2024 was a crazy year for a lot of us, a bunch of things happened, such as the release of the seventh TF Comic, Everyone Knows That and the "Most Mysterious Song on the Internet" being found, a bunch of Epistle 3 projects having their demos released, and of course, Half-Life 2's anniversary.
Probably the event that happened that was the most relevant to FIREFIGHT RELOADED was the ENDGAME Update finally being released after 6 years. A massive gameplay overhaul with new maps, movement mechanics, a Linux port, a soundtrack, and much more was the end result of this update. I have released a blog post here detailing development and a lot of the things that changed during the update: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/397680/view/6743666355140245477?l=english
However, just because it's called the ENDGAME update, doesn't mean that's the end. After ENDGAME released, a new update titled "INVASION" started development. This update includes new enemies, weapons, and maps. One of these maps, made for Half-Life 2's anniversary, is a new map made for FIREFIGHT RELOADED. Here, you will fight and drive through the White Forest area from Episode 2. The map will include additional gameplay elements, such as vehicles and strider busters, which I hope will spice up the gameplay a bit. Enemies such as the Classic HL2 Vortigaunt, Kamikaze Zombie, and Combine Aerial Cauterizers will meet you in the update. Weapons such as throwable Manhacks and the iconic M1014 shotgun have also been introduced to the FIREFIGHT RELOADED meta. This even includes small aesthetic settings, like classic fire and blood, inspired by the HL2 Anniversary Update.
Of course, we can't forget the most important parts with this update. More crashes and bugs will be fixed in this update, which should make it even more stable than ENDGAME. INVASION also includes enhancements to the GamepadUI, allowing you to easily adjust sliders with a single click and your scroll wheel. This update also fixes floaty movement, allowing for much easier bunnyhopping. EDIT: Forgot to add that INVASION will also fix a bunch of balancing issues by limiting ammo counts and by adjusting the damage of NPCs and weapons.
In addition, there will be a brand new soundtrack EP composed specifically for the INVASION update.
This is just a piece of what INVASION will offer when it releases in 2025, but I wanted to put some updates here.
I also started a translation project for the mod, as detailed here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/397680/view/4536906156535185614?l=english
I will update the translations on the GitHub with the new updates currently on the GitLocalize page. Whenever the update goes gold, I will implement the translations into the game and give credit to everyone involved. I do notice some translations that have gone uncredited, so please let me know in the discussion for the above post. If you already talked in there, I probably already have you on the list of people to credit! Thank you for helping make FIREFIGHT RELOADED more accessible!
As for what's coming after (or during the development of) INVASION, I'm not entirely sure yet. INVASION is meant to be a major quality of life update that improves gameplay and adds new content. I've been considering on improving Steam Input support in the future, but I've also been considering on working on a much larger project I've put on hold for a while.
2025 will also mark the 10 year anniversary of FIREFIGHT RELOADED's release on Steam and ModDB, so I'll be sure to do something for it if INVASION releases before then.
This has been an important project for me and I appreciate everyone's love and support throughout the last decade. If you loved or hated the mod, or just thought the mod was just okay, I still thank you wholeheartedly for playing the mod and giving it a shot.
I plan for an INVASION beta update to release sometime during this first week of January.
Happy New Year, - Bitl, Bitl Development Studios
Update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta Released (12-23-2024)
An update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta has been released. The update will be applied when you restart FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta.
