Onward News

Hello Everyone,

As we finish wrapping up the final changes and go through testing, we are pleased to announce that in just a few weeks we will be releasing an update to the game. The update will include some new features we have discussed in previous sitreps as well as a couple that have not yet been announced. We really pushed to make sure we address some long-standing community concerns and include features players have been looking forward to. Here are some the features that are expected to be released with patch 1.8.11:

Equipment points rebalance - We announced this last month and the majority of the community responded positively and are looking forward to the new dynamic this will bring. After several design reviews and testing with our Unit 51, we think this will bring some much needed rebalance to the game.

Gunstock Calibration - For the hardcore amongst you, gunstocks can provide better control and accuracy. Soon you’ll build on that accuracy with the ability to calibrate gunstocks to the weapons in the game.

Direct game invites to friends on the same platform - We know finding your friends amongst the many pages of lobbies in the server browser can be difficult at times. We have implemented a direct invite feature to give you the option to send invites to your friends that are on the same platform as you. As a cross-platform game, we understand it is important to connect to people on other platforms as well. Rest assured, this is just the first step to a bigger plan to help make connecting to any of your friends easier.

Movement speed exploit (jiggling) mitigation - Throughout lobbies, especially in the competitive scene, people have been finding ways to exploit how the network interprets players movement. In order to address this quickly, we have added a mitigation to help cut down use of this exploit. To avoid making major changes to our movement system and how player movement works over the network we will be continuing to work on developing a further fix for this issue. What is included in this patch is by no means the final fix.

Changed voice chat system - We are changing our voice chat system. This should bring some more stability and fix some minor bugs that were happening with the previous voice chat system.

More details will be given in the patch notes when the patch is released.

As we focus on wrapping up this patch, we continue to work on the other features we have previously talked about as well. Continue reading From the Dev’s Desks for details on other updates that are still being worked on. Also make sure to check out the Community Center for the news related to community content and events.

[h2]From the Devs’ Desks:[/h2]
We continue to work on a number of features that the community has been asking about, and want to keep you in the loop on our progress. This work takes time, but we want to make sure you know where we are at with it.

Animations - We continue to make improvements in the design and functionality of these new animations. However, there has been some delay with getting the animations and IK systems to work exactly how we want them to. We want to make sure this is done correctly and fully functions well with the equipment and with the movement design for the game. Each day we get our models a little bit closer to moving in a more natural way.

Shadowmask lighting - The Shadowmask feature remains a priority for us, but other projects must be completed before we can effectively move this forward. Once some of the other major projects are wrapped up, we will be able to get this update back on track and bring focus to improving the lighting for the PC version of the game.

Intercept map - We heard your excitement over the upcoming Intercept Map loud and clear! Your passion for this map resonated so much with us that we just had to share more. As an end to the Dev’s Desk, we wanted to provide you with the first ever teaser image of the map.
*Map is still currently in development and is subject to change

[h2]Community Center:[/h2]
Congratulations to the IVRL Season 1 Winning team Raptors! They won the North American bracket against Dark Matter, and went on to fight the European bracket winner, Vikings. After some intense battles they pulled through and were the IVRLs first official season winners. An additional congratulations to the IVRL for hosting their first season in Onward Esports.

Both IVRL and VRML league seasons are currently wrapped up, and new seasons are looking to start up soon. If you are interested in playing Onward on a competitive level in the Esports leagues, check out our discord and head to the League Lounge channel.


Our community custom map makers are staying hard at work and providing more new maps for you to play on. The following new custom maps are available:

Missile Silo submitted by Gargarbot
“MARSOC must infiltrate an active Volk missile silo and deactivate the systems.”


Dyno submitted by Sheldorino
“Welcome to the Dyno Climbing Gym! CQB & Verticality-focused.”


Point Exodus submitted by Gridder
“After MARSOC cleared out the surface of the snowy peaks of the Ural mountains they descended down using elevators to underground facilities uncovering something else. Once they are down there they are on their own…”


We hope everyone will enjoy all the features that the new patch has to offer and continue to look forward to the updates that come in the coming months.

