Insurgency: Sandstorm - News

Update 1.16 Operation: Crisis - Release Notes

Welcome soldiers!

Update 1.16 Operation: Crisis is pulling into the station soon! Featuring a new map, a new limited-time mode, new weapons, a bunch of fixes and more! We can’t wait for you to get your hands on it when it arrives in the near future!

These release notes will be updated as new content is revealed on our social channels. Want to follow along in real- time? Give us a follow on
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[h2]NEW MAP: TRAINYARD[/h2]

All aboard for action! Introducing Trainyard, the newest original map for Insurgency: Sandstorm! Whether you’re engaging in CQB, mid-range skirmishes, or picking off enemies with the newly added sniper rifles, Trainyard offers a brutal and immersive experience that will test your tactical prowess and sharpshooting skills. Ready to dominate on the field of battle? Your next mission starts here.

[h3]Trainyard is playable on:[/h3]

Versus

Push Security
Push Insurgents
Firefight West
Firefight East
Domination West
Domination East
Frontline
Ambush East
Ambush West
Defusal West

Co-op

Checkpoint Security
Checkpoint Insurgents
Outpost
Survival

[h2]NEW LIMITED-TIME GAME MODE[/h2]

Have you ever thought to yourself:

“I bet I could beat every other player in this lobby with just about any gun.”?

Well, good news! Our new limited-time mode Arms Race will pit you against every other player as you battle to prove your skills! Start with a basic weapon and eliminate enemies to progress through an arsenal of increasingly powerful and diverse weaponry.

Adapt quickly, master each weapon, and race to be the first to secure a victory with the final kill. Whether you're a sharpshooter or a close-quarters professional, Arms Race promises relentless excitement and fierce competition. Jump in soon and prove your mastery across the entire armory before time runs out!

[h2]NEW WEAPONS: TAC 338 & L96A1[/h2]

Utilizing five rounds of powerful .338 caliber ammo fired with devastating force, the TAC 338 & L96A1 will help you zero in on the competition. Whether you need the extreme precision of the TAC 338 or the versatile reliability of the L96A1 these bolt-action sniper rifles will make an excellent addition to any Marksman loadout.

[h3]TAC 338[/h3]

Set your sights and lock in your target with the new TAC 338 rifle for Security.

[h3]L96A1[/h3]

Engineered for unparalleled accuracy, the L96A1 for Insurgents packs a vicious punch.

[h2]NEW DLC: The Crisis Set Bundle[/h2]

[h3]Chemical Combat (SEC)[/h3]

When you find yourself engulfed, the Chemical Combat Set for Security is a breath of fresh air!

Contains 5 different cosmetic gear pieces:

Chemical Combat Helmet (Head)
Chemical Combat Top (Torso)
Chemical Combat Bottom (Legs)
Chemical Combat Boots (Feet)
Chemical Combat Gloves (Hands)

[h3]Desert Veteran Weapon Skin Set (SEC)[/h3]

Wear your experience and flex your know-how with the new Desert Veteran Weapon Skin Set for Security!

The Desert Veteran weapon skins can be equipped in the Loadout menu for the Security faction for the following weapons where available:

Rifleman: VHS
Rifleman: G3A3
Breacher: KSG
Advisor: Vector
Gunner: M240B
Marksman: TAC-338

[h3]Protective Gear (INS)[/h3]

Achieving victory in a hazardous environment requires proper protection. The Protective Gear Set for Insurgents has you covered!

Contains 5 different cosmetic gear pieces:

Protective Gear Gas mask (Head)
Protective Gear Top (Torso)
Protective Gear Bottom (Legs)
Protective Gear Boots (Feet)
Protective Gear Gloves (Hands)

[h3]Dusty Weapon Skin Set (INS)[/h3]

Wield the power of the desert with the new Dusty Weapon Skin Set for Insurgents!

