PlanetSide 2 News

All PC Live servers will come down on Friday, November 20 at 6:00 AM PST (3:00 PM CET) to bring you the 8th Anniversary Game Update. Downtime is expected to last up to 3 hours.



Happy Anniversary, Soldiers! This Friday marks eight years to the day since PlanetSide 2 first launched, and we couldn't be more grateful for your continued support as we celebrate another milestone. It's been an incredible year for our team: the inception of Rogue Planet Games, the Escalation update, Outfit Wars, the Colossus Update, and the recent launch of The Shattered Warpgate update are just a few of our 2020 highlights, none of which would've been possible without your loyalty and dedication. 

We've got a lot to share as we look to the future - and we hope you'll join us TOMORROW at 11:00 AM PST on Twitch for a sneak peek at what comes next for PlanetSide 2. But for today, we're excited to share all the highlights inbound with this year's Anniversary update!

[h3]8TH ANNIVERSARY GIFT & DOUBLE XP WEEK[/h3]

Your service continues to be exemplary, soldiers - as a small thank you for eight great years, we're offering all of you a free platinum NS-45 Pilot and 8th Anniversary Loyalty Decal!

You can claim your free rewards on PC by completing a special Anniversary Mission available via your Mission tab through Monday, November 30.

Additionally, we're celebrating our birthday with a week-long Double XP for ALL event starting tomorrow, Friday, November 20, running through Thursday, November 26! Double XP for Members will continue through Sunday, November 29. Get after those certs, soldiers!

[h3]THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR ESAMIR[/h3]



Our 8th Anniversary update also introduces the second chapter in The Shattered Warpgate Campaign! Investigators have uncovered all there is to know about the calamity on Esamir, and Representative Foster from Nanite Systems has developed a plan for dealing with the ongoing environmental crisis...a plan that will require the support of every soldier, from every Empire. Chapter 2 brings new events, new missions, and new technology as the story progresses into its next stage.

While Chapter 1 has come to a close, the items and currency you've previously unlocked will move with you into Chapter 2.

[h3]8TH ANNIVERSARY BUNDLES & A NEW DIRECTIVE[/h3] 

New 8th Anniversary Bundles are incoming! 

This year's Anniversary Bundles hit the Depot in three epic tiers: Cadet's Bundle (1999 DBC), Explorer's Bundle (3999 DBC), and Starseeker's Bundle (7999 DBC). As the names suggest, we're looking to the stars this year, with several new items providing hints at what's going on above and beyond the atmosphere of Auraxis...

Each bundle contains an assortment of items, including new weapons, armors, camo, banners, faction decals, implants, and more. Pick up the Explorer's or Starseeker's Bundle, and you'll also receive a Heroic Boost! The full breakdown of all the items available in each Bundle can be found in our 8th Anniversary Bundle Preview.



We're also unlocking a new Directive Line! Every weapon from this year's Anniversary bundles (including the free platinum NS-45 Pilot) will grant progress toward the Exceptional Directive IV. You can check out the new Directive Rewards in-game in your Directives tab.

[h3]JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL 8TH ANNIVERSARY LIVESTREAM![/h3]

We're starting the party this Friday, November 20, 2020 at 11:00 AM PST LIVE at twitch.tv/planetside2! Join us tomorrow for your first-look at our next major game update, news, giveaways, and a sneak peek into 2021!

We also want to take a moment to celebrate the absolutely incredible job our community has done fundraising for Extra Life, as our studio team has collectively raised nearly $15,000 for Children's Hospitals! It's not too late to get involved - you can still join or donate to to the team at extra-life.org/team/rogueplanetgames. Help us meet our goals as we continue raising more money to support children in need!

Thank you all for your dedication to PlanetSide 2 - it's been an unforgettable year, and we couldn't have done any of it without all of you. We'll see you on-stream tomorrow, but in the meantime you can share your favorite moments and memories from Auraxis with us by posting with the hashtag #8YearsofLoyalty on Facebook, Twitter, or the PlanetSide 2 Forums! Here's to another great year, soldiers!!

Time is running out on your Campaign, soldier! Chapter 1 of The Shattered Warpgate is scheduled to end on PC this Sunday, November 8 at 11:59pm PST. We're unlocking Esamir all weekend to give you every opportunity to finish your Campaign Missions and grab those much-deserved rewards before it does!

Once Chapter 1 ends, we're looking ahead to our Eighth Anniversary celebration and the start of Chapter 2...stay tuned for an announcement next week!

All PC servers will come down Thursday, November 5, 2020, at 7am PST (4pm CET), for the game update below. Downtime is expected to last up to two hours.