Stay Frosty!

Hey everyone!

We understand you have been waiting for a Sitrep, and we’re excited to share some updates with you. We recently released hotfix 1.8.10.3, which addressed an issue with our custom maps. We are now back to working on some major game updates that will include both new and redesigned features, in addition to back-end work for game stability.

The devs’ desks will go over some new features and fixes that are in the works. But first we want to take a moment to be more transparent with you and discuss our upcoming redesigned development processes.

Communication to you is a top priority for us and a commitment we will continue to honor. We understand that as our development projects have grown our feature details and timelines have become a bit more vague than what you have seen in the past. As the needs to best support the game and you, the players, continue to fluctuate, we want to make sure we are communicating realistic expectations that we can deliver on.

The Onward player base has grown at an exponential rate and the game now runs on multiple platforms across several different devices. As a live crossplay multiplayer title, this requires a lot of work and testing to make sure we continue to raise the quality bar we strive to clear. We are constantly working to keep up with the demands while also improving the quality of the game and creating new content. This can sometimes mean more work and time has to be spent on building out and enhancing back-end systems to prepare for new features or fixing issues on a larger scale rather than individual bugs.

To help prioritize all the ongoing necessary requirements and upcoming features, we are reviewing the design of features currently in the game as well as those we’re developing for future releases. We are putting careful thought into each upcoming release as we work on balancing player needs, long term infrastructure support, and new features for Onward. This will help us build a solid foundation to provide you the best Onward experience possible.

Let’s get to the exciting new features we are working on located in the Devs’ Desk section of this Sitrep! In the Community Center, you can also find details regarding some upcoming community events and new custom maps.


We are developing three exciting new features to help strengthen gameplay, correct a current exploit, and provide new content to you! We have prioritized these, alongside some of our other current projects, in order to better balance and enhance the game.

[h2]Equipment Points Rebalance [/h2]
When we started reviewing the overall game design, one system that stuck out was Equipment Points and its impact on gameplay. After several discussions and design iterations we decided to update this system. We are not just changing the values of some weapons, but the whole structure. Let’s dive into the why and how:

[h3]Why are we changing the points structure? [/h3]
The loadout point structure was introduced many years ago and has had very few changes after its first iteration, despite the game having changed significantly around it. With the rapid expansion of the player base, updates to areas throughout the game, and the addition of weapons and equipment, we think a redesign of the structure will bring a new balance to Onward’s gameplay. In addition, we aim to bring new options for players to explore, while addressing existing issues in the balance that have led to the “meta” loadouts that have developed over the years.

Onward’s focus on tactics and team communication remain unchanged. One of the major considerations for the points rebalance is to force players to make more strategic decisions when building their loadouts. The intention is to help facilitate players' need to communicate with their team and develop a more tactical approach to combat opposing forces.

[h3]How points were determined when designing the updated system[/h3]
When we reviewed the loadout points system we took a lot of things into consideration. For weapons we looked at damage output, tactical advantages and disadvantages, and other details including feeding, caliber, fire rate, mag capacity, damage points, charging mode, mag location, mag release, and fire modes. In addition, we looked at the accessories that can be added to the weapons and how those pieces change the player's role on the battlefield.

The redesigned point systems should help players focus their builds - such as a long ranged sniper or breacher role rather than an all-in-one soldier. We are looking forward to seeing the dynamic roles and tactics people create with this redesign!

[h2]Geometry Exploit Fix[/h2]
There has been an ongoing issue with some players being able to manipulate their playspace and navigate into locations they are not supposed to be able to be in. We understand it is a very frustrating issue many of you have been experiencing and reporting to us. It is a complex issue that has taken us time to fix, but a fix has been developed and will be introduced soon.

[h2]New Map[/h2]
A new map has been in the works with our level design team. We don’t have any images of the new map yet, but we can provide a few details:
Name: Intercept
Location: Western region of Iraq

Stay tuned for more info on this map soon!

The Onward Charity Community held its finals this past weekend and we want to give a big shout out to the Tournament winners and to everyone who participated and donated!

