USC: Counterforce News

USC:CF v0.60.0a, build 240122

NEW

• New environment type/theme: Hydroponics
  
• 2 new Single Mission map types:
  
  • Hydroponic labs (Base)
    
  • Hydro-engineering level (Mines)
    
• New environmental modifier: flooding
  
  • The whole map is flooded with water at waist-height, imposing unique effects on gameplay
    
  • It is only available in the new "Hydro-engineering level" Single Mission map, and in specific missions in the new Operation for now
    
  • Units and objects don't receive fire buildup and cannot catch fire by any means
    
  • Movement AP cost is increased by 3 for Marines, and by 1 for all non-levitating/non-flying Aliens
    
  • Jumping AP cost is increased by 4 by grid for Marines
    
  • No scorpions, skitters, swarmers, leeches (Reaper Mothers don't lay leech eggs at all) -- wurms, wormpigs, and crawlers can swim, though!
    
  • Dispersion attacks (Flamethrower "Disperse", Bio-rifle "Cloud spray"), and item dispersion actions (e.g. "spill Hydrazine") are not available
    
• New Operation: "Hydroponic hell"
  
  • A 3-mission Operation that takes places in the new Hydroponics environment
    
• New enemy: Acidya
  
  • A flying, agile, insect-like alien that deals a large amount of acid damage with its ranged attacks
    
  • Does not appear in all old Operation missions retroactively, but part of the Single Mission/DTB
    
  enemy pool (Horde balance has been readjusted accordingly)
  
• New gear progression mechanic: Gear Tokens
  
  • You can acquire Gear Tokens for completing a game in any non-Campaign mode, based on Difficulty
    
  • You can spend them to unlock additional gear on demand during Squad Assembly (profile-wide)
    
  • You can still directly unlock items by completing the respective challenge (and also earn Gear Tokens)
    
• New armor items:
  
  • Extra armor plating MKII
    
  • Advanced combat helmet
    
  • AW boots
    
  • These cost more than their regular counterparts, but offer better protection and more mobility (less AP reduction)
    
  • Can be unlocked for purchasing by playing the new Operation (or with Gear Tokens), or for crafting (boots and helmet only) through Defend the Base! mode
    

CHANGES

• The Xmas 2023 event is now over!
  
  • Players who have collected the required amount of presents during the event will receive the following exclusive unlocks:
    
    • 100+ presents: "Rambo Ducky" squad logo
      
    • 125+ presents: "Golden Ducky" yellow squad livery
      
    • 150+ presents: A Commanducky-inspired, modified Assault rifle, the "Quacker" (simultaneously better and worse than the default AR, see if it suits your needs! :D Quack!)
      
    
    
  • Wunderwurms no longer wear a Santa hat, but are refusing to leave ;)
    
  • No more Xmas trees and presents on maps
    
  • Don't be sad if you haven't gotten all rewards, they will be back next Xmas!
    
• You can now use ground lock to target hydrazine pools and other volatile substances under other objects (previously you could only target these under enemy units)
  
• Wunderwurms, Shadow Envoys, and Greater Shadow Envoys are now displayed with a purple marker when bio-scanning them in the FoW
  
• The pathfinder will now take hazardous alien auras into account (where possible) if the "prioritize safest path" option is on (default)
  
• Slightly reduced the speed of some of the Organ Shepherd's animations
  
• DTB: light emitted from a damaged Light pillar will no longer flicker (i.e. it stays fully on until the pillar is destroyed)
  

BALANCE CHANGES

• Scoring & rewards:
  
  • Increased "Hardcore" session type score multiplier to 1.35x (from 1.25x) in DTB & Single Mission modes
    
  • Added a small score multiplier (1.1x) for "Not a drill!" sessions in Single Mission mode
    
  • Session type now also affects gained Profile XP in Operations mode
    
  • Successful DTB games grant 5x more XP
    
• Readjusted Hard difficulty for a better curve (somewhat easier now "on paper"--with all the new recent hazards, it's still harder than ~6 months ago)
  
