Black Mesa News

5 years of Black Mesa: Blue Shift & Upcoming Update!

[h2]Congrats to HECU Collective! 🎊🎉[/h2][p]It’s been 5 years since HECU Collective released the first chapter of their Black Mesa: Blue Shift mod. Watching their project (and team) grow over that time has been genuinely awesome, and the passion they’ve poured into bringing Barney Calhoun’s story to life continues to blow us away.[/p][p]They’re celebrating the anniversary with two new videos, and you should absolutely give them a watch:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]What we’re working on for Black Mesa 🛠️[/h2][p]On our side, we’ve also been heads-down on an upcoming Black Mesa update. Without turning this into a full patch breakdown just yet, here's what we’re actively working on:[/p]

[p]New Lighting Features[/p]
- [p]Fixed CSM lighting on static props[/p]
- [p]Fixed baked lighting orientation on static props[/p]
- [p]Improved bounce lighting[/p]
- [p]Implemented outdoor lighting from HDR cubemaps (image based lighting)[/p]

[p][/p][p](From Blue Shift)[/p]

[p]Parallax Cube Maps[/p]
- [p]All cube maps can now be corrected for parallax[/p]
- [p]Instead of them floating in place, the appear to be grounded like a real reflection[/p]

[p][/p][p](From Blue Shift)[/p]

[p]Optimization Updates[/p]
- [p]Added more robust culling of assets not in view of the player[/p]
- [p]This improves the performance of the engine, without having to re-compile maps or optimize are (though we are working on some of that anyway).[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Check out the amazing news update from the Blue Shift team below for even more details on this new tech! [/p][p][/p][h2]Also, Black Mesa is discounted for the Steam Spring sale! 🌼🌻[/h2][p]Perfect time to grab a copy, and dive into Black Mesa: Blue Shift if you haven't yet. [/p][p][/p][h3]85% off until March 26th!
[dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/h3][h3]We’ll share more details as we get closer, but we wanted to give you a quick “what’s cooking” while we celebrate such a big community milestone! Thanks to the HECU Collective and the Black Mesa team (especially Oleksandr). More soon. Thanks![/h3][h3]— Crowbar Collective[/h3]

Rogue Point is in Early Access

[p]Black Mesa fans — we wouldn’t be here without you. Your feedback and support helped shape both Black Mesa, and made Crowbar Collective what it is today. That same feedback and support we consider critical to taking Rogue Point to the next level. We invite you to help us shape it during Early Access.[/p][p][/p][h3]If you’ve been curious, this is genuinely the best time to get in: you’ll get super active dev attention to community feedback, frequent updates, and some of our best discounts![/h3][p]
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ALL THE BUNDLES: 7 Options!👀

[p][/p][p]Want the best deal? We have options![/p]

[p]If you already own one of the games, you can still save 10% on the game you don't own by purchasing the bundle.[/p][p][/p]

[h2]The CROWBAR COLLECTION Bundle[/h2][h3][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/h3][p][/p][h2]Team17 Bundles
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We’ve already shipped 2 Hotfixes🔥 (and we’re not slowing down)

[p][/p]

[p]Just over a week since our EA Launch, and we've based our fixes directly on community feedback[/p]
[p]Keep the reports coming — your notes on issues, bugs, and suggestions are actively shaping what we prioritize next![/p][p][/p]

[h3]Early Access for us isn’t “launch and vanish.” It’s Launch, Listen, and Implement.[/h3][p][/p][p]You can read more about the Hotfixes here:[/p][h3]HOTFIX 1 HOTFIX 2[/h3][p][/p][hr][/hr]

Early Access Roadmap 📍

[p]We want you to see exactly where we’re headed (plus a few surprises).[/p][p][/p][p]Here’s what you can expect as we move through Early Access:[/p]

[p]Fixes and stability improvements[/p]
[p]Quality of life updates[/p]
[p]More content as we expand the experience[/p]

[p]And looking ahead toward 1.0, we’re especially excited about:[/p]

[p]More weapons[/p]
[p]Mod support[/p]
[p]A New Map[/p]

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If you’ve got feedback... WE WANT IT! 📝

[p][/p][p]If you pick up Rogue Point, tell us what’s working, what’s not, and what you want to see next. Early Access is where this game gets sharper, more focused, and more fun — with the community helping us drive. [/p][p][/p][h3]Be sure to leave us feedback on our Discord, Featurebase, or in the Rogue Point Steam Discussions.
[/h3][h2]Thanks for being part of what we build. ❤️[/h2][p]— Crowbar Collective[/p]

SAVE BIG: Crowbar Collection Bundle

🔥 BLACK MESA IS ON SALE — 80% OFF UNTIL FEB 26TH
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[p][/p][h3]But there's an even better way to save...[/h3][p][/p][h3] [/h3][hr][/hr]

Crowbar Collection Bundle: Black Mesa x Rogue Point

[p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h3]Introducing the Crowbar Collection Bundle — our highly acclaimed Half-Life remake Black Mesa and our brand new co-op FPS shooter Rogue Point, which just launched into Early Access![/h3][h3][/h3][p][/p][h3]Two unforgettable experiences, one unbeatable price.
[/h3][p][/p][h3]Already own one? No problem! The bundle gives you an additional 10% off the game you don't have.
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The latest Humble Bundle gives you Black Mesa and other FPS games for under $3 each

If I sat down next to you and told you to get Battle Shapers, Black Mesa, and Doom Eternal in one sentence, you'd probably get whiplash. Sure, they may belong to the same genre, but the gameplay mechanics, subgenres, and worlds are completely different. However, together they help form the beautiful and varied tapestry that represents the best in FPS gaming right now. Stick with me, because all three of those experiences - and four more - are part of the new Humble Bundle, and it's one you really won't want to miss.

Read the rest of the story...

Half-Life or Black Mesa: Adam's Verdict, Game Bundle, and Livestream!

[h2]💥 Should you Play Half-Life or Black Mesa?[/h2][p]The age old question of what game to start with to get into the franchise, is finally ANSWERED!

Check out Adam’s latest video for a deep dive into the differences—graphics, gameplay, and the full experience. It’s a must-watch for both new players and longtime fans!
[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p][/p][h2]😎 Moros Protocol x Black Mesa Bundle still going![/h2][p]Treat yourself this holiday season, with the Morrow’s Protocol + Black Mesa bundle—it’s on sale until January 5th! Don’t miss out on this awesome deal.[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][h2]🔴 We play Moros Protocol LIVE[/h2][p]🎮 To celebrate the sale, join us today at 12:30 PM ET as we play some Moros Protocol for the first time! Come hang out, see the game in action, and chat with the community. We'll also be giving out some keys during the stream. 👀

Crowbar Collective Twitch[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]🎙 The Game Design Library Podcast feature[/h2][p]Some of the team were featured on a recent episode of The Game Design Library podcast, with Niall Crabtree.

Adam, Chon, and Ben share behind-the-scenes stories about Black Mesa, growing as a studio, and what it's been like developing our next game, Rogue Point.

You can watch it here:
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