Holdfast: Nations At War News

Greetings good fellows of the Holdfast community. We're dishing out another update following our recent major release tackling bugs and introducing additional features. Should everything go well with this release we will set our sights on the next major update featuring CPU optimisations.

Optimising over 150 players running over a single server instance is no simple task but thanks to the engine upgrade we've embarked on in V2.15, we have more tools now available to us which will aid us continue pushing performance.

We want to deliver this to you as soon as humanly possible. We're excited for what the future holds for Holdfast! There's also a new office move we'll be embarking on during the beginning of February.

Stay tuned for more to come and until next time, may good health be yours. :oheart:

The Plight of War OST
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2692500/Holdfast_OST__The_Plight_of_War

discord.gg/holdfastgame







Changelog 91 - Game Version 2.16.8789.28152

Features & Improvements (7)
● Upgraded FSR 2.0 to FSR 3.0 improving its quality.
● Upgraded DLSS to 3.5.10 improving its quality.
● Introduce an option allowing players to have the Microphone Echo setting always on.
● Players are now able to disable upscaling through the game’s video settings.
● Players are now provided with the option to disable grass and tree wind movement through the game’s video settings. Go to Grass Movement and switch this to Off if you experience visible blurriness on flora.
● Updated the game’s lobby to reduce rare cases of individuals being unable to receive a populated server list.
● When selecting any of the game’s input text fields such as when changing a regiment’s description or custom player name the cursor will now appear respective to where you click.

Gameplay Additions (2) ● The ladders atop Fort Schwarz are now climbable.
● Stationary swivel guns on Spanish Farm are now able to load round shots.

Graphical (6) ● Adjusted the chimney smoke on Glacier.
● Improved the resolution quality of the Empire map loading screen.
● Adjusted player banner and nameplate visibility.
● Adjusted the bush sizes on Aunby Valley.
● Updated the in-game store banner to match the existing Napoleon update banner.
● Adjusted the sandstorm particle’s looks.

Bug Fixes (24) ● Solved an issue with players getting stuck on map load while using ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol.
● Solved an issue with players sometimes getting stuck on map load.
● Solved an issue with cavalry floating on specific maps.
● Improved issues with blurriness players were experiencing.
● Improved issues with distant fuzziness players were experiencing.
● Solved an issue with fallen trees on Camp Salamanca not looking as intended.
● Solved an issue with raindrop particle effects not working.
● Solved an issue with a small rouge pixel being visible in the kill feed.
● Solved an issue with people spawning on roofs on Empire.
● Solved an issue with code exceptions appearing when using FSR.
● Solved an issue where you could look underneath the water plane when swimming in first person on land-based maps.
● Solved an issue which caused the audio volume to reset when switching from mono to stereo.
● Solved an issue where VoIP sometimes stopped functioning if the player switched from mono to stereo.
● Solved an issue with grass being present inside the church on Lamarsh Fen.
● Solved an issue with terrain clipping through one of the houses on Hills of Tyrol.
● Solved an issue with transparency on one of the props in Fort Al Farid.
● Solved an issue with water on Hudree Marsh being low resolution.
● Solved an issue with one of the trunks on Fort Darial appearing as pink.
● Solved an issue with the weapon shuffling sound always playing while on horseback.
● Solved an issue with floating grass on Fort Salettes.
● Experimental fix towards an issue which produced a halo underneath players when switching graphics presets.
● Experimental fix towards a rare case that prevented players from spawning when clicking the spawn button.
● Experimental fix towards an issue with nameplates going invisible when individuals are moving an artillery piece.

Hotfix (5) ● Added support for modded maps to adjust the depth of field. See HoldfastMapModOverload.depthOfFieldDistance.
● Fixed FSR3 screen flicker whilst aiming artillery pieces.
● Solved a texture quality issue with Russian uniforms.
● Experimental fix for antlers appearing on horses. It's well-known that horses only magically transform into deer during Christmas.
● Fixed player banners being too big whilst using the captain's wheel.





- Anvil Game Studios

Refleax, Rycon, Dreas, Walki, Jackson, Rejenorst, Harper, Storey, UberJuice, Stan, Gest, Matt, Grandayy, Charles & Winston (The Cat).

Good evening ladies and gentleman. We've been hard at work since the recent major update release solving issues you so graciously reported to us on our Discord and Steam forums. Being one of the largest updates to date we've ever embarked on with development efforts akin to a full game re-release, its bound to produce a few challenges.

You'll see them addressed soon enough. For starters, we're dishing out a few client fixes.

We'd also like to extend our thanks to all those who have reached out expressing their appreciation for the new Holdfast Original Soundtrack and Napoleon's Rise DLC. The reception to both has been outstanding! Once again, we thank you.

