We plan to launch new AI and Behaviours during Q1 2025.


If you have missed our previous Devlog Post, no problem, here is the link to catch up:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1294760/view/4702410905651014113?l=english

Thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm, we really appreciate it! We can not wait to share even more soon!

See you in the Arena!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1294760/HARD_BULLET/

Check out our Socials and keep yourself in the loop! Twitter Discord Mods Patreon

[h2]🍂 Happy Autumn Sale, Fighters![/h2]

We are happy to announce that during the Steam Autumn Sale, HARD BULLET will be OFF for 20% until December 4th!



Make sure to join the ranks and get ready for all the action. 🔫 If you are curious about what's next for HARD BULLET, check out the post below!

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1294760/view/4702410905651014113?l=english

We'll see you in the Arena!

Check out our Socials and have a chat with us! Twitter Discord Mods Patreon

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1294760/HARD_BULLET/

Hey everyone,

Thank you for the reports over the weekend! We came across some bugs that were affecting the pumpkin progress in some Arenas - they should be all good now!

[h2]Pumpkins Counter Updated[/h2]


We're adding an option to reset your pumpkin progress in any arena, letting you replay them as much as you want! To reset Arena Progress, visit your chosen arena and click the "Reset" button near the Pumpkin Counter in any Armory.

Other Fixes:

• Fixed the Pumpkin Counter for Deadend Arena.
  
• Conducted some internal refactoring to eliminate potential counter bugs.
  

If you've experienced any issues with incorrect counters, they should be resolved with this update. Please ensure you've received the latest update by verifying the integrity of game files through Steam.


[h2]Bugfixes and Improvements[/h2]

• Updated Model: Sausage 350 now features a high-quality, enhanced gun model.
  
• Deadend Arena Fix: Resolved an issue where exploding certain barrels could remove parts of the arena.
  

Current game version: EA 0.7.12.49

Please let us know on Discord if anything feels wrong and we'll look into it!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1294760/HARD_BULLET/

Check out our Socials and keep yourself in the loop! Twitter Discord Mods Patreon

Hey everyone!

It's the spooky time of the year!👻 And we have been cooking some Hard BoOoOllet action for you. 👀 We have some new challenges not only in-game but also as a community event on Discord! Let's get right into the details.

[h2]🎃Halloween Challenge🎃[/h2]

It's never a good Halloween without the good old pumpkins, right? If your seeker skills are as good as your combat skills we have just the right thing for you. Look for all the 66 pumpkins across different Arenas, and destroy them to get new unlocks!

[h3]The Haunted Harvest - Community Event[/h3]

If you think that you're the fastest Gunner in the west (or anywhere) - why don't you prove it to us? Destroy all of the 66 pumpkins in the Arenas, record your gameplay and win Steam Gift Cards up to $60 from us! 🎃

How, you ask? Join our Discord for all the details on how to participate!
[hr][/hr]
[h3]Pumpkin Head[/h3]
Find and destroy all 66 pumpkins in all locations! to unlock this time-limited customization! For all the time-limited outfits, you will have time until November 4th!

[h3]Halloween Player Outfits[/h3]


Four customizations for the player to unlock during the event:

• Scary Bag — One at the Main menu
  
• Pumpkin Suit — 6 somewhere at the Deadend
  
• Spider Gloves — get 4 at the Deathbox

[h3]New Firearms Looks[/h3]


Some popular weapons got their holiday looks too! 🎃 They also unlock while destroying pumpkins in arenas except one-holiday grenade is already available for everyone!

• Rhino — 5 hiding at Warehouse
  
• Gretta 92 — 6 at Pool
  
• Muller PL — 5 at City Roofs
  
• 1911 — 5 more at City Roofs
  
• Mark10 — 5 at Market
  
• Scorpio — 5 at Rooftop
  
• Sawed-off — 6 at Basement
  
• Choppa Triplet — 5 at Repair Shop
  
• М16А4 — Stairway
  
• Mark18 — 7 at Backstreet
  

[h2]Bugfixes & Improvements[/h2]

• Fixed issue that prevented high jumps on some places on arenas.
  
• Fixed an issue where bullet positioning caused shots to land lower than expected.
  
• Removed the outdated German 45 pistol model from enemy weapon sets.
  
• Added more grab zones in Lobby area.
  

