Players brace for a challenging experience as Rust's new update introduces a hardcore mode that is more rugged than before, stripping away the crafting of firearms.
In an exciting development for survival game enthusiasts, Rust's Hardcore mode has received a significant update as of August 7th, 2025. This overhaul is aimed at increasing difficulty and changing navigation and crafting mechanics, making the mode "tougher than ever."
New Fog of War System
The update introduces a Fog of War system, where the map starts covered in fog that gradually clears as players explore. This intensifies exploration without the safety net of a fully revealed map, adding an extra layer of challenge.
Compass Mechanics Redesign
The in-game compass overlay has been disabled, but players can craft a new Handheld Compass (requiring 100 Metal Fragments) that shows the player’s location on the Fog of War map but not their facing direction.
Weapon and Ammo Crafting Overhaul
Guns have been completely removed from the Workbench Tech Tree, meaning players can no longer craft guns at any workbench tier. Instead, all weapons must be found or looted from NPCs. While blueprints are no longer needed to repair weapons, ammunition crafting costs are increased fivefold, and NPC loot drops fewer bullets. Additionally, pistol bullets are no longer sold by vendors, greatly increasing ammo scarcity and tension.
Increased Respawn Cooldowns and Base Upkeep Costs
Sleeping bag respawn cooldowns are extended to 15 minutes, and bed respawns to 10 minutes, making death more punishing. Base upkeep costs have doubled, incentivizing players to build smaller, more efficient bases to manage resources carefully.
Rick Lane, a PC gaming enthusiast since the age of seven and a games editor for Custom PC magazine and bit-tech.net, has hailed this update as one of the most transformative patches recently, fundamentally redefining Hardcore mode gameplay in Rust.
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The update also includes a general menu redesign, optimized loading times, a tweak to metal detectors, and visual changes such as new volumetric clouds and directional self-shadowing for trees and bushes.
Rust's price has been reduced to half, from $40 (£35) to $20 (£17.50), to coincide with the Hardcore update. Players cannot craft guns in Hardcore mode; they must find them as loot. In Hardcore mode, players can only discover the location of themselves by exploring, and weapons can be repaired manually once acquired.
In conclusion, the latest update to Rust's Hardcore mode promises a more challenging and immersive experience, with a focus on exploration risk, resource scarcity, and player skill in navigation and survival.
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