• Jumping in areas with an ongoing depressurization (0 < Atmosphere < 100) now costs +4 per grid (similar to jumping in water)
  

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where changing the ammo subtype when the current clip/magazine was currently empty (but a subtype is being used otherwise), extra APs for unloading would be spent
  
• Fixed a bug where on the completion of a two-squad Single Mission the squads were awarded different sets of weapon prototypes
  
• Fixed a bug where it was impossible to get a prototype version of the Bio-rifle
  
• Fixed a regression in the Tutorial where you couldn't select specific items when instructed to in Part 2 (Squad Assembly)
  
• Fixed the damage effects on some recently added props
  
• DTB: fixed a bug where the deploypad could be removed by dispersing hydrazine onto it with a Flamethrower, resulting in a game blocking issue in the next Construction phase
  
• DTB: fixed a bug where the game could hang on the saving screen at the start of the Defense phase when playing on "Not a drill!" or "Hardcore"
  
• DTB: fixed a bug where session type was not always properly set when starting a new game
  
• DTB: fixed a bug where the subsurface scanner was not visible after the Defense phase unless reloading the game
  
• DTB: fixed a bug where Wunderwurms couldn't retreat if had teleported to an enclosed area, forcing the player to hunt them down way beyond the phase deadline
  
• DTB: fixed a bug where movement didn't cost +1 AP in windy weather
  
• DTB: fixed a few small issues with crafting material rewards (particularly in 2 or 1+1 squads modes)
  
• Additional minor UI fixes
  

Hey Marines!

Happy New Year, marines! A new major update is live now—forget your new year resolutions and just appreciate that your marines get to live to see another day!

Our new major update brings an end to the limited-time Xmas event. Time to discover your rewards! Explore the murky waters of the new environment: Hydroponics, and face a new insect-like flying alien!



[h2]New alien[/h2]

Acidya: An insect-like flyer and quite a nasty bug.

• Its flying abilities allow it to avoid ground hazards.
  
• This one will prefer to target you from afar with highly acidic ranged AOE attacks.
  
• Interestingly, you won’t see it in previous Operations, but it’ll show up in Single Missions and Defend the Base! mode.
  

[h2]New environment[/h2]

Hydroponics: This new environment adds its share of changes in terms of gameplay with an environmental modifier! Single Mission mode now has two new map types: Hydroponic Labs and Hydro-engineering level. A new Operation is now available in the Hydroponics environment too.

• Flooding (in Hydro-engineering level map type and in specific missions in the new Operation for now): Water reaches you at waist-height. Your movements and aliens’ are hindered, costing more APs. Because the area is flooded, fire doesn’t affect you in this watery environment.
  
• Good news is, you won’t find Scorpions, Skitters, Swarmers, or Leeches there! Bad news is, your Flamethrower and Bio-rifle are not a good fit in such a place, since dispersion won’t work there.
  

[h2]End of the limited-time Xmas event[/h2]

We hope you enjoyed your presents and that they lifted your marines’ spirits! Here’s the list of the rewards depending on the number of presents you’ve collected during the event:

• 100+ presents: "Rambo Ducky" squad logo
  
• 125+ presents: "Golden Ducky" yellow squad livery
  
• 150+ presents: A Commanducky-inspired, modified Assault rifle, the "Quacker" (simultaneously better and worse than the default AR, we’ll let you discover this piece of weaponry and see if it suits your needs! Quack quack!)
  

[h2]Community suggestions[/h2]

Your feedback allowed us to add a new way of unlocking gear without completing missions in higher difficulties by gathering Gear Tokens and spending them on the Squad Assembly screen. Gear Tokens can be obtained by completing a game in any non-Campaign mode, and the amount received depends on the difficulty level. You can still acquire items by completing the corresponding challenges (and while also obtaining Gear Tokens).

Read the full patch notes here.

Over and out! Stay on the lookout for more updates on USC: Counterforce and challenges to face!

❄️ The USC: Counterforce team

USC:CF v0.50.0a, build 231222

FIXES

• UI: Fixed the Xmas present counter in the Profile menu being clamped at 100 instead of 150. This did not affect the player's actual progress, though.
  
