VAIL News

It’s been nearly one year since our 1.0 release and in the four free major content updates since then, VAIL has grown and evolved so much that it’s almost unrecognizable.

And now, VAIL 1.5 is here with more ways to play VAIL than ever before. This update sees the release of two new game modes, a whole new FREE matchmaking playlist to allow free players to try VAIL Combat, and much more.

[h2]TRAINING GROUNDS[/h2]
This update adds a new playlist, game mode, and 4 new maps that are available to all free players. These 4 maps, inspired by classic layouts, are designed for non-stop action that will help improve skill with a variety of weapons and overall reaction times. Play these levels and you’ll not only have fun, but become a better player in the process.

- TG-Arena is designed for long-range engagements with the MK418 or AK-12
- TG-Aimk equips all players with the MK23 with a few hard to reach alternatives
- TG-Dayoff is a CQB level where you spawn with no loadout, only weapon pickups
- TG-Commute is also weapon pickups only, designed for long-range engagements

This playlist is available as a limited time event to all free players to give you a small taste of what’s available in VAIL Combat. Simply open the tablet, hit PLAY and select the Training Grounds option to queue up for non-stop action.



[h2]FIESTA[/h2]
Added to all 10 of our Team Deathmatch maps is a brand new game mode: Fiesta. In this mode, each player is equipped with a completely random loadout at each respawn. Each loadout consists of one weapon, one sight, and one tactical. And if you’re unlucky, you might just spawn with only your knife. It’s Team Deathmatch with a roll of the dice to decide your fate.



[h2]ARTIFACT CLIFFSIDE[/h2]
In addition to the four new Training Grounds levels, this update finally adds the long awaited Artifact variant of Cliffside. This map is still a work in progress on the visual side, but we decided it was time to finally release the map as-is, especially as the VRML gets ready to start VAIL’s season 3 tournament later this month. So go ahead and start practicing on this new Artifact map, and if you want to join VAIL Season 3, head over to vrmasterleague.com/VAIL to sign up.



[h2]PLAYER MODELS[/h2]
With this update, we’ve changed all player character models to new optimized versions. Our original character models were made before we had plans to release the game on Quest, so we felt it was important to take the time to optimize these characters, which will significantly improve performance, especially when there’s lots of players on screen.

While remaking these characters to be more optimized, we decided to send them to the gym, and we’re pretty happy with the results of their training.

This is a still a work in progress and you may notice some small visual glitches and bugs with the characters that we’ll continue to address in future updates. Additionally, we had to recreate every single character cosmetic for these new models and since this was a tremendous amount of work, we weren’t able to get a new Prestige character set made in time for this update, but we’ll get it in for the next one.



[h2]GENERAL CHANGES[/h2]

• Weapon cosmetics now apply to almost all instances of finding or equipping weapons in the game. This includes picking up weapons spawned in the world and when playing Gun Game, ScoutzKnivez, One in the Chamber and the new Fiesta and Training Ground modes.
  
• Now that there’s four matchmaking playlists, clicking PLAY takes you to a new page where you can select which playlist you want to join.
  
• Added a “Go To Armory” button in the tablet in the PLAY tab.
  
• Added a lever for submitting ORE and a fire effect to the smelter in the Citadel.
  
• Optimizations for most shader effects in the game; this may slightly change how some of them look but we’ll be tuning them to get as close as possible to how they were if not better.
  
• Custom games will now show the current map, game mode, and password when the host goes to change it.
  
• Added a message warning players that undeposited ORE will be lost when they select EXIT CITADEL in the Tablet
  
• TDM now uses global voice chat instead of team-only voice chat
  

[h2]BUG FIXES[/h2]

• Fixed various gameplay exploits and visual mistakes on a variety of maps
  
• Fixed thermite effect sometimes disappearing from underground locations
  
• Fixed Post Match Rewards showing weapons when the player is already max level with that weapon and other misc. bugs with it.
  
• Fixed players being able to complete all objectives of Citadel Onboarding by simply shooting the targets
  

If you have any feedback on this update, be sure to let us know in our Discord. See you in-game! AEXLAB

https://youtu.be/S8XTojHxXjY

[h2]GENERAL CHANGES[/h2]

• Added a zipline in Citadel with easier access to the shooting range
  
• Added dusk and night lighting scenarios for Citadel
  
• Improved snow on Frio
  
• Improved Ivy wall blending on Este
  
• Performance improvements on Citadel
  
• Audio spatialization changes to Vortex Mine
  

[h2]BUG FIXES[/h2]

• Fixed bug that prevented Frio from appearing in Shuttle map vote as often as it should have
  
• Fixed players respawning crouched
  
• Fixed tac rig options not moving tacticals until respawn
  
• Fixed NXS Hammer not showing in the renderer on the customize page
  
• Fixed recoil and scanner bHaptics not playing properly
  
• Possible fix for a bug that allowed players to enter Citadel with invincibility
  
• Possible fix for smelter not working after a server has been open for a while
  
• Misc. bug fixes and optimizations
  

[h2]KNOWN ISSUES[/h2]

• Guns can appear invisible in Gun Game
  
• Sights can be left floating in Gun Game
  

See you all in-game!
AEXLAB

As we near the end of the year, we’re happy to give you VAIL’s final major update in 2024. Since our launch in February, 602,282,584 shots have been fired in VAIL resulting in 37,661,827 kills. Out of that, there’s been 1,210,429 knife kills and 433,905 throwing knife kills.