Congratulations to the members of Bossfight on the win in the Hero Bracket and to Astro for the win in the Rise Up Bracket.

The Onward Charity Community was able to collect over $6,000 in donations to help the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Thank you to everyone who continues to be a part of this organization and play Onward to help support great causes. If you would like to be a part of future tournaments please check out their Discord: https://discord.gg/6uYjfQD4Qm

IVRL Season 1 Playoffs start April 23.
To watch the intense show downs leading up to the IVRL Finals, check out their Twitch channel: Twitch.tv/IVRLEAGUE


[h2]New Custom Maps[/h2]
New custom maps have been added. Head over to the workshop area to download and give them a try.

Omega Fun Center - (PC) & Omega Fun Center - Lights Out (PC) submitted by Sheldorino
“After a totally rad birthday, it was time for the afterparty to get started.”


Skyfall (PC, Quest) submitted by Glitch0320
“MI6 Marsoc Agents have been sent to eliminate a group of Volk arms dealers in the heart of enemy territory.”


The Complex (PC, Quest) submitted by Linkster
“Volk are taking over an industrial complex in search of supplies. Eliminate them!”


Valley (Day & Night) (PC, Quest) submitted by Gargarbot
“In an attempt to expand control of the surrounding region, MARSOC needs to capture a Volk base protecting a critical transportation route. Fog renders night vision less useful.”


Backrooms (PC, Quest) submitted by Shelderino
“How did we end up here?”


Dead Forest (PC, Quest) submitted by Whitefang
“Volk have invaded a campground in middle America. MARSOC must clear them out. But be warned - local legend warns of something worse than Volk that occupies these woods.”


Garage (PC, Quest) submitted by Gargarbot
“MARSOC must infiltrate an abandoned parking structure that is being used by the VOLK as a communication hub. Night vision is discouraged for competitive play.”


Retro Factory (Quest) submitted by Ho11ow
“A fun reconstruction of a classic FPS multiplayer level. Great for Gun Game and One in the Chamber.”


Desert Compound (PC, Quest) submitted by BassSlappa
“Volk has taken over this site and it's time to take it back. Fight it out within the compound for intense CQB action, or head to the mountains with your trusty 12x to get some sniper practice.”

A fix has been released to address a security concern related to the custom maps. We have disallowed specific components on custom maps. All existing custom maps will continue to work, but any newly submitted or updated maps that do not follow the new security protocols will show up to players as corrupted.



Custom maps that go corrupt will become inaccessible to players until the custom map creator makes the required updates. In the event this happens, please remove the map from your library. You can follow the custom maps channels in our official Discord for updates of when some removed maps might return.

We will be reaching out to the Custom Map Creators directly to make sure these adjustments get made to minimize the amount of maps affected.

[h2]Change Log:[/h2]
Updates made to workshop area to address a security concern related to custom maps

Happy 2022 Everyone!

2021 was quite a year for us here at Downpour! From large backend updates to settling into a new home for our studio, and new guns and mechanics, the team has done a lot this year to enhance Onward. We continued to work to make sure we can build on and make improvements to the game. We love what we do, we love our community, and we want to continue to build the best game we can for you all to enjoy.

The 2021 Summary for Onward:
4 New / redesigned Maps added
2 New weapon Interactions added
A major code refactor
Hundreds of bugs fixed & adjustments made
Performance Enhancements throughout the game
New anti-cheat system
2 new weapons
14 new custom community maps added

In addition, we have been updating some of our graphic assets in different parts of the game to improve the visuals for PC and Oculus players throughout the year. These are additional graphics updates that are different from the upcoming PC graphics update being worked on by the team currently.

Example of Old vs. New graphics that has been updated in the game:


Onward continues to be a labor of love for everyone here at Downpour. We ended the year releasing update 1.8.10, which received tons of positive feedback due to the additions of the two new guns and the rerelease of Turbine. This added some new ways to play and tactics to explore throughout the game. We understand there were some hiccoughs with the newly added weapons after the release and we made it our priority to get those corrected at the start of the year.

We will continue this year by working on finalizing some bigger projects that have been in the pipeline for a while now. The Devs desk will go over some of the major projects that we are currently working on.