The Dusty weapon skins can be equipped in the Loadout menu for the Insurgent faction for the following weapons where available:

Rifleman: QBZ-95
Rifleman: QBZ-03
Breacher: KS-23
Advisor: Alpha AK
Gunner: MG3
Marksman: L96A1

[h2]RESOLVED ISSUES[/h2]

[h3]Art & Graphics[/h3]

ALL: Fixed an issue where the 1.5 PK-AS scope displays incorrectly while reloading on the M24
ALL: Fixed an issue where the weapon of a player blinded by a flashbang would shake in 3rd person
ALL: Fixed an issue where the throwing animation wouldn’t play correctly when throwing a grenade from the prone position
ALL: Fixed an issue where the Welrod’s animation would break when sprinting with certain grips equipped
ALL: Fixed an issue where the cosmetic patches would clip through equipment
ALL: Fixed an issue where the Rogue SOF and Gray Man Top Torso would warp the player mesh when combined with any Legs cosmetics
ALL: Fixed an issue where part of the Biker helmet would obscure the screen when the player died
ALL: Fixed an issue where headgear textures could appear distorted after playing with “Brute top” torso cosmetics
ALL: Fixed an issue where a player using a mounted gun could have distorted animation from 3p for users that reconnected to the server
PC: Fixed an issue where under-barrel buckshot launcher rounds do not display correctly when reloading it while attached to an AKM or AK-74
PC: Fixed an issue where the visibility of 2x-1x holographic sights differed on each PC platform
PC: Fixed an issue where when viewed from 3rd person, the grenade round of an explosive launcher attached to a QBZ-97 would remain after firing and display the wrong firing animation
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the third-person animation of opening and closing the bipod on some weapons was not displayed
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the player's whole character was not visible in the customize menu
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where when viewed from 3rd person, the grenade round of an explosive launcher attached to an M1 Garand would remain after firing
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the player’s weapon and hands would disappear if they reloaded and equipped a gas mask at the same time while in a vehicle
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where smoke particles would render incorrectly at medium to long-range distances
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue on Gen 8 consoles where blood would disappear quickly
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the camera shake was missing from the MDR reload
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the Female “Covered” headgear was equipable at the same time as the “Mountain Tactical Top” torso
PS: Fixed an issue where bullet holes didn’t disappear at the proper rate
XBOX: Fixed an issue where the cursor would flicker at the main menu after launching the game
XBOX: Fixed an issue where static would show before the Focus Entertainment title card

[h3]Gameplay[/h3]

ALL: Reverted the time it takes to explode caches with Molotov and AN-M14 Incendiary back to 1.13 levels
ALL: Fixed an issue where ragdolls could freeze, distort or otherwise behave unrealistically
ALL: Fixed an issue where mine explosions were delayed
ALL: Fixed an issue where destroyed vehicle wreckage could disappear immediately
ALL: Fixed an issue where when aiming from a prone position while close to an obstacle some scopes with a magnifier 1.5 or higher have transparent distortion
ALL: Fixed an issue where some scopes could disappear when using the Vector and focusing at certain angles
ALL: Fixed an issue where the player could be unable to change magnification while using VAL with Woodburn skin after speed reloading a fully empty magazine
ALL: Fixed an issue where going prone on an elevated prop surface could cause the player model to shake rapidly
ALL: Fixed an issue where the player could become invincible to gunfire
ALL: Fixed an exploit where players could see and shoot through walls
ALL: Fixed an exploit that reduced incendiary and Molotov effects
ALL: Fixed an issue where under-barrel grenade launchers were bound to the incorrect button by default
ALL: Fixed an issue where after crouching the keybind could invert
PC: Fixed an issue where the “Skip Time” buttons could change the camera speed in replays
PC: Fixed an issue where players and AI could become invincible in a local game when a helicopter is shot down
PC: Fixed an issue where resupply crates were missing collision physics
PC: Fixed an issue where the player would be unable to spectate friendly AI in co-op modes
PC: Fixed an issue where the changes made to controller layouts wouldn’t be applied correctly
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where two training videos were missing from basic training
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the player could not crouch inside of vehicles
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the player could be unable to spectate after changing faction
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where a Free For All match could end if a second player doesn’t deploy
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the AI would ignore Molotov and AN-M14 Incendiary damage zone in local play
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where controller input would be disabled after pressing any mouse button in the match's loading screen
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where if a player entered the scoreboard via controller and exited via keyboard they would no longer be able to move.
PS: Fixed an issue where adaptive trigger sensitivity would change after firing the first round with a bolt-action weapon
XBOX: Fixed an issue where the frame rate drops when players scope into Chemical Mortar or Smoke Mortar through the 6x-7x scopes
XBOX: Fixed an issue where players using a mouse were unable to use both mouse buttons at the same time