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Full patch notes below:

• Fixed an issue where some players were not able to claim Campaign Chapter rewards without completing certain side missions. All players should now be able to collect Chapter rewards after completing all primary missions.
  
• Changed the "spot" experience portion of the Training: Infiltrator and Reconnaissance missions to require "motion detection" experience instead.
  
• Fixed an issue where certain Directive Pistols weren't activating sidearm-related implants or directives.
  
• The Halloween event has ended, and Sanctuary is no longer haunted.
  

Members, it's that time of the month! Space Pumpkins are haunting Auraxis, our first PlanetSide 2 Campaign is live, and ALL MEMBERS will earn Double XP through Sunday, October 25! Warm up that Ectoblaster and start banking those certs, soldiers!

That sinister chill crawling up your spine can only mean one thing, soldier - from Wednesday, October 14 through Sunday, November 1, Nanite of the Living Dead will rise once more to haunt the continents of Auraxis!

Our annual Halloween event is back and bigger than ever, with Space Pumpkins, an all-new Seasonal Directive, and a bevy of special treats available to earn or purchase from the Depot. Even Sanctuary has been outfitted for spooky season, so load up your Ectoblaster and make ready for mischief, those Galact-O-Lanterns won't hunt themselves!



The party starts in Sanctuary, where even the vendors have dressed for the occasion! Ghouls, ghosts, and ghastly surprises abound at this monster mash, so make sure you're appropriately kitted for the masquerade. Small talk is its own reward - a variety of Halloween Masks can be earned by talking to certain vendors, and equipping any Halloween mask will award bonus XP throughout the duration of the event!



[h2]IT'S TIME FOR A PUMPKIN HAUNT[/h2]

Space Pumpkins and the elusive Galact-O-Lanterns are back and spawning all across Auraxis! Smash these pumpkins to earn XP and extra rewards in the form of Infernal Grenades, which can in turn be used to earn bonus XP and Directive progress. But be wary of where you trick-or-treat this year, soldier, for some Pumpkins are equipped to offer even more explosive surprises...

Kills with any Halloween weapon also award Hallow Ribbons, providing extra bonus XP:

Ectoblaster
Slasher
Auraxium Slasher
LB00 Python
Infernal Grenades
NS Candy Cannon 3000

[h2]NEW HALLOWEEN DIRECTIVE[/h2]

Complete the all-new Halloween VII Directive for new rewards, seasonal items, ISO-4, and more!

Tier 1

• Speak to FL-34 in the Data Exchange on Sanctuary
  
• Speak to Foster in the Sanctuary Observation Deck
  
• Speak to Nalla in the Expedition shop on Sanctuary
  
• Find and speak to a sketchy looking guard on Sanctuary
  

Tier 2-4

• Slashing Pumpkins - Destroy Space Pumpkins, Galact-O-Lanterns kills are worth 10 kills toward this directive.
  
• Masked Murder - Kill enemies while wearing a Halloween Mask.
  
• Necromancer - Revive allies.
  
• Witchy Ways - Earn heal/resupply/repair experience.
  
• Silver for Monsters - Use melee weapons to kill enemies who are wearing Halloween Masks or Facepaint.
  
• Hallowed Ground - Earn kills while near a Mining Drill, Bastion Fleet Carrier, or in The Shattered Warpgate area.
  

Rewards

• Tier 1 - Ichabod Crown, Infernal Grenade
  
• Tier 2 - Ectoblaster, 100 Certs
  
• Tier 3 - 450 A7, 100 ISO-4
  
• Tier 4 - Title: Creepy, Halloween VII Banner, 500 ISO-4
  

[h2]NEW SEASONAL ITEMS[/h2]

The Depot has been restocked with a series of special themed cosmetics only available for the duration of this event!

• Flamerider Tire Trails (Flash/Harasser) - Sport burning trails of fire on the wheels of your vehicle.
  
• Green Wisp Tire Trails (Flash/Harasser/ANT/Sunderer) - Green floating spirits follow your vehicle around the battlefield.
  
• Holiday Horns - A variety of spooky Halloween themed vehicle horns are available.
  
• Holiday Helmets - Special costume helmets are available.
  
• The Slasher - Melee weapon.
  
• L-B00 Python AP - A holiday-themed version of the Lightning’s Python AP main cannon.
  
• NS Candy Cannon 3000 - Fires candy corn, the hardest substance on the planet.
  
• Halloween Camos - Various Halloween-related camouflage has been made available.
  

Settle your nerves, soldier, all the intel you'll need to survive these horrors can be found over in the patch notes. Nanite of the Living Dead VII: The Seeds Must Flow is live in-game starting today, so get a head start on your Devil's Night revelries and start smashing those pumpkins!