Entirely New Weapon / Tools Framework System + Many Other Improvements

Hello, patient survivors!

I’ve been working continuously, and you’ve grown used to almost weekly updates. This time the break was much longer due to the new Weapons / Tools Framework, the completely rebuilt Range, and several unexpected Engine changes that happened recently. Even though this is only the alpha version of the new system, it’s stable enough that it’s finally time to release it and begin your testing — which I’m really counting on!

In this update:

• Crafting — Streamlined, Optimized, Fast, Survivor‑Friendly

• Breaching and scrapping

• AI – better reactions, clear ragdoll recovery, many new damage reactions

• AddedBig UpdateWhole New Weapon / Tools Framework

• System update after recent Unreal Engine changes

Crafting — Streamlined, Optimized, Fast, Survivor‑Friendly

A very significant change, and I hope it catches your interest:

• Easy and fast blueprint selection using buttons from a list. For better readability, these buttons will soon receive mini‑icons — I just need to prepare optimized small versions.

• Automatic checking of required materials and tools. You no longer need to search through multiple backpacks for the right materials or tools, nor drag and drop them one by one. You immediately see what’s missing. Sometimes you only need to select or confirm the tool.

• Crafting changes were made at the last moment while working on the Weapon Framework. Small bugs may appear — for example, theoretically consumed items might not be removed. This doesn’t harm the player; it only leaves some items behind. I’ll refine this soon.

Breaching and Scrapping

After adding the new Weapons Framework, the Breaching and Scrapping systems also changed.

Breaching (force‑opening locks on crates and cabinets) and Scrapping now use new handheld tools. Other tools still work through the old system — you only need to have them in your inventory (backpack or pockets) and select them easily. Soon all tools will be moved into the new Weapon/Tools Framework, along with a convenient selection interface in the next, faster update.

Breaching

• New interface with mini‑help — worth reading to avoid frustration.

Scrapping

• Updated interface with clearer display of the selected tool.

AI – better reactions, clearer ragdoll recovery, many new damage responses

A separate update for the relatively new AI system will arrive soon — not only for Zed Mode — but this update already includes positive changes:

• New reactions to melee hits and firearm damage.

• All enemies now have a ragdoll recovery system — if the victim is capable of waking up from unconsciousness. The ragdoll itself still needs improvements — in a complex game, it’s not as simple as in tutorials 🙂

• With the new ammunition types, enemies now react differently to hits: electrical shock, plasma impact, knockback, or dismemberment from HP rounds.

Big Update: Entirely New Weapons / Tools Framework

A fully rebuilt and expanded system for weapons and tools.

In the first version of the Weapons / Tools Framework, not only were many new weapons, tools, and ammunition types added, but also systems such as: zeroing, breath control, damage falloff, recoil, sway, bullet drop, and more — everything you expect from realistic games, but often missing in survival titles.

All these systems are functional and available, but in this alpha version they still require tuning. These are simple tweaks I’ll make quickly after your tests and feedback — mostly parameter adjustments.

Overview of new features

New and reworked weapons

Brand‑new additions include the powerful Plasma Rifle “Plasma Emitter Gadget No3”, the precise long‑range Railgun “MLD A9 — Magnetic Launch Device”, and heavily modified versions of existing weapons. Soon an impressive and useful Laser Rifle will join them.

New melee weapons

Besides the familiar Crowbar (now “Crowbar Solution”), previously non‑interactive tools like the Combat Knife and Kunai Knife are now melee weapons. Most new tools also retain their tool functions — cutting, crafting, breaching, scrapping. A completely new addition: Gazrurka, an effective long‑reach melee weapon.

Fire mode selection

Single, Burst, Auto — depending on what each weapon supports (check the help section below).

New expanded help system

Available both in‑game and on the game’s website. In this alpha version the help is functional but still rough — soon I’ll make it more compact with better navigation.

New optics for sniper weapons

Designed for use with the EVA Suit helmet. Soon additional display modes like night vision, thermal vision, new reticle functions, and later new optic types with modification and replacement options.