Note: This requires you to use the "beta" beta branch within Steam. Go to properties, betas and then select "beta"
- Improved opacity on the scoreboard. - Fixed up the timer numbers. - Increased the Combine Assassin base health to 85. - Fixed the FR team color in the scoreboard. - The Sniper Rifle is now less accurate when hipfiring, and it only headshots when zoomed in. - Added an option to toggle 2004 fires. - Added the option to exit back to the main menu. - Added additional skins to the Zombine. - Credits go to the Quick-And-Easy Zombine Creation kit/base by ChalkyMalky and Devteam53 - Improved the Zombine's default skin. - Credits go to the Quick-And-Easy Zombine Creation kit/base by ChalkyMalky and Devteam53 - Made it so the sound slows down in Bullet Time mode. - Bullet Time no longer lasts as long as it did originally. - Fixed a bug where the grapple used up too much HEV Suit battery. - Adjusted Grapple default values to be more lenient. - Improved suit devices in vehicles. - The HEV Suit Aux Power battery will no longer be fully charged on spawn. Instead, it will charge to completion rapidly on spawn. - Fixed a bug where vehicle viewmodel bugs would still be in effect when grappling. - Added crosshair color customization. - Added a more defined crosshair.
Please note that this beta update has no updated localization files yet. They will be applied in a later update.
And with that, FR development is taking a break for the holidays! Happy Holidays everyone!
Update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta Released (12-20-2024)
An update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta has been released. The update will be applied when you restart FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta.
Note: This requires you to use the "beta" beta branch within Steam. Go to properties, betas and then select "beta"
- Fixed a bug where the kick viewmodel doesn't show up upon exiting a flipped over vehicle. - Added various options for fine-tuning the Grapple. - Added an option to toggle 2004 blood. - Added the Physics Gun as a development tool. - Added development tools to the Randomizer and Impulse 101 weapon pools. - Sounds are now in their own VPK, improving download speeds.
Please note that this beta update has no updated localization files yet. They will be applied in a later update.
Update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta Released (12-18-2024)
An update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta has been released. The update will be applied when you restart FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta.
Note: This requires you to use the "beta" beta branch within Steam. Go to properties, betas and then select "beta"
- You can now only purchase 5 Manhacks, Grenades and SLAMs at one time. - Lowered the maximum amount of SLAMs to 5. - Increased the Kash price of Manhacks from 1500 Kash to 2500 Kash. - Antlions will now spawn in level 5 instead of level 7. - Lowered chances for HECU Marines and Robots to spawn with a Shotgun. - Improved HUD visibility.
Please note that this beta update has no updated localization files yet. They will be applied in a later update.
Update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta Released (12-18-2024)
An update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta has been released. The update will be applied when you restart FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta.
Note: This requires you to use the "beta" beta branch within Steam. Go to properties, betas and then select "beta"
- Added a feature where the game can automatically save when you level up. - Won't work in Hardcore/Permadeath Mode. - In the boss battle, the game will save upon every respawn. - Fixed a crash where Turrets would crash the game when reloading from a save file. - Fixed various vehicle related issues in firefight_whiteforest. - Improved some Human Grunt sounds. - Added more Robot Grunt sounds. - The AR2's scope mode now will only do headshot damage with the first shot from the magazine. - The M249 no longer has headshot damage. - Increased the damage and health of throwable Manhacks. - Fixed legs appearing in the Muscle Car.
Please note that this beta update has no updated localization files yet. They will be applied in a later update.
Update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta Released (12-17-2024)
An update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta has been released. The update will be applied when you restart FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta.
Note: This requires you to use the "beta" beta branch within Steam. Go to properties, betas and then select "beta"
- Added an option for fly node generation with TXT node generation. Set ai_txt_buildairnodes to 1 before loading a map for it to generate fly nodes. Delete the original ain file for it to do this. Won't work in maps without node txt files/game-generated nodes. - Added icons for the new maps. - You can now grapple into a vehicle. - Playerbots now can equip RPGs and use them in combat. - The Advisor now displays a screen effect when pinning the player after wallrunning. - The Advisor will now create drones in the first stage, but will create them at a slower rate than the second stage. - The rate in the second stage is controlled by the advisor's first stage throw rate. - Decreased the spawn rate of boss battle spawners to make the fight more fair on the ground floor and in air. - The Tau Cannon now acts more like the HL2 Jeep version. - Fixed some kills not recording with Tau Cannon. - Added an option to change the Gauss beam to the Half-Life 2 Jeep's. - Combine Aces are now much more grenade happy. - Added a Randomizer and Randomizer Permadeath loadout. - Turret kills are now counted. - Rebalanced ammo capacity. - Increased the health of reformed combine forces. - Added throwable manhacks. - There are now 2 different health values for enemy and allied vortigaunts. - Player-deployed turrets and manhacks now don't get removed by the game. - Cleaned up the HUD a bit. - Classic Mode will now send players to the boss battle when the player reaches 350 kills regardless of level.
