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Gray Zone Warfare News

If you wanted Arc Raiders PvE, the next Gray Zone Warfare update could be the answer with enemies that behave "like real combatants"

Are you in the camp that wishes Arc Raiders had a PvE mode? Then a new Gray Zone Warfare update may be the ideal time to check in with Madfinger Games' extraction shooter. GZW prides itself on realism, and with the ability to play the tactical FPS on entirely PvE-focused servers if you want, getting its computer-controlled enemies to behave like real soldiers is one of its toughest challenges. The developer says that it's made big steps on this front in recent months, and is now showing off the fruits of its labor, along with overhauls to everything from recoil to sound design.


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Watch the Patch 0.3.5.0 Deep Dive on VOD

[p]Hello, GZW Community,[/p][p][/p][p]Our latest Dev Stream VOD is live, featuring an exclusive preview of Patch 0.3.5.0 with our CEO Mara, Tech Lead Johanny, and QA Lead Jacek.[/p][p][/p][p]This update brings a variety of exciting improvements, including major performance gains on low to mid-spec machines, thanks in part to the upgrade to Unreal Engine 5.5. You will also see reworked AI aiming and vulnerability, making PvE encounters feel more natural and immersive, along with many other enhancements.[/p][p][/p][h3]🎥 Watch the full deep dive now and tell us what you are most excited about:[/h3][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Stream Summary:[/h3][p][/p][p]Performance & Stability[/p][p]Gray Zone Warfare has been updated to Unreal Engine 5.5, unlocking a huge leap in performance across all systems. Improvements include: [/p]
  • [p]Significantly better CPU utilization, especially on mid- and low-end rigs[/p]
  • [p]2 GB RAM and 400 MB VRAM savings[/p]
  • [p]Noticeably reduced hitching and stuttering[/p]
  • [p]AMD FSR 4 support[/p]
  • [p]Smoother gameplay and improved visuals overall[/p]
[p][/p][p]AI Aiming Rework[/p][p]Enemy AI has been completely reworked to react, aim, and shoot like real combatants. AI accuracy now depends on multiple factors like distance from target and effective range, weapon type, AI skill, their suppression, health, and even weather conditions such as fog or rain. AI can now lose or switch target lock dynamically when reloading, getting hit, or losing line of sight. This change should lead to more immersive and less frustrating combat. [/p][p][/p][p]Health System Rework[/p][p]The health system has been reworked to provide a better experience when dropping enemies. The increased projectile penetration of bones and skulls, in combination with increased blood loss upon hit, will lead to a less spongy feeling when engaging AI enemies.[/p][p][/p][p]Audio Improvements[/p][p]We’ve refined weapon sounds for clearer directionality. Gunshots should sound appropriate to their distance. Sonic cracks now behave properly based on projectile type and distance, so gunfights finally sound the way they should according to real-life physics. [/p][p][/p][p]Weapon Recoil Overhaul[/p][p]Shooting in Gray Zone Warfare just got a major realism boost. Recoil is now driven by real physics and energy computations, as well as the position of the lower receiver, gas factor, barrel length, and attachments like muzzle brakes or suppressors. Your stance and movement now directly affect recoil. Crouching or going prone helps control your weapon, while running and firing on the move will challenge your aim.[/p][p][/p][p]Reworked First-Person-View Animations[/p][p]We have optimized the first-person animations in various ways. First, we minimized excessive character movement and animation blending. The result should be much smoother movement, especially in CQB. Secondly, we have redone the weapon sway to better reflect the character’s movement while aiming a weapon.[/p][p][/p][p]New Death Cam[/p][p]Downed characters will now subtly turn towards the origin of the kill shot.[/p][p][/p][p]New Server Region – Mainland China[/p][p]We have added a new server to provide a better experience to our Chinese players.[/p][p][/p][p]Hundreds of Other Fixes and Improvements[/p][p]From shader caching hitches and night lighting issues to NVG borders, audio cutouts, and task hand-in bugs. Overall, there are over almost 600 tasks resolved in patch 0.3.5.0.[/p][p][/p][p]We appreciate everyone who joined the live stream and all of you who keep supporting Gray Zone Warfare with your testing, feedback, and bug reporting. Your contributions are an essential part of the game’s ongoing development.[/p][p][/p][p]Every Move Matters,[/p][p]MADFINGER Games[/p]

Join the Patch 0.3.5.0 Preview Livestream [New Date]

[p]Hello, GZW Community,

Join our CEO & Creative Director, Marek Rabas, and Tech Director Johanny Clerc-Renaud as they break down what’s improved in the upcoming patch for Gray Zone Warfare.

