Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop News

Today's update contains changes to computer interaction, a new advanced volume settings menu, new graphics for gas grenades, a new translation and many translation updates, some polish to the user interface, and of course, bug fixes.

• Tears for Tarnor: Abandoned Maintenance Tunnels: Added a constraint group to the crane platform to avoid strange physics interactions.
  

• Added an experimental system where aliens can be controlled by players. There is currently no gameplay or UI associated with this system. Aliens can be inhabited using the asw_inhabit_npc concommand and spectated using the asw_spectate_npc concommand. Both of these concommands are cheats. In this initial version, rangers and harvesters have the ability to attack in this mode.
  

• TG-05 Gas Grenades: The visuals for this weapon have been updated.
  • The gas cloud and grenade trail are now yellow rather than green.
    
  • The gas cloud now visually fills the entire area of effect.
    
  • The gas cloud is now culled based on a visibility proxy rather than by map geometry. (The same way that glows from light sources are culled.)
    
  • There is now a red circle on the floor where the gas grenade is dealing damage.
    
  • Fixed the HUD damage indicator not appearing for damage caused by gas grenades.
    

• Added Brazilian Portuguese translation.
  
• Updated Chinese translation.
  
• Updated German translation.
  
• Updated Italian translation.
  
• Updated Japanese translation.
  
• Updated Russian translation.
  
• Added missing letter textures for Chinese, German, and Brazilian Portuguese mission success screens.
  
• Compiled caption files are no longer used by the game.
  

• Fixed a server crash during instant restart (ED_Alloc) when precaching entities pushed the edict number over the limit.
  
• Reorganized the alien class hierarchy in the code to facilitate the addition of future features.
  
• Moved the USE prompt to the side when hacking or using a computer.
  
• Computer hacks no longer start automatically after 4 seconds.
  
• Walking away from a computer after interacting with it no longer logs out of the computer. (The computer still returns to the main menu.)
  
• Added convars (rd_mixer_*) that affect the volume of various types of audio.
  
• Added "Advanced Volume Settings" to the audio menu.
  
• Mission chooser titles can now wrap to the next line.
  
• Made a bit of shaky text in net_graph less shaky.
  
• Increased the default FPS limit by 1 to avoid rounding errors (on a 60Hz monitor, the limit will now start at 61, etc.)
  
• Fixed dedicated servers having fps_max set by default.
  
• showbudget can now be used in multiplayer.
  
• Added a label to the "change view" button on the in-game HoIAF leaderboard to show what the current view is. Fixed the "no entries" error message getting stuck when changing between views.
  
• The SourceTV bot no longer shows up as a player in lobbies, can no longer become the lobby leader, and no longer counts towards the 60% requirement for a kick or leader vote.
  
• Closed captions in VCD cutscenes are now forced to be at least as long as the associated audio (rd_scene_extend_caption_to_sound).
  
• Fixed debriefing charts showing the first occurance of a stat (such as friendly fire) as if it had happened immediately at the start of the mission.
  
• Added convar rd_kick_inactive_players, which is the maximum number of seconds a player can remain connected to a server without taking any actions.
  
• Fixed flyout menus in advanced settings staying open when switching to the next section.
  

• Added a developer warning at mission start if any spawners are inside terrain.
  
• Camera rotation is now enabled rather than disabled by default. Mappers who want to disable camera rotation for players who haven't set a preference need to update their asw_gamerules entity.
  

• VScript save files no longer end with a NUL byte. Fixed VScript save files without a terminating NUL byte loading part of the previously loaded file.
  
• Fixed a client crash when calling Destroy on a player. (You still shouldn't do that.)
  

• Fixed cases where TileGen would fail to save files.
  

Today's update is a maintenance build. It is mostly bug fixes, with a few new toys for mappers to play with.


In case you missed it, Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop is now Steam Deck Verified! As always, report anything that doesn't feel right on the Steam discussion forums or via the feedback form on the website.

• Jacob's Rest: Sewer Junction B5: Fixed some places where the skybox could be seen through the floor or walls near the start of the level.
  
• Jacob's Rest: Sewer Junction B5: Removed skybox fog that was causing bright reflections in water.
  
• Nam Humanum: Groundwork Labs: Fixed some console warnings at map start.
  

• Aliens with "flammable" set to false by mappers can no longer be ignited by any means.
  

• Updated Chinese translation.
  
• Updated German translation.
  
• Updated Italian translation.
  
• Updated Korean translation.
  
• Updated Russian translation.
  

• The "Freezing Bullets" power-up effect now freezes aliens for 3 seconds rather than 100.
  
• The game instructor will no longer suggest using a mining laser on boulders that have a damage filter defined.
  