Stay tuned for more to come and until next time, may good health be yours. :oheart:

The Plight of War OST
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2692500/Holdfast_OST__The_Plight_of_War

discord.gg/holdfastgame







Changelog 90 - Game Version 2.15.8783.25788

Changelog ● Experimental fix towards the audio clipping issue.
● Solved an issue with the in-game store page not working as intended.
● Solved multiple instances which would cause pink objects to become visible. Kindly report back to us if you experience this issue.
● Experimental fix towards an issue which caused players to get stuck on map load.
● Solved an issue which prevented end-of-round faction jingles from playing.
● Solved an issue which caused the player's set framerate to reset if they changed to a different graphics preset.
● Solved a bug which caused non-movable cannons to appear in blue instead of green.
● Solved an issue with invisible props on Linburg.
● Solved an issue with sand mist rendering through explosions.
● Improved resolution of the game's map loading screens.
● Darkened the fallen tree particle leaves.
● Adjusted rocket explosion particle effects.
● Adjusted the distance fog on Linburg.
● Adjusted the material colour on Sapper buildable earthworks.
● Adjusted the fog on Heartmound.
● Adjusted the fog on Al Uddin Ruins amongst other terrain adjustments.





- Anvil Game Studios

Refleax, Rycon, Dreas, Walki, Jackson, Rejenorst, Harper, Storey, UberJuice, Stan, Gest, Matt, Grandayy, Charles & Winston (The Cat).

Holdfast updated! The past few months we have been hard at work undertaking one of Holdfast's largest updates to date.

We've upgraded Holdfast's game engine and render pipeline allowing us to utilise new technology for optimisations while also improving the graphical fidelity of the game. Holdfast has never looked better and now as a result of these optimisations will also run smoother and more consistently across various setups.

But that is not all... Your Emperor calls. Napoleon himself marches onto the battlefields of Holdfast along with some iconic uniforms of his past in the new Napoleon's Rise cosmetic DLC available for the game. Plus the official soundtrack for Holdfast is out now!

A brand new urban map featuring new environments themed on the city streets of France will also be playable for all for free.

[previewyoutube]https://youtu.be/tLb7IebbabE[/previewyoutube]
Napoleon's Rise DLC
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2692480/Holdfast_Nations_At_War__Napoleons_Rise

The Plight of War OST
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2692500/Holdfast_OST__The_Plight_of_War

Development efforts targeting framerate improvements on large player count servers are also ongoing and will be present in future updates. This has all been made possible thanks to the above mentioned engine upgrade exposing the team to new tools to further optimise the game.

Just before you go though be sure to take a read of what this update brings down below!

[h2]Holdfast's New Look[/h2]

An entire rework of the games graphics was yet another one of the mammoth tasks throughout this update. No stone was left unturned to bring-forth the new graphics for the game. The entire post processing stack for the game was changed from the ground up and now features some excellent looking sun rays, reflections, colour grading and many more effects to give you the full Holdfast immersive experience.



Many structures and props have been freshly retextured bringing a more consistent and vibrant appearance to the game's battlefields. We also spent some time touching grass as the foliage has undergone a complete rework from the smallest blade to the tallest of trees. Foliage will also interact with players as they move through it, something especially handy for spotting a sneaking carpenter in the wheat fields.

[h2]Slimming Down Holdfast[/h2]

A significant benefit of our work across these months has been that reduction in Holdfast's file size. Given the number of battlefields and faction diversity that Holdfast offers it was inevitable that this would eventually catch up to us and needed remedying.

Thank's to the updated engine and new optimisation efforts we have successfully brought the games install size down from over 40gb to a now much more comfortable 17gb while still maintaining both Nations At War and Frontlines in one game install for all to enjoy.

Its safe to say that we've speed run our way through a most challenging new year resolution - Queue us the Rocky theme.



[h2]Napoleon's Rise[/h2]

Explore Napoleon’s rise to power through this cosmetic content dedicated to the Emperor Napoleon. Lead the armies of France to victory as either First Consul Napoleon or Emperor Napoleon with the 2 new character heads and iconic uniform of the great tactician himself. Players will also be given a new portrait, banner and medal to showcase on their playercard via the in-game barracks.

Napoleon's Rise DLC
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2692480/Holdfast_Nations_At_War__Napoleons_Rise


Rise up in the streets of France with the new French Republican Infantry uniform available for the Line Infantry class, charge forth into the fray as the Imperial Guard Chasseur-a-Cheval or skirmish the enemy as Light Infantry dressed in the dashing uniforms of the Guides a Pied de Bonaparte.


Make use of the the new unique officer gestures that display some of Napoleon's most iconic poses of the time.