It’s been an incredible year, and next year is going to be even bigger! While we can’t wait to show you what we’ve been cooking up for next year, here’s what’s available now.

[h2]FRIO[/h2]
Frio is a map you might recognize from our launch trailer. We had genuinely planned on releasing it in our first update post-launch, but ran into performance issues on Quest. Then we planned an engine upgrade to get access to some features required to optimize it on Quest, and even that got delayed. But thanks to some magic from one of our wonderful tech artists, we came up with a new technique that allowed us to release Frio without burning your headsets and without sacrificing quality.

Frio has Team Deathmatch, Free-For-All, Hardpoint, Gun Game, One in the Chamber, and Picnic. In the future we’ll release variants for Artifact, 1v1, and ScoutzKnivez.



[h2]MINING[/h2]
This update adds a free new experimental COOP PVE mode to the Citadel. In this mode, you’ll be able to unlock ORE which will be able to be spent on cosmetics and VAIL Combat. For now, you’ll be able to test the mode and unlock as much ORE as you can. In the future, we’ll release another update with the ORE store where you can spend your hard earned spoils.

ORE deposits are scattered throughout the Quarry waiting for you to bring a pickaxe for mining. But be careful, because as soon as you start extracting the ORE shards, an enemy is waiting to... give you a hug?



[h2]GENERAL CHANGES[/h2]

• Added Prestige 3: FORSAKEN
  
• Added a Daily GEL Reward (experimental). You can now go to the Citadel and accept this reward to get 25 GEL everyday. There are some minor UI issues, but it does work to grant GEL even if you don’t see it update immediately.
  
• Added tac rig layout options (experimental). There are three available options: standard is the current layout, alternate is a layout that moves tacticals to the chest, and seated is a layout optimized for seated players. These are offered for testing purposes so that we can continue to adjust and improve them.
  
• Made weapon skins a global setting and added it to the customize page. In the future, these skins will apply to weapons picked up at the shooting range, in the quarry, and in weapon specific modes like Gun Game.
  
• Added GEL and ORE wallet display in the Tablet.
  
• Added a large glow around Vortex Mines for better visibility. We’ll continue listening to feedback on how to make the Vortex Mine more competitively viable, especially as we prepare to add even more tacticals.
  
• Added improved bHaptics events for Vortex Mines and Thermite Grenades.
  
• Holiday decorations added to the Citadel
  

[h2]BUG FIXES[/h2]

• Fixed repulsion saber SFX not playing correctly
  
• Improved CTO orb grips
  
• Potential fix for App Not Responsive crashes on Quest
  
• Fixed not being able to use the Tablet while moving
  
• Misc. bug fixes and crash fixes
  

If you have any feedback on this update, be sure to let us know in our Discord. See you in-game! AEXLAB

VAIL is now free to download with access to everything the Citadel offers, including a 1v1 Face Off arena, a variety of mini-golf courses, an obstacle course/combat playground, a shooting range, and more.

VAIL Combat is now offered as an optional DLC which unlocks all of the content in VAIL including matchmaking, custom games, all 13 maps, all 11 team based and free-for-all game modes, progression and level unlocks, and more.

If you purchased VAIL before this update, you’ll be granted VAIL combat automatically and will retain your current progress, unlocks, and cosmetics. Keep in mind that you may still see the DLC as purchasable, but you will own it in game through our systems.

[h2]THE CITADEL[/h2]
The Citadel is expanding with new things to explore and do, starting with the addition of a DJ booth. Here, you can control the newly added music that plays throughout the Citadel with the slider on the mixing board. This slider doesn’t just change how loud or quiet the music is, but instead changes the way it sounds to make it more of a background mix or louder foreground banger.



Another addition to the Citadel is the new matchmaking elevator. Enter the elevator to queue up for matches if you own VAIL Combat, and if you don’t own VAIL Combat yet you can go learn more about it and purchase it by insert the VAIL game cartridge into this machine.



Additionally, this update makes improvements to mini-golf. No longer will you see your golf club phase through the golf ball when you run into performance issues. Now, if you don't hit the ball, you can rest assured that it's purely because of your poor aim. In addition to these improvements to the golf physics, we changed all of the golf courses in the Citadel to brand new and improved courses.



Face Off also got some new levels added to the rotation and the rest of Citadel got lots of visual improvements and optimizations to make it look and feel a bit nicer.

[h2]NEW TACTICALS[/h2]
We’re expanding VAIL with new utilities. These tacticals are designed to introduce new strategies and make VAIL much more interesting and fun to play. This update adds the first two of many tacticals that we’ll be adding in the coming updates.