We hope that you'll have tons of fun! Please let us know if you have any feedback and enjoy your new outfits! 👻 Make sure to get those outfits before they leave on November 4th!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1294760/HARD_BULLET/

Check out our Socials and keep yourself in the loop! Twitter Discord Mods Patreon

Hey everyone!

This week, we are happy to introduce some performance improvements, reworked blood effects, and more firearms for enemies to use. Recently, we have seen some of our players having a hard time regarding performance so we wanted to take this topic as our priority. Smooth gameplay experience is something we aim for everyone!

[h2]Performance Improvements[/h2]
A bunch of improvements to boost your FPS even more in Hard Bullet! Expect HUGE performance improvement during shootouts with enemies:

• Optimized VRAM usage for smoother gameplay, offering up to a 50% FPS boost on low to mid-tier GPUs, especially when using streaming VR headsets like Quest.
  
• Enhanced physics and core optimizations, reducing CPU load by up to 30% during action-heavy battle scenes.
  

[h3]Future Performance Updates[/h3]
Some things we are working on to bring in future updates regarding performance:

• Bullet Physics improvements;
  
• Adaptive physics for enemies;
  
• Reworked effects system so we can add more effects with less performance cost;

[hr][/hr]
[h2]Blood and Gore Updated[/h2]
[h3]Blood on Cloth and Skin[/h3]
Different blood patterns now appear on various materials like cloth and skin, with old splash effects replaced by realistic fabric saturation with blood.

[expand]
Blood saturation:

Difference between cloth and skin blood effects: [/expand]

[h3]New Bruises[/h3]
Bruises have been completely revamped to look more natural on different skin tones, with better blending after repeated impacts, eliminating those glitchy dark spots.

[expand]

[/expand]

[h3]Inner Skeleton and Body Damage[/h3]
Bone models have been updated, and we’ve added a few inner organs for extra realism. Shotgun and rifle damage will appear more brutal, with detailed "skin digging" effects.

[expand]


Dismemberment looks more gruesome than ever, with realistic bone models and vivid, disturbing visuals when they are exposed!


[/expand]
No harm was given to the NPC while showcasing the new update.

[h3]Movement Speed While Holding Enemies[/h3]
We've adjusted the player's movement speed while holding enemies to enhance interaction with ragdolls. This change reduces chaos and makes it more convenient to maneuver them.

In future updates, we plan to make this more dynamic, with movement speed varying based on the size and weight of the object you're carrying.

We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!

[h3]Future Gore Updates[/h3]
Gore is a very important part of Hard Bullet, so we are constantly working on more improvements. Here is a list of the goals we aim to achieve before/at the game’s release, and what you can expect in upcoming updates:

• More detailed blood patterns on clothing.
  
• More realistic flesh deformations.
  
• Creation of blood puddles under dead bodies.
  
• Destructible body parts, including head explosions.
  
• Death and agony animations that correspond accurately to the type of damage.
  

[hr][/hr]
[h2]Enemy Guns[/h2]
[h3]More Diverse Gun Pools[/h3]
Redistributed firearms among enemies. Lower-tier enemies will now use basic firearms, while armored opponents will be equipped with more advanced rifles.



[h3]New Models[/h3]


Updated two iconic guns with improved, highly detailed 3D models: Mark 16 and Gretta 92, custom-made exclusively for you.


[h2]Other Bugfixes & Improvements[/h2]

• Corrected gun names in Arena Challenges.
  
• Rebaked lighting in Deathbox and its assets.
  
• Grinder: Fixed issue where ragdolls were not placed inside correctly.
  
• Leg Kick & Explosives: Resolved bug where kicking grenades or small explosives could cause premature detonation.
  
• UI: Renamed "Action Arena" to "Warehouse."
  
• Fixed incorrect positioning of the Wrench when held.
  
• Hand Spawner: Addressed issues with spawned warning signs.
  

Current game version: EA 0.7.10.45


[h2]Upcoming Events[/h2]
We prepared a surprise for this Halloween season, stay tuned! We plan to make a timed event with unlockable looks for players and weapons.



And that's a wrap for today's patch notes! 📜
[hr][/hr]
If you haven't heard yet, we are working on the Quest 3/3S release of HARD BULLET. Check out all the details about the Quest version and the upcoming new game mode with Story & Rogue-Lite elements below! 👀

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1294760/view/4702410905651014113?l=english

Check out our Socials and keep yourself in the loop! Twitter Discord Mods Patreon