🚧Update – Machine Controls & Tutorials, Gameplay Improvements🚧

**Dear Junkers! **🔧

This update focuses on improving the overall gameplay flow, simplifying machine controls, expanding player guidance and fixing a number of visual and UI issues reported by the community. We've also updated tutorials and keybindings to reflect the recent changes to several gameplay mechanics.

A major part of this update is making industrial machines easier to understand and operate, especially for players encountering them for the first time. We've also added additional guidance to help explain important systems instead of leaving players to discover everything on their own.

As always, thank you for all the feedback, reports and suggestions. Many of these improvements are based directly on things reported by players.

⚙️ Gameplay & Machine Improvements

• Added new directional icons for transported vehicles and scrap piles. When approaching an object being transported, an icon now indicates where the vehicle or scrap pile will be moved, making the transportation process much easier to understand.

• Enabled the Large Map while operating the Parcel Packer and Crusher, allowing players to check their surroundings without having to leave the machine.

• Added the ability to assign the Large Map to [TAB]. Using the map while operating the Parcel Packer or Crusher will no longer incorrectly display the machine reset prompt.

• Simplified the controls of the Vehicle Lift. The machine now uses four directional keys instead of six, making its operation easier and more intuitive.

• Added [SHIFT] as the new shortcut for switching between the Long Boom and Short Boom while operating the Vehicle Lift.

• Improved tool handling with [ALT]. The first press of ALT now puts the currently equipped tool away, while pressing ALT again opens the radial tool menu. This makes it much faster to put away a tool without having to open the menu first.

⚙️ Tutorials & Player Guidance

• Updated the content and screenshots of tutorials following recent changes to gameplay mechanics, ensuring that the instructions better match the current version of the game.

• Updated the Keybindings descriptions and shortcuts to reflect the latest changes to controls and gameplay mechanics.

• Added a one-time tutorial for the Scrap Exchange / Market system. The tutorial will now automatically appear the first time the player approaches the market panel, helping explain how the system works.

• Added one-time tutorials for the Vehicle Lift and Parcel Packer. The appropriate tutorial will now appear when the player enters each machine for the first time, explaining the basic controls and purpose of the machine.

⚙️ UI Improvements

• Added automatic cursor centering when opening the food fridge, making interaction with the fridge more comfortable and predictable.

• Improved the visibility of the Scrap Market phone widget. The text is now larger and clearer, making market information easier to read during gameplay.

• Added a new Sunlight Intensity slider to the graphics settings, allowing players to adjust the strength of sunlight in the game. This option was added directly in response to community feedback and player requests, giving more control over the overall brightness and lighting conditions during daytime.

⚙️ World & Environment Improvements

• Improved the position of the protruding turn signal in the Parcel area.

• Fixed an issue where a piece of metal could protrude from the rear tailgate of the Truck.

• Improved the visibility distance of the Found Items workstation, making the workstation appear and disappear at a more appropriate distance.

• Fixed the position of the floating table near Grandma's camper.

• Fixed the unwanted white outline around the black stripes during the restoration of the Blue Car doors, improving the final appearance of the restored vehicle.

⚙️ Bug Fixes & General Improvements

• Improved the overall clarity of several gameplay systems following recent mechanic and control changes.

• Improved machine accessibility and player guidance to make the first interactions with industrial equipment easier to understand.

• Updated multiple UI elements and interaction points to better match the current state of the game.

• Applied additional visual polish and quality-of-life improvements based directly on community feedback.

Behind the Scenes

This update includes one of the largest technical overhauls in the game's history. Major systems responsible for restoration, weather simulation, environmental rendering, world streaming, and performance management have been reworked and optimized to deliver a smoother, more immersive experience for all players.

As always, thank you for your feedback and continued support. More content, features, and improvements are already in development.

Important Development Update

I would like to share an important update regarding the future of the game. Over the coming months, update frequency will likely slow down significantly.

This is because I have started work on a major redesign of several core gameplay systems, including the game's opening experience, player progression, and a number of fundamental mechanics that have been part of the game for a long time.

As the project has grown over the years, it has become increasingly clear that some systems need more than incremental improvements. To take the game where I want it to be, I need to step back and rebuild certain foundations properly rather than continue patching and expanding old solutions.

This means that development will be focused less on frequent content updates and more on large-scale restructuring behind the scenes. As a result, there may be periods of several months without major public updates.

I know this may be disappointing for some players, and I sincerely apologize for the longer wait. However, I firmly believe that these changes are necessary for the long-term future of the game and will ultimately result in a much better experience for both new and existing players.

In many ways, parts of the game need to be rebuilt almost from scratch. It is a significant undertaking, but it is the right step forward.

Thank you for your patience, support, feedback, and trust throughout this journey. The game is not being abandoned — quite the opposite. The work happening now is aimed at building a stronger foundation for everything that comes next.

See you in the next major chapter of development.

The game is constantly being developed — I strongly recommend checking the integrity of the game files!

Massive junkyard hugs from your favorite rust whisperer —

Junkman Adrian 😎💛