• Please also note that when you reach 150, the in-game surprise will not yet be granted (as stated in the previous patch notes) -- the nature and availability of the reward will be disclosed later (early January) during the event!

Have a Very Merry Xmas and Happy Hunting!

Hey Marines!

Winter is here and the festivities have just started! USC: Counterforce is discounted at -25% during the Steam Winter Sale from today to January 4 and we've just released our new major update "Frost Horror Show"! (Yes, there are some references to pick up here!)

[h3]25% Off - Limited discount during the Steam Winter Sale[/h3]
We've prepared a few bloody gifts for your marines! Collect Xmas presents on the map during the special Xmas event to unlock a surprise in-game reward! And one of our gifts for you: a 25% discount on USC: Counterforce during the Steam Winter Sale from today to January 4! Grab a copy of the game and exterminate the aliens!

[h3]Update Highlights - Frost Horror Show update[/h3]
Ready your Bio-rifle! The colorful and pesky bug "Wunderwurm" makes its comeback and will drive you mad! The game will put your skills and tactics to the test! Exploit any opportunity—weapon, environment, positioning, collateral damage and more—to turn the situation to your advantage.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1574870/USC_Counterforce/

Happy holidays and "bug" hunting!

❄️ The USC: Counterforce team 🎁

Hey Marines!

[h3]A new major update is available now—no rest for your marines even in the holiday season! Enjoy the festivities, the game is discounted (25% off) from today to January 4 for the Steam Winter Sale![/h3]

This major update to celebrate the Winter holidays comes with a limited-time Xmas event, a new weapon, the Bio-rifle, and a new enemy making its comeback: the Wunderwurm! This new content (Bio-rifle and Wunderwurm) will be permanently added to the game.

Let's try to ignore all the aliens surrounding you and enjoy the holiday spirit...


[h2]New alien[/h2]
Wunderwurm: This enemy has a wide range of abilities to attack you and make you lose your mind.

• Beware of its psionic 3x3 area attack, capable of reaching you through closed doors and walls within a range of 7 tiles, inflicting physical damage, tranquilization, and shadow buildup.
  
• As this wasn't already hard enough to deal with, it can also heal aliens within a 7x7 area aura, including itself, to a lesser extent, while moving in it.
  
• On top of this, it levitates and is able to teleport. The Wunderwurm really enjoys defying conventional tactics, escaping when wounded, and avoiding hazards.
  
• Keep an eye on its potential shadow trails and collect the rare Asura-49 once taken down to bring back when completing the mission.
  

[h2]New weapon[/h2]
Bio-rifle: A cutting-edge weapon crafted with care to complete your arsenal! This expensive high-tech heavy weapon, available without unlocking, is not your conventional damage dealer but a versatile tactical marvel against armor. It offers a much-welcome strategic advantage: ignoring the armor and resistances of most aliens to deal huge damage if used properly. This weapon comes with two attack modes:

• "Inject", is a free-targeted attack that deals poison damage to aliens or heals a marine within a range of 1–7 squares.
  
• "Cloud Spray", massively infecting a 3x3 area with biotoxin and leaving behind toxic pools that infect aliens stepping on them.
  

This weapon uses BioShell ammunition, you're now armed to the teeth with this new piece of weaponry!



[h2]Limited-time Xmas event[/h2]
We've prepared a few bloody gifts for you! This Xmas event will last a few weeks. Collect Xmas presents scattered on the map and carry them with you when finishing the mission (or extracting)! A surprise in-game reward is waiting for you once you've gathered 150 Xmas presents!



Read the full patch notes here.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1574870/view/3902996609877466179


Get the game at a 25% discount from today at 7 PM (CET +1) to January 4 at 7 PM (CET +1)! Equip your Bio-rifle and take down the Wunderwurm. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming content during Early Access!

We wish you all happy holidays! We're all taking some time off and will be out of office, but don't worry, we'll be back in early January!

❄️ The USC: Counterforce team 🎁