[h3]Level Design Improvements & Fixes[/h3]

ALL: Fixed an issue where friendly AI wouldn’t leave spawn on Hillside in local play
ALL: Fixed an exploit on Precinct that allowed players access to an inaccessible building
ALL: Decreased the size of the chemical gas damage zone in all Defusal maps
PC: Fixed an issue on Last Light (Outpost) where bots could get stuck on the doors near objective “D”, and wouldn’t capture objective “C”

[h3]UI/UX[/h3]

ALL: Fixed an issue where the "Select Firing Mode" indicator won’t display during pre-round
ALL: Fixed an issue where patches could not display correctly in the “Loadout” menu
ALL: Fixed an issue where if the replay binds are empty the default key icons are displayed in the Replay overlay
ALL: Fixed an issue that could result in a player’s rank being displayed incorrectly
ALL: Fixed an issue where the “BUY DLC” button was blinking
ALL: Fixed an issue where the naming convention of the Free For All mode was inconsistent across menus
ALL: Fixed an issue where if the scoreboard is accessed while a contextual hint is on the screen the “MUTE ALL” text will be missing from the scoreboard
ALL: Fixed an issue where the icon for the under-barrel explosive launcher on the G36K displayed the icon for the M320
ALL: Fixed an issue where the "Enter" button would not select the Matchmaking mode
ALL: Fixed an issue where rebinding an already bound key could unbind the same key in other sections
ALL: Fixed an issue where the player in a party could still have a "Join Match" widget after leaving a match to the main menu when all other party members have left the match
ALL: Fixed an issue where if a player joining a match hit cancel as it said “Match begins in..” and then tried to join the same match they would be met with the "Unknown match player" error
ALL: Free For All mode displayed as 'Multiplayer mode' in replays
ALL: Fixed an issue in Free For All where during the pre-round it would display a “1st place obtained” message when a player kills another player
ALL: Fixed an issue where the “Call Vote” option was available in offline play
PC: Fixed an issue where the "Message of the Day" is broken in offline modes
PC: Fixed an issue where when using a controller the “Loadout” screen could display the keyboard UI when first opened
PC: Fixed an issue where the “Reset Filters” text in the Community Servers screen is cut off
STEAM: Fixed an issue where the "Toggle Admin Menu" option is not able to be bound
STEAM: Fixed an issue where players would be unable to close the “Call Vote” window with controller or keyboard
STEAM: Fixed an issue where the first player on the scoreboard flickers
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the text displaying the distance to a point was misaligned with the point icon
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where resetting to “Default” settings could not reset the “motion blur” and “dismemberment” settings if they had been applied twice
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where if a player equipped an explosive launcher it would display an “Add Upgrade” button in the menu
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where when playing local play without an internet connection the Network Disconnect widget would be displayed
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the objective text isn’t centred under its icon in basic training
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where Scenario images in local play are not displayed correctly if the Turkish language is selected
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the "Leave Party" text extended outside of the drop-down list in the Party menu
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where scrolling a game mode's description would have inverted controls
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the “Stats” and “Overview’ Tabs could display incorrect information
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the "Scroll" hint wasn’t displayed for the description of game modes
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where Free For All was referred to as “Multiplayer Mode” in the “History” tab
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where there was no description of "Smoke Grenade" for M320/M79 in the "Loadout" menu
CONSOLE: Adjusted scoreboard behavior so the player is the highlighted player by default until the cursor is moved
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where the player's left hand could be distorted while scrolling left in the "Loadout" menu
PS: Fixed an issue where party icons repeatedly refresh while preparing to join a match
PS: Fixed an issue in basic training where a hint from the PC build is present in the PS5 build
PS: Fixed an issue with the main menu party UI
PS: Fixed an issue where the “Purchase DLC” button would require a double-tap to select
PS: Fixed multiple localization issues
PS: Fixed an issue where if the party leader left and rejoined from an invite, it did not properly display party members in the UI
PS: Fixed an issue where the party leader can’t see late joining party members in the UI
PS: Fixed an issue where the promoted party leader is not displayed in the party widget for all members after a new member joins the party
PS: Fixed an issue where if a player was promoted to party leader their Online ID would not be displayed in the party widget
PS: Fixed an issue where a PC-specific hint would display in the video lessons
XBOX: Fixed an issue where Gen 9 players could be displayed as PC users on the scoreboard
XBOX: Fixed an issue where upon joining a cross-generational party they’ve been invited to, players are not met with a notice of crossplay settings having changed
XBOX: Fixed an issue where the term “controller” was translated improperly in some regions
XBOX: The cursor starts flickering when the user changes account in Account Picker during gameplay
XBOX: Fixed an issue where if two players accept each other’s party invites simultaneously the game will incorrectly display the message “Unable to find a party with the specified code”
XBOX: Fixed an issue where it becomes impossible to create a party if two players accept each other’s party invites simultaneously.
XBOX: Fixed an issue where if the player is in the loadout menu there would be no notification pop-up for successfully joining a party
XBOX: Fixed an issue where a PC-specific hint would display in the video lessons
XBOX/WS: Fixed an issue where the “DLC Purchase” widget will not appear if the account has 700 credits or less
XBOX/WS: Fixed an issue where some text was cut off in the “Binds” menu