New ammunition types and reload system

Beyond plasma ammo and railgun rounds, the long‑known Auto Shotgun — now “HAL 2K – 12mm Hybrid Auto Launcher 2K” — received powerful new ammo types: electrical shock, HP rounds beyond standard slugs. Soon more ammo types: pellets, incendiary, mini‑mines… Other weapons will also receive new ammo types like armor‑piercing or mushrooming rounds. A simple, fast, reliable ammo‑switching system. Magazine reloading (full + partial mags) is coming soon.

New: Dedicated weapon flashlights

Most weapons now have built‑in tactical flashlights. The model is simple for now, but a modular weapon system is in development — covering optics, placement, laser pointers, and other attachments.

Completely new and expanded shooting range

The range works well, though it needs small refinements like adjustable target distance and more precise hit detection on control screens. Currently available only in the Training Center (replacing the old one). Soon it will also appear on Nesoi Island.

New Marksman skill

Its level will soon allow using higher‑tier weapons and will influence shooting quality.

Weapon icons in UI

You now see the weapon’s icon when selected. Sometimes it switches to the ammo icon — this needs fixing.

Notes

As you can see, the number of changes is huge. I tried to release this already‑delayed update with a stable alpha version of the framework. Besides tuning systems like sway or breath control, I intentionally left out many nearly‑finished weapons and tools (Scanner, Bow, and others not mentioned here). Weapon/ammo damage is mostly correct, but melee weapons still need adjustments.

Some functions like equip need fixes — for example, sometimes you can equip a crowbar while already wearing a hammer. I need a bit of breathing room; I’ll fix this in a few days.

IMPORTANT

Occasionally weapons appear inside crates. Although you can equip them, they are useless and bugged. It’s difficult for me to check every crate in the world, and very soon I’ll introduce backpack‑to‑crate transfer, which will remove this issue. For now: if you find an equippable weapon / new tool inside a crate or backpack — do not pick it up.

I’m really counting on your tests and feedback for the new system!

Challenge after recent Unreal Engine changes

Work on the Weapons Framework took a lot of time. Unfortunately, Unreal Engine introduced poorly documented changes to world‑loading systems. As a result, I had to spend a lot of time fixing things that had worked flawlessly for years — loading certain world items. Thankfully, it works well again. A few bugs remain, but I didn’t want to delay this update any further.

For example: sometimes airlocks don’t display air, even though connected rooms have correct values — always check the air status display in each airlock before opening your visor. Hydron Nodes may temporarily lack lights or some equipment.

Good engine news

The upcoming Unreal Engine version promises significant performance improvements for Lumen, which Hiraeth uses for rendering! Before switching UE versions, I also plan to update NVIDIA DLSS — a new version was released, which should improve rendering on NVIDIA GPUs.

💾 Need new game!

Such a large update requires a new game instead of loading from a previous version's save. Old saves are bound to cause errors.

You can delete old saves in-game by pressing F6, but it's much more convenient to delete the folders in the following location: [c]%LOCALAPPDATA%\\Hiraeth\\Saved\\SaveGames[/c]

or

[c]%USERPROFILE%\\AppData\\Local\\Hiraeth\\Saved\\SaveGames[/c]

and remove FOLDERS ONLY

• not this files

More in the weekend edition of The Ahra Prime Times

Big gameplay changes are coming. After confirming the new weapons work correctly, enemies will become a greater challenge, and difficulty selection will be added very soon. I’ll also announce a way to place — symbolically but visibly — the nicknames / names of all willing game owners inside the game world.

After this long break, the next updates should arrive quickly with tweaks to the new content — possibly including the bow and more.

💖 Thank you

Thank you all for your trust and patience. Special thanks to EAGLE for testing dozens of builds of this update, and to DREXOR for constant support of the project! A small reward for DREXOR: he is now officially the manager of the new Training Center range ;)

Happy Marksman leveling — see you this weekend!

Paweł