The stream has been rescheduled to Tuesday, November 4, at 1:00 PM EDT / 6:00 PM CET. We’d like to host the stream once we’re able to share a specific release date for Patch 0.3.5.0.[/p][p]Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you there! [/p][p]Got any questions? Ask in the comments, we’ll answer them live on Twitch.
[/p][p]Every Move Matters, [/p][p]MADFINGER Games Team

[/p]

Join the Patch 0.3.5.0 Preview Livestream

[p]Hello, GZW Community,

Join our CEO & Creative Director, Marek Rabas, and Tech Director Johanny Clerc-Renaud as they break down what’s improved in the upcoming patch for Gray Zone Warfare.
[/p][p]We'll go live on Thursday (October 30) at 6:00 PM CET / 5:00 PM GMT / 1:00 PM EDT / 10:00 AM PDT on Twitch.
[/p][p]Got any questions? Ask in the comments, we’ll answer them live.
[/p][p]Every Move Matters, [/p][p]MADFINGER Games Team[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

Watch the September Recap in 5 Minutes

[p]Hello, GZW community,

In the newest Community Briefing, we’re diving into all the latest development updates.

Learn about the upcoming Patch 0.3.5.0, the Unreal Engine update, and the launch of a brand-new community initiative: Operation Vanguard.
[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink] [/p][h3]Video Contents:[/h3]
  • [p]Update 0.4: Dark Revelations[/p]
    • [p]Update 0.4 is in active development, bringing major content and system upgrades to Gray Zone Warfare.[/p]
  • [p]Patch 0.3.5.0[/p]
    • [p]Patch 0.3.5.0 is nearing the second round of public testing. The patch introduces the powerful Unreal Engine 5.5 upgrade, along with several long-requested gameplay improvements.[/p]
    • [p]You can expect a noticeable framerate boost, especially on lower-spec PCs and in demanding areas like Tiger Bay.[/p]
    • [p]The current downside is that the engine upgrade also introduced a 1% increase in crash rate, which we’re actively working to bring down before the final release.[/p]
    • [p]Alongside performance improvements, Patch 0.3.5.0 will also feature:[/p]
      • [p]A revamped AI aiming system to reduce frustrating one-taps[/p]
      • [p]A reworked weapon sway, so your character moves more like a trained PMC[/p]
      • [p]A complete recoil overhaul, making every shot feel more powerful[/p]
      • [p]Increased enemy vulnerability to headshots [/p]
    • [p]The third round of public testing for Patch 0.3.5.0 is open from October 10 to October 15. If everything goes smoothly, the patch will go live shortly after.[/p]
  • [p]Introducing Operation Vanguard[/p]
    • [p]Operation Vanguard is our new community-driven testing campaign, launching alongside Patch 0.3.5.0. It’s your opportunity to join public tests, report bugs, suggest improvements, and help refine the game directly with our developers.[/p]
    • [p]By joining the initiative, you’ll gain access to a number of benefits:[/p]
      • [p]A unique Vanguard morale patch for your character once Update 0.4 releases[/p]
      • [p]Early access to preview builds of Update 0.4[/p]
      • [p]A special Discord role with access to private testing channels[/p]
    • [p]A dedicated Operation Vanguard website is coming soon — we’ll share the link on our social media as soon as it’s live.[/p]
[p][/p][p]Got thoughts or ideas? Drop them in the comments or join the GZW Community on Discord and be part of shaping the future of Gray Zone Warfare.

Thank you for your ongoing support.[/p][p]
Every Move Matters,
MADFINGER Games Team [/p]