• Fixed a console warning when a player with no medal equipped takes over the lobby position of a player with a medal equipped before that player's medal finishes loading.
  
• Fixed a regression where scanner blips would not display motion.
  
• Added convar asw_draw_blips_real_time, which can be disabled to make scanner blips immobile.
  
• Fixed the "order marine to hold position" command always acting as if the camera was pointing north.
  
• Fixed map drawing speed being affected by slow motion.
  
• Added some diagnostics for the NO STEAM error screen.
  
• The new convar rd_skip_all_dialogue disables all voiceover audio and captions from characters like Williams, Richard, and Duval.
  
• Added convar rd_loading_status_text_visible, which can be disabled to remove the loading screen progress description.
  
• Added convar rd_fail_advice, which can be disabled to remove the hints on the mission failure screen.
  
• Removed lobbies that are on dedicated servers from the lobby browser by default.
  
• Fixed handling of UTF-8 files with byte order marks for files that get loaded from every addon.
  
• Fixed a client-server desync when an instant restart occurred during slow motion.
  
• Instant restart can now occur on challenges that use scripts.
  

• npc_bullseye can now be part of a faction and scale damage based on whether it came from that faction. Clarified what the Enemy Damage Only spawnflag means.
  
• Added asw_voiceover_dialogue, a much simpler way to add voiceover audio to a mission than using Faceposer. Unlike logic_choreographed_scene, it cannot play multiple audio files, control NPC actors, or be interrupted.
  
• Endless missions without the "points" tag now sort leaderboard entries in descending order of time.
  
• Dropped weapons can now be detected by trigger brushes.
  
• Added two orange skyboxes, one from Left 4 Dead and one from Half-Life 2: Episode One, for use in maps where a blue skybox doesn't make sense.
  
• trigger_serverragdoll now works on marines.
  

• Fixed a bug where a challenge would inherit game event handlers from the map if it did not define its own function for any given event.
  
• Added a global IsAnniversaryWeek function for community maps that want to do something to celebrate Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop's anniversary.
  
• Added OnGameEvent_fast_reload_fail.
  

• Reverted SynTek Residential lighting.
  
• Reduced melee knockback.
  
• Fixed missing alt fire description for Model 35 Pump-action Shotgun.
  
• Updated German translation.
  

Today's update is a big one--by file size, at least--and includes bugfixes, some new convars, translation updates, and map changes that pave the way for future translation improvements.

Additionally, the final community medal, Reporter, has been granted to some people. If we missed you, let us know.

• Fixed a crash when a Buzzer is killed in Holdout mode.
  

• M478 Proximity Incendiary Mines: Fixed kills using this weapon not counting towards a weapon-specific achievement.
  

• Jacob's Rest: Rydberg Reactor: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Jacob's Rest: Sewer Junction B5: Fixed graphical weirdness in the "sky" in first person.
  
• Area 9800: Landing Zone: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Operation Cleansweep: U.S.C. Medusa: Cryopods at the end of the mission will now re-open if they detect that they were closed erroneously.
  
• Research 7: Transport Facility: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Tears for Tarnor: Insertion Point: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Tears for Tarnor: Insertion Point: Fixed some invisible collision above the entrances to the summoner encounter room.
  
• Tears for Tarnor: Abandoned Maintenance Tunnels: Fixed some drones ignoring marines completely.
  
• Tears for Tarnor: Oasis Colony Spaceport: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Tears for Tarnor: Oasis Colony Spaceport: Fixed a crate with no collision.
  
• Tilarus-5: Road to Dawn: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Tilarus-5: Arctic Infiltration: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Tilarus-5: Area 9800: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Tilarus-5: Yanaurus Mine: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Tilarus-5: Forgotten Factory: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Tilarus-5: Communication Center: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Lana's Escape: Lana's Sewer: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Lana's Escape: Lana's Sewer: Added north- and bottom-faces to some brushes.
  
• Lana's Escape: Lana's Sewer: Removed a small area of water near the start that was causing rendering issues.
  
• Paranoia: Close Contact: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Nam Humanum: Logistics Area: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Nam Humanum: Platform XVII: Fixed invisible collision near some boxes at the first platform stop.
  
• Nam Humanum: Groundwork Labs: Medkits are now single-use (sorry, 60 use medkit fans)
  
• Nam Humanum: Groundwork Labs: Moved a fire out of the floor in the central room.
  
• Nam Humanum: Groundwork Labs: Fixed bot navigation not using tactical positions.
  
• Nam Humanum: Groundwork Labs: Moved some spawners out of displacements.
  
• Nam Humanum: Groundwork Labs: Fixed an invisible north wall near the medkits.
  
