Creating No Strangers 2.0 From Scratch

Hello,

You may know me as Xeirel. Today, I’d like to share my thoughts with you not just as a game developer, but also as a fellow player. This post is packed with updates and details — but most importantly, it’s about how I’ve started rebuilding No Strangers from scratch.

🎮 The First Birth of No Strangers

Originally, No Strangers was a test project I started during university. I had some experience with Unity, but I had never developed a multiplayer game before. Back then, although Mirror Networking was easier to learn, I chose to use Unity’s Netcode for GameObjects.

Throughout development, I tried to learn, experiment, and implement features by trial and error. Unfortunately, over time this caused the project to become overly complex and nearly impossible to maintain. Looking back at my old source code... I often can’t even tell what I was thinking 😅

Thankfully, I’ve gained a lot of experience since then.

💼 Other game: Digital Market Simulator

During this time, I began working on another game called Digital Market Simulator with two close friends. Because of that, I couldn’t focus on No Strangers for a while.

But now I’ve created a new project and officially started working on No Strangers 2.0 from scratch!

To summarize, here are the main differences between the old version (No Strangers 1.0 - Legacy) and the new one (No Strangers 2.0 - WIP), including added and planned features:

✅ NEW FEATURES

🌍 Multiple playable maps 👤 Custom player models can now be loaded (Steam Workshop support is planned) 🧭 Revamped UI system — Main menu and pause menu are now unified 🔒 Advanced authentication system:

Players who fail Steam authentication Players who don’t have the server password Players you personally block → All of them are strictly denied access. A highly secure system is in place.

🚶‍♂️ Client-Side Prediction Movement Player movement is simulated both on client and server, then synchronized. → This prevents speed hacks and unfair lag-related issues.

👀 Spectator Mode You can now join ongoing games as a spectator.

🎮 GameMode System Create your own game modes with unique rules. Adjust spawn behavior, movement types, and more. → You’re no longer limited to classic No Strangers gameplay — sandbox and experimental modes are now possible!

🎙️ New Voice Chat System

Old system used Steam’s voice infra and RPC for transmission (which caused delay and lag).

Now: Audio is captured directly from the device Noise is reduced using rnnoise Encoded via Opus Sent in packets, decoded by recipients → In testing, performance was very close to Discord (even better with lower latency 💀).

🔜 PLANNED FEATURES

🔧 Mod API The game source will remain closed, but I plan to offer a Lua-based custom API for modding.

🎒 Advanced inventory system Items, clothing, weapons, and more can be stored. Can be disabled depending on the game mode.

🤖 AI Players Both offline and online AI players will be supported. They can act as teammates or enemies.

🚀 Optimization Better 3D models, more efficient occlusion culling. → Strong focus on performance.

📢 ABOUT DEVELOPMENT

This time, I’m not rushing anything. I want to build a solid and scalable foundation for the game.

I’ll share screenshots and videos occasionally, and I plan to do community polls to collect feedback on specific features.

👉 You can join our Discord server or follow my upcoming Patreon page for updates and behind-the-scenes posts.

I’m not a millionaire, nor a famous developer. The only way I can be heard... is with your help. I’d love to see you in our community. 🙏

🧪 BETA TESTING As development progresses, we’ll begin a beta testing phase. I’ll be inviting volunteer testers from the community.

Super excited for this part! 🧡

❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Q&A)

Q: Will it be released as a separate game? A: No, it will be released as an update. You’ll still be able to play the legacy version via beta branches. Q: Will it still just have the classic mode and map? A: No. Thanks to the new GameMode system, new modes and maps will be added over time. Q: Will there be Steam Workshop support? A: Yes, it’s one of my goals and I plan to implement it. Q: Will the classic “Who is the Killer?” mode change? A: Yes. New roles and gameplay mechanics will be introduced. Q: Can I play solo? A: Yes. Single-player compatible modes and AI players will be supported. Q: When will version 2.0 be released? A: I can’t give a specific date, but some of the core systems are done. I’ll keep sharing updates on Discord and Steam. Q: Will cosmetic DLCs still be usable? A: Yes. Q: Will the game’s atmosphere change? A: Yes. Graphics, sound, and ambiance will be more immersive. I want players to feel like they’re part of the world. Q: Will system requirements change? A: No. Q: Will it support Steam Deck and Linux? A: Yes, it will be playable on platforms like Steam Deck and Linux.

Q: Where the hell are the Discord Server and Patreon links?? A: Right here Discord Server and Patreon 🥀