Gamepires has released Development Update #129 for SCUM, announcing a delay in their anti-cheat system release while revealing ongoing work across multiple departments and confirming that a Seaplane vehicle is coming soon to the prison island.
Anti-Cheat System Faces Technical Setbacks
The development team behind SCUM has announced that the new anti-cheat system, originally scheduled for June 2023, has been postponed "for a couple of weeks" due to unexpected technical difficulties. Gamepires emphasized that proper testing is essential to ensure the system works optimally upon release.
While this delay might disappoint some players, the team is using this time productively by shifting focus to extensive bug fixing and optimization across all departments.
Development Teams Tackle Multiple Improvements
According to the update, programmers are enhancing overall lighting and reflections, debugging puppets, polishing NPCs, and refining the clothes' wetness logic. Meanwhile, animators have turned their attention to creating a new trailer and testing improved visuals for male character locomotion.
The hard surface team is optimizing the Big Raft, improving vehicle shapes, and enhancing the quest book interface. Not to be outdone, the soft surface team is focused on improving cloth item meshes when placed on the ground while preparing assets for the upcoming trailer.
What New Features Are Coming to SCUM?
Perhaps the most exciting announcement is the confirmation that the Seaplane vehicle is "already on its way" to players, adding a new transportation option to the prison island survival experience. Additionally, the design team is making adjustments to the famepoint system, which serves as the game's currency.
Sound designers aren't being left behind either, as they work on tweaking knockout and forest soundscapes to enhance the immersive audio experience that SCUM is known for.
Post-1.0 Support Confirmed
In response to player feedback, the developers have explicitly confirmed their commitment to continuing support for SCUM after the 1.0 release, promising new content beyond the full launch. This should reassure players concerned about the game's longevity.
The team also addressed several player suggestions, noting that while features like planting specific fruit trees are planned for eventual implementation, performance considerations mean they'll likely arrive after the full release. Similarly, while squad system enhancements are coming, they may differ from some player suggestions.
For players tracking SCUM's development progress, the team recommends following their official social media channels for the latest updates as they work toward these improvements and the delayed but enhanced anti-cheat system.