Napoleon’s horse Marengo is also available as a horse skin for cavalry players and features the saddle Napoleon would have sat upon.



[h2]Empire City Map[/h2]

Battle throughout the city streets of Empire! This tight urban environment is the first of its kind and offers unique verticality and urban city combat all in one map.



Charge through the grand mansions of nobility and capture the city square or sneak under the city and traverse through the sewage system to flank the enemy. Keep your bayonet fixed and stay alert, there wont be a moments break from the rage of war.



[h2]Original Soundtrack[/h2]

With great pomp and circumstance the Holdfast original soundtrack ‘The Plight of War’ presents to you a plethora of epic renditions of some all time classics to uplift spirits and set the tone as you charge forward to glory.

The Plight of War OST
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2692500/Holdfast_OST__The_Plight_of_War

Featuring iconic songs spanning from the Napoleonic Wars to The Great War this soundtrack brings-forth not only 20 tracks (including instrumentals) but an entire music player available both in the main menu and in-game so that you’ll never be without the choirs of war.



There are many more changes, features, bug fixes and quality of life additions being introduced in this update so be sure to check out the change log! Thank you for your support and until next time, may good health be yours. :oheart:

discord.gg/holdfastgame







Changelog 89 - Game Version 2.15.0000.00000

Count ● 11 new features and improvements.
● 2 gameplay additions.
● 12 optimisations.
● 10 quality of life additions.
● 15 graphical additions.
● 98 bug fixes.
● 200 additions to the Holdfast SDK.

Click here for the full change log.





- Anvil Game Studios

Refleax, Rycon, Dreas, Walki, Jackson, Rejenorst, Harper, Storey, UberJuice, Stan, Gest, Matt, Grandayy, Charles & Winston (The Cat).

"To have good soldiers, a nation must always be at war." - Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon's Rise DLC
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2692480/Holdfast_Nations_At_War__Napoleons_Rise

The Plight of War OST
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2692500/Holdfast_OST__The_Plight_of_War

Rally the Old Guard and raise the banners. The Emperor himself will soon set foot upon the battlefields of Holdfast. Here's a sneak peek at what's to come. Napoleon's Rise, a cosmetic DLC for Holdfast: Nations At War will release on January 17th 2024 alongside free content themed around the Emperors rise to power.



There's plenty more coming with this update including an entire graphical overhaul and important optimisations drastically reducing the game's file size. Here's one more peek at what we've been working on.



The orchestra are tuning up! Releasing alongside this update will be the official sound track of Holdfast 'The Plight Of War'. Charge forth with some classic songs ranging from the Napoleonic Era to the Great War.



There are many more changes, features, bug fixes and quality of life additions being introduced in this update so be sure to check out the change log when it releases! Thank you for your support and until next time, may good health be yours. :oheart:

discord.gg/holdfastgame






- Anvil Game Studios

Refleax, Rycon, Dreas, Walki, Jackson, Rejenorst, Harper, Storey, UberJuice, Stan, Gest, Matt, Grandayy, Charles:Cute_Rat: & Winston (The Cat).

Celebrating 6 years of Holdfast! September 21st 2023 marks 6 years since Holdfast initially released into Early Access way back in 2017. Since then Holdfast has seen multiple evolutions of the game including, new classes, factions, customisation, a free WW1 total-conversion DLC, the regiment registry and most recently the Howitzer artillery piece just to name a few.


The best thing about it all is that we’re not done yet… Anvil Game Studios are committed to further bettering the experience of this game we all love so dearly. Our development efforts for the remainder of the year and the year to come will continue to be focused on bringing the game into the new era and revolutionise this genre of Roleplay Shooters with new features and mechanics for players new and old. Development on more optimisations making the game increasingly more accessible is also currently ongoing.


Celebrating this remarkable feat, Holdfast and all its DLC’s can now be purchased at a discounted price for a limited time. Gather Holdfast on sale at 60% off and all of its cosmetic DLCs up to 55% off.

Base Game
https://store.steampowered.com/app/589290/Holdfast_Nations_At_War/

Collectors Edition
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/13424/Holdfast_Collectors_Edition/

Napoleonic Pack
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/25822/Napoleonic_Pack/

Great War Pack
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/25824/Great_War_Pack/

These past 6 years have truly been a blast! The community has grown and evolved in ways that we could never truly have imagined. Your ongoing support and dedication are very much appreciated and we look forward to expanding the great Holdfast community even more.



We wholeheartedly thank you and until next time, may good health be yours. :oheart:

discord.gg/holdfastgame






- Anvil Game Studios

Refleax, Rycon, Dreas, Walki, Jackson, Rejenorst, Harper, Storey, UberJuice, Stan, Gest, Matt, Grandayy & Winston (The Cat).