The Thermite Grenade is an area of denial comparable to a molotov or pyro grenade. It’s activated by opening the grenade with both hands and it will detonate once it hits the ground, dealing fiery thermite damage to any player within its area of effect.



The Vortex Mine is a proximity mine that shoots up into the air before detonating around head height. Players can avoid dying to it by crouching down before it detonates or by shooting it from a distance.



With the addition of these two tacticals, and more planned, you can now only equip one of each type of tactical in your loadouts. Additionally, these two tacticals were added to the starting loadouts, so as long as you have custom loadouts unlocked then you’ll be able to equip them.

[h2]ARTIFACT PLAYLIST[/h2]
This update adds a new Artifact only matchmaking playlist. Next to the play button in the tablet you’ll be able to queue up for exclusively Artifact matches. This will work like the regular matchmaking and add you to the Shuttle, but you’ll only be presented with Artifact maps to vote on.



[h2]SCOUTZKNIVEZ SUNA[/h2]
Our newest map is a variation of Suna designed for ScoutzKnivez. This map introduces a ton of verticality only possible with ScoutzKnivez. In addition to this, we have a new Artifact map in development for our next content update.



[h2]THE VOID[/h2]
With the last update, you now automatically join the Citadel instead of the Armory on game start. This update improves this flow by adding a setting to always skip the Citadel and go directly to the armory. Without this setting enabled, you’ll be queued to join a Citadel lobby and if you don’t find a match after 60 seconds, the abort to armory button will appear.

In addition to this new flow, the VOID got a massive visual and performance upgrade. Additionally, the matchmaking / compiling shaders screens were replaced with an immersive text sequence that will play until shaders are compiled and a match is found. If the setting to skip Citadel is enabled, this sequence will still play until shaders are compiled.



[h2]BUG FIXES[/h2]

• Potential fix for all game audio randomly getting muted and requiring game restart to fix
  
• Potential fix for footsteps audio not working as intended
  
• Potential improvements to trades happening frequently. At the very least, we have new parameters with which we can tune this and make it better with more testing.
  
• Fixed being unable to cancel matchmaking in some cases
  
• Fixed being stuck on version mismatch screen
  
• Fixed various rare crashes
  
• Fixed match outcome screen overlapping with death screen
  
• Fixed observer kill feed colors not swapping on team swap
  

If you have any feedback on this update, be sure to let us know in our Discord. See you in-game! AEXLAB

This small update focuses on improving the player experience by adding player reporting, anti-cheat, popcorn, and tomatoes!

[h2]CITADEL[/h2]

• Added interactable popcorn to the FaceOff arena that you can actually eat
  
• Added interactable tomatoes to the FaceOff arena that can be thrown and explode on impact
  
• Players will now start matchmaking to go to a Citadel from within the VOID. If it's taking too long or fails, there's an optional button to cancel matchmaking and go to the armory instead.
  
• In the Citadel, players can now matchmake for the regular game without needing to leave first.
  

[h2]MODERATION[/h2]

• Added Denuvo Anti-Cheat for Steam - not to be confused with their DRM product. Additionally, we would like to mention that we did lots of testing on our side and can say that there is no performance difference between the unprotected and protected version of the game. Anti-cheat for Android is coming in a future update.
  
• Added player reporting
  
• Banned players will now see a message in-game showing the reason and length of the ban
  

[h2]GENERAL CHANGES[/h2]

• Added weapon progression to post match rewards sequence - see how many headshots you got for each weapon and how many are left
  
• Level 50 players will now automatically skip the progression timeline during post match rewards
  
• Improved the SFX for mini-golf
  
• Players now will stand all of the way up when only slightly crouched and running at max speed (for example, when not aiming down sights and only 10% crouched).
  
• Increased the size of Romeo reticle
  
• Pico 4 controller profile improved significantly
  
• Updated compiling shaders screen
  
• Added bHaptics events for ziplines and scan interrupted and lowered the intensity of scan started/interrupted haptics for everyone except the player that initiated it
  

[h2]BUG FIXES[/h2]

• Fixed Artifact scanner sometimes falling behind the player when grabbed
  
• Fixed network error messages not displaying correctly when a player is disconnected from a server
  
• Fixed knife not respawning or despawning as intended in some game modes
  
• Fixed not being able to grab an enemy's knife after they've dropped it in Gun Game
  
• Fixed custom games using the wrong player names
  
• Fixed being able to matchmake while creating a custom game
  
• Fixed grabbing tacticals through walls and other objects
  
• Fixed observer kill feed using enemy/friendly colors instead of faction colors
  
• Fixed observer being able to see player nameplates rotating above a player while possessing them
  
• Fixed observer being able to matchmaking for social hub
  
• Fixed observer UI not updating deaths as quickly as the scoreboard
  
• Fixed various crashes
  
• Fixed being able to stab water with the knife
  
• Improved performance in the VOID
  

See you all in-game!
AEXLAB