Gamepires has released their 125th development update for SCUM, highlighting significant progress across multiple departments. Most notably, a brand new anti-cheat system will be implemented next month to combat cheaters on official servers, while work continues on NPC improvements, vehicle optimizations, and weapon polishing. The team has also confirmed plans to expand the game's weapon arsenal in future updates.
New Anti-Cheat System Coming to SCUM Next Month
In a move that will delight legitimate players, Gamepires has announced a "whole new and more serious" anti-cheat system coming to SCUM next month. The developers promised players should "notice a difference regarding the presence of cheaters" on their servers, addressing one of the community's most persistent concerns in the prison island survival game.
The announcement comes as part of the game's 125th development update, which offers insights into the work being done across all departments at Gamepires to improve the SCUM experience.
Programming and NPC Improvements
The programming team has been particularly busy with NPC development and enhancing the encounter manager. These improvements should create more dynamic and challenging interactions with AI-controlled characters throughout the prison island. The team is also focusing on general bug fixes and game optimizations to improve overall performance.
Game designers are specifically working on armed NPCs, which should add a new layer of challenge for inmates trying to survive on the island. This development aligns with the ongoing efforts to make the game world more immersive and dangerous.
What's New with Vehicles and Weapons?
The animation team has shifted their focus to weapon polishing, promising firearms that will "shine so bright, you'll be able to see your future in them." They're also continuing work on tractor animations, suggesting that this agricultural vehicle may be coming to the game soon.
Meanwhile, the Hard Surface team is developing LODs (Level of Detail) for weapons and implementing vehicle optimizations to improve performance. These technical improvements should result in a smoother gameplay experience, especially when multiple vehicles or detailed weapons are on screen.
Expanding the Arsenal
In response to community questions, the developers confirmed plans to expand the weapon selection in future updates. While they're keeping specific firearms under wraps for now, this news will excite players looking for more options to defend themselves against both human and AI opponents.
Voice Improvements and Quality of Life Features
The sound team is working on vocal improvements for DEENA, the game's AI assistant, which should enhance player interactions with this virtual guide. These refinements will likely make information gathering and navigation more intuitive for players.
Will We Be Able to Drink and Drive?
In a humorous response to player suggestions, the developers acknowledged they're "looking into" adding drinking and driving mechanics to the game. While they couldn't provide a specific timeline, this feature would add another layer of realism to the already detailed survival simulation.
The team also mentioned they have "a more expanded version" of another player-suggested feature in mind, though they didn't specify exactly what this entails. They confirmed it will eventually make its way into the game, with timing being the primary question.
Map Refinements and Bug Fixing
Level designers are "completely committed" to fixing bugs and ensuring all map elements are correctly placed. This focus on polish should result in a more coherent and believable prison island environment for players to explore and survive in.
Meanwhile, the QA/CM team continues their multifaceted role of hunting cheaters, testing features, engaging with the community, and identifying bugs. Their work forms the foundation for many of the improvements highlighted in this development update.
As always, the development update reminds us that surviving on the prison island of SCUM is an ever-evolving challenge, with Gamepires consistently working to enhance the experience through regular updates and community engagement.