[h3]Miscellaneous[/h3]

ALL: Fixed an issue where the faction selection option would default to the already joined faction
ALL: Fixed an issue where the "friendly fire" voice line is triggered in Free For All
ALL: Fixed an issue where cross-platform players could not report players from another platform
CONSOLE: Fixed an issue where after a party formation, the player would be unable to enter a match with their party after losing and regaining an internet signal
PS: Fixed an issue where after joining a party via code it becomes impossible for that player to invite another player via code
PS: Fixed an issue where upon closing the window confirming joining a party, a player's movement would continue in the direction they were moving previously without moving the thumbsticks
PS: Fixed an issue where party leadership would transfer from a Gen 8 party member to a Gen 9 party member after loading into an Outpost game
PS: Fixed an issue with the Japanese version where players would be unable to exit to the main menu from the matchmaking menu
PS: Fixed an issue where some party members would not join the match properly when joining a co-op game with a full party
PS: Fixed an issue where the party member can’t leave the party
WINDOWS STORE: Fixed an issue where the player could be unable to start a match after failing to join a full party
XBOX: Fixed an issue where switching to a suspend state while joining a match could result in a softlock when exiting suspend mode
XBOX: Fixed an issue where the error message indicating loss of network connection to Xbox services is not displayed
XBOX: Fixed an issue where the game could crash on the loading screen after being in suspend mode for over three minutes
XBOX: Fixed an issue where disconnecting and reconnecting a controller would cause NWI services to reconnect leading to the player being kicked from any active party
XBOX: Fixed an issue where changing accounts upon controller reconnection would cause the game to enter an unresponsive state
XBOX: Fixed an issue where disconnecting the ethernet cable after accepting the party invite displays the "Unable to find a party with the specified code" error
XBOX/WS: Fixed an issue where players in a party would drop to the main menu momentarily upon loading the next level
XBOX/WS: Fixed an issue where players with the same cross-play settings joining a party can be met with the "Crossplay will be disabled to join the party" message. This can cause a mouse and keyboard to become unresponsive.
XBOX/WS: Fixed an issue where a player on a different platform could be unable to join a party member’s match in progress

State of Sandstorm

Hello Soldiers,

Spring has sprung, the sun is shining, and the birds and autocannons are singing! We have noticed a build-up of questions among the community lately, so we want to clear some things up and touch on what’s approaching on the horizon.

[h2]ONGOING DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT[/h2]

There is some confusion in the community regarding Insurgency: Sandstorm’s current development status and the game's future. Let's clear some of this up! We can confirm that nothing has changed in terms of the level of support that Sandstorm is receiving. We are actively working on the game, and in fact, there are several people on the team who have been on the title for many years now, including Jeroen the Game Design Director, Mark Winter the Audio Director, Sgt. Slaughterer your Community Manager, and Player Support wizards Bravo & Nyko! Together, we have many things on the horizon that we hope you are just as excited for as we are, so let’s get into it!