[h2]From the Devs Desk:[/h2]
[h3]Gunstock Calibration[/h3]
The physical gunstock is a gaming accessory that holds your VR controllers in place to simulate the pistol grip and foregrip of a weapon. These have been used to help with accuracy and immersion when playing. The Gunstock calibration feature will help calibrate physical gunstocks to the guns in Onward for a more realistic feel when aiming and firing.


[h2]New Animations[/h2]
Major improvements to player character models and AI models; character models will now have more realistic walking and arm movements. Originally the plan was to have the AI animations come out first and then release the player animations shortly after. We have since decided to release the animations together. We would also like to take this moment to introduce the person who was brought on to lead this project, TomN.

“Hello, I am the lead animator for Downpour Interactive. I have been a professional animator (among other titles) for 23 years. Originally, I trained to become a traditional animator. During my last year in college, I realized the media industry was evolving and changed gears. As such, I devoted myself to the exploding field of computer animation. Soon after graduating, I joined a small video game studio, Point of View, Inc.

From there I started crafting game cinematics for a variety of other studios and their projects. This led to animating commercials, music videos, television series, and over 20 feature films. Recently, I worked with Disney Imagineering - where I created visual effects and character animations for upcoming attractions at Disney theme parks. I came full circle 18 months ago and returned to video games animation. Among these, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond with Respawn Entertainment and character rigging for The Odd Gentlemen, a small boutique studio in Los Angeles.

Dante reached out in 2020 and asked me to lead the animation team. This team of talented professionals Dante assembled is a daily pleasure to work with. We’ve been hard at work revamping and developing new animations for Onward. Expect remarkable creations from Downpour!”

[h3]Improvements to IK System[/h3]
The IK system is the system that renders your hands holding the controllers and how and where those hands are in the game. We are working on making improvements to this system to be more accurate with where someone is located.

[h3]Connecting to your friends[/h3]
Getting together and jumping into Onward with your friends is a popular method of playing the game. The game is offered across three different platforms and with a large player base, we understand that it makes it a bit difficult at times to easily find your friends' lobby to jump into. We are looking into developing some new methods to help make connecting with your friends easier.

[h3]New Tent[/h3]
While most of the intensity experienced is on the battlefield, the tent is the main hub where the majority of setup and communication happens. It’s important that when you first join a lobby you feel that immersion when in the area where you begin your setup and communications for the objectives to come. We want to improve the experience you have when you are in the tent. Below are first ever looks at some concepts of design work for an improved tent environment.



[h2]Community Center:
[/h2]
Did you notice after the holidays the increase in lobby pages? There are more lobbies and games being played than ever before! We want to take this time to welcome all the new members to the Onward community. We hope you are enjoying the different game modes and the new teammates you have met. Please make sure to review our community guidelines and have a great time playing out on the battlefield.
https://www.onwardthegame.com/community-guidelines.html

[h3]New Community Custom Maps added[/h3]

Cap Practice submitted by FLapinski
Create a private competitive lobby and join volk. Once you load into the round you will be able to disable the code even before the timer is over. This is one of the best ways to increase your capping speed.

Homestead submitted by Glitch0320
Intel suggests that Volk forces are setting up operations on a small farm in the Midwest. A Marsoc unit is sent to investigate and eliminate the threat.

Refuel submitted by Koiz
A beautiful Caribbean island once home to a South American cartel is now under Volk control. The island has become a major contributor to the Volk war effort, and you and your squad have orders to dismantle the smuggling operation and eliminate any hostiles found.

Lookout submitted by Gridder
MARSOC deploy around the mountain region in northern Europe for suspected VOLK activity. Recon has found a small forward operating base that VOLK are using to operate around the area and MARSOC begin the assault on it.

There is a lot in store for 2022 and we have only just started! Stay updated here and on our social media pages.

Stay Frosty!

Hello everyone!

We’ve just released a hotfix to address an issue where an incorrect pivot point caused an issue where the AK104 wasn’t handling as expected.

The patch is available now, and will download to your device automatically.

Stay frosty!