Patch 6 with optimizations and waving flags!

We hope you’re enjoying the Steam Lunar New Year Sale, and the 51% off discount on Blade Symphony. This is a pretty great time for us to throw down another patch, especially for those awaiting optimizations!

When we (https://steamcommunity.com/games/bladesymphony/announcements/detail/3024621741237928889), it was a big step forward, but also meant that some performance diminished. We’ve been listening to the community’s feedback, and have made numerous optimizations. We’re happy to see recorded gains of 30 - 50 FPS on various maps, but join our Discord server and give feedback so we can continue to improve!

Additionally, we heard your feedback about emblems, and have implemented a new type of shader to create a “waving flag” effect on the Customization Screen or during a match introduction. Finally, we’ve added some favorite items from the community; the Holo-armor, Infiltrator and Wakizashi attachments for Vanguard.

Changelog since Patch 5

Changes:

• Emblems now have a waving effect when on Customization Screen and during the Intro Camera.

• Added Holo-armor Arm and Leg attachments for Vanguard

• Added Katana Wakizashi Back attachment for Vanguard

• Added Infiltrator Skin and Mask for Vanguard

• Team gameplay modes now have glow for team color and enemies based on distance and visibility.

• Map change will take place if the only match that needs to complete is between bots, so that players no longer need to wait for it to finish.

Optimizations:

• Implemented level-of-detail models (“LODs”) for all characters.

• Implemented experimental multithreading in queue_mode.

• Optimized sound clearing for invisible players.

• Optimized player outline system using polymorphism.

• Optimized materials on duel_winter and free_winter.

• Optimized rendering path for characters by enabling bone-threading.

• Optimized static debug variables by removing non-atomic read on them.

• Disabled cascade-shadow-mapping (CSM) on all water textures.

• Disabled depreciated r_shadows.

• Removed depreciated .dx80 models.

• Removed rendering of shadow map displacements.

• Removed rendering of viewmodels or viewmodel shadows.

Fixes:

• Fixed custom weapon sounds being audible everywhere.

• Fixed server crash when server map changes from Control Point maps to Duel maps.