[h2]HOTFIX 2[/h2]

So, our recent “small” hotfix was, as it turns out, not so small and we realized this was confusing. The size of the update was larger than intended due to a change in infrastructure combined with the way UE4 handles paks. Hotfix 2 addresses a few issues players have been complaining about, but it was primarily meant to set the stage and prepare for the arrival of Update 1.16. Which leads us to….🥁

[h2]UPDATE 1.16 OPERATION: CRISIS[/h2]

Update 1.16 is still targeting a spring release (and yes, it is still spring! The official last day of spring is June 20th)! We know that the community (hey, that’s you!) is chomping at the bit for new content and information but we’re not ready to reveal what it will contain. You can expect something more than just guns and skins this time around, though it will definitely have those too!

[h2]CROSSPLAY[/h2]

Ah yes, the long-awaited crossplay. Often spoken of in the same breath as Loch Ness and Bigfoot, it’s getting closer to becoming a reality. As it stands now, we’re targeting it for inclusion in Update 1.17, but this is subject to change.

While we can’t quite do a deep dive on crossplay yet, we can touch on a few of the more common questions we see about what the functionality will look like!

Q. Will crossplay feature input-based matchmaking?

A. Yes! Our intention is for it to feature input-based matchmaking that you can opt in or out of.

Q. Will ALL platforms be able to play together?

A. Yes!

Q. Will I have to use crossplay?

A. No, it will be an opt-in feature. If you prefer to only play with players on the same platform as you, you will still be able to do that.

We know you’ve all been waiting patiently for crossplay! Unsurprisingly, increasing the number of platforms the game is supported on, from one to seven has come with a whole slew of unforeseen kinks to iron out. We’re approaching the finish line with this feature and can’t wait to finally roll it out to you!

[h2]UPCOMING LIGHTING ADJUSTMENTS[/h2]

We don’t have a hard date yet for when we will push these changes to the live game, but we’ve been tweaking the lighting on a few maps to improve visibility in shadowy/dimly lit areas! We’re testing and monitoring these changes to ensure they don’t adversely affect performance. If all goes well, we may look at the other maps to see if there are similar opportunities for improvement.

As of now, we are working on changes to the following three maps/layouts:

TIDEWAY

HIDEOUT (NIGHT)

TELL

[h2]LTGM & XP EVENTS[/h2]

Give us your feedback!

Limited-time game modes and XP events are handled by the community team and provided to the players so that we don’t go dark between the major updates. We’ve seen the sentiment that some of you would rather have new content than these events, but rest assured, these two things are unconnected. That said, we’re open to suggestions!

[h2]LOOKING FORWARD: UPDATE 1.17 & BEYOND[/h2]

While we can’t talk much about what the specific content of the upcoming updates are just yet, we can confirm major updates 1.16, 1.17, and 1.18 are still coming, and we’re putting a focus on quality of life fixes for 1.17, many of which have been pulled from community requests. Some of the fixes coming in 1.17 include:

Fixed an issue where a player's ammo carrier and armor could disappear from the character model when he is in the vehicle in online game modes.
Fixed an issue a player’s gloved hand obstructs the sight picture when using AS Val with loading grip
Fixed an issue where optics with multiple zoom levels get lens tinted after switching ADS mode while aiming in Picture In Picture mode
Fixed an issue where when using the A10 call-in, some of the rounds will instead explode at the origin point of the map (0,0)
Fixed an issue where the player could fall out of the map on Outskirts
Enabled Chaos Vehicles & the Water Plugin for the release build of the game to allow mods that uses them to function properly
Fixed an issue where the exhaust trail for the Rocket Barrage is rotated 90 degrees
Fixed an issue where the restricted zone covers the unrestricted zone on Crossing (Push Insurgents)
And more!

A word from Jeroen, the Game Design Director:

“As we continue development, we're thrilled to share that we're working on a new level from scratch for a future update. Instead of just writing about it, here’s an exclusive sneak peek at an early concept of the map. We hope you're as excited as we are to see this map come to fruition and can't wait to share more in the future!”

-Jeroen

THANK YOU

Well, that brings us to the end of this post, but before we sign off we want to extend a great big thank you to the community for your ongoing support and feedback. Sandstorm is five years old now and we know that’s a testament to the community’s passion for the series. Your support means everything to the team and we look forward to releasing future updates, fixes and improvements! See you in the field soldiers!

-The Insurgency: Sandstorm team

Insurgency: Sandstorm News

Double XP Weekend

Update 1.16 Operation: Crisis is out now!

Update 1.16 Operation: Crisis - Release Notes

State of Sandstorm

The LTGM Votes Are In!