• BioGen Corporation: Operation x5: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Bonus Mission 2: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  
• Bonus Mission 5: Vault doors now use a more accurate hitbox.
  

• Updated French translation.
  
• Updated Italian translation.
  
• Updated Korean translation.
  
• Updated Russian translation.
  
• Credits files will load file_language.txt instead of file.txt if the former exists.
  
• Fixed typos in English closed captions.
  

• The final melee attack of the combo now has a larger radius and knocks aliens back.
  
• Visible holstered weapons have been split into rd_client_marine_backpacks (for use in autoexec.cfg) and rd_server_marine_backpacks (for use in challenges).
  
• Added asw_controls_spectator_override convar, available when spectating or playing a demo.
  
• Added convars glow_outline_color_alien, glow_outline_color_ammo, glow_outline_color_weapon, glow_outline_color_active, and glow_outline_color_inactive for use in autoexec.cfg.
  
• Fixed controller navigation for in-briefing difficulty settings.
  
• Opening chat in Steam Big Picture mode now shows a virtual keyboard.
  
• Added challenge convars asw_door_normal_health_base, asw_door_normal_health_step, asw_door_reinforced_health_base, asw_door_reinforced_health_step, asw_door_damage_base, asw_door_damage_step, asw_sentry_health_base, and asw_sentry_health_step.
  

• Fixed unintended bright lighting in Rydberg Reactor, SynTek Residential, and Sewer Junction B5
  

We're working on some map changes, but while you wait, here are some fixes for aliens and updates for weapons and the UI.


The Translator medal was awarded a few days ago. Beta Tester is available from completing any mission on the beta branch, and can now be equipped. People liked the error placeholder icon, so we're keeping it for Beta Tester.

We have awarded the Programmer, Mapper, Challenger, Guide, and Artist medals. (That's every community medal except for Reporter.) If we missed you and you have opened the game within the past 30 days, let us know here.

If you haven't opened the game in the past 30 days, we can't put the medal in your inventory, but we will keep retrying nightly if you have been marked as eligible for one until we can grant it.

The map changes that are in the beta branch have been held back from this release.

• Fixed a bug where shieldbugs could be damaged from the front if a shot hit part of their middle leg during certain frames in their defend stance.
  
• Aliens can now display textures for multiple status effects at the same time (fire, shock, and ice).
  
• Piercing weapons can now penetrate recently killed frozen aliens.
  
• Fixed a cause of buzzer poison getting stuck.
  

• M73 Twin Pistols: Limited fire rate to 10 per real time second (not affected by adrenaline) in co-op, the same as deathmatch.
  
• l3a Tactical Heavy Armor: Updated the briefing description of this item.
  
• IAF Power Fist Attachment: Reduced passive melee damage bonus from 2x to 1.5x.
  
• IAF Power Fist Attachment: The final hit of a melee combo now deals 40x damage, for a total of 60x base melee damage in a single hit.
  

• Updated German translation.
  
• Updated Italian translation.
  
• Updated Korean translation.
  
• Updated Russian translation.
  

• The Tech scanner has been upgraded to differentiate between different sizes and shapes of moving objects.
  
• Fixed the arrow in the advanced settings header being too big and blocking clicks.
  
• Medals now use a smaller base texture size (32x32 rather than 512x512) for the small version in lobbies, which should make them look slightly less jagged.
  
• Out-of-mission buttons that are activated by a face button now display that face button if a controller is plugged in.
  
• Fixed ingame HoIAF leaderboard being slightly taller than its scrollable area.
  
• Tweaked the HUD layout for the bottom of the screen to support 8-marine squads better.
  
• Opening certain website links will use the system browser if the Steam Overlay is disabled.
  
• HoIAF servers now automatically install the full list of ranked maps and challenges. See the rd_workshop_official_addons convar.
  
• Updated the description of the "Perfect" achievement to state that killing 25 aliens is also a requirement.
  
• Inventory item (medal) updates such as descriptions and icons can now apply without restarting the game if the game is left open for a long time.
  
• Fixed a rare crash in debriefing.
  
• Fixed spectating a computer or hack using the spectator's mouse position for the cursor type.
  

• PDA owner names can now be translation keys.
  

• Added player.ResurrectMarine().
  
• Added entindex and marine fields to the player_deploy_ammo game event.
  
• Added tesla_trap_placed, fire_mine_placed, laser_mine_placed, laser_mine_placed, gas_grenade_placed, flare_placed, and rocket_fired game events, all with entindex and marine fields.
  
• Swapped the attacker and inflictor for damage dealt by fires such as those from mines. The marine is now correctly the attacker and the fire the inflictor.