Please note that this beta update has no updated localization files yet. They will be applied in a later update.
Update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta Released (12-12-2024)
An update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta has been released. The update will be applied when you restart FIREFIGHT RELOADED's Beta.
Note: This requires you to use the "beta" beta branch within Steam. Go to properties, betas and then select "beta"
- Fixed new_shield_model and new_shield_color attributes for Combine Ace. - Updated all HL2DM maps to their newer versions as of the 20th Anniversary update. - DM_Lockdown is slightly different to fix the shower clipping issue. - Regenerated cubemaps on halls3 due to the rename from the 20th Anniversary update version. - Added some kill icons. - Mapadds are now more simplified, making them easier to mod with the Fabricator modding tool. - All scripts are modified to make them compatible with the Fabricator modding tool. - Restored the dynamic squad behavior of Alien Grunts, Alien Controllers, and Houndeyes from their appearance in the original Half-Life. - Improved Combine Assassin AI. - Added the Combine Assassin Ace. - Added Playlist Chaining, a way of merging multiple playlists into one. - The Half-Life 2 Episode 1/2 playlists now extend the Half-Life 2 playlist, as they are now one game as of the 20th Anniversary update. - The FIREFIGHT RELOADED tracks are separate from the default playlists to allow for soundtrack updates without updating the main playlist. - Added 6 Half-Life 2 Survivor Maps: - su_gritlake - su_lockdown - su_losttown - su_darkfortress - su_stationc17 - su_sunsetcoast - Changed kash shop item order to prioritize more important items and upgrades over weapons and ammo. - Added generated node graphs. - Fixed the tutorial not ending at level 3 as originally intended. - Added the Classic Vortigaunt. - Added "enemy" versions of the normal and Classic Vortigaunts for modding. - Added the older Options menu to the main menu in case you can't use the normal options menu. - Moved the tutorial option to the map selection menu. - Added the Armored Headcrab, Zombines and Zombies. - Armored Zombies and Zombines are normal Zombies and Zombines that spawn with Armored Headcrabs, which provide reduced damage on headshot. - Improved Hunter firing sounds. - Optimized firefight_whiteforest. - Added more optimization options and added map-specific optimization options. - All players will now get the discontinued Killionare achievement when they start up the game. - Made it so the secondary fire makes the shotgun pump, even in semi-auto mode, by default. - Added the Muscle Car and Locator to firefight_whiteforest. - Added Kamikaze Zombies
Please note that this beta update has no updated localization files yet. They will be applied in a later update.
Update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's SDK Beta Released (12-12-2024)
An update for FIREFIGHT RELOADED's SDK Beta has been released. The update will be applied when you restart FIREFIGHT RELOADED's SDK Beta.
This patch is for the FIREFIGHT RELOADED SDK tool. To use it, go into the "Tools" section of your Steam library and install "FIREFIGHT RELOADED SDK".
Note: This requires you to use the SDK's "beta" beta branch within Steam. Go to properties, betas and then select "beta"
- Added the Fabricator, a simple yet complex script editor for FIREFIGHT RELOADED. - This tool is tuned specifically for the INVASION update, which is why it is currently in this beta branch. There will be a future beta update that will be compatible with this tool. - Added a feature to the Workshop Uploader where it will convert Steam Workshop URLs into IDs. - Improved stability.
Note: For all users, even those not in the beta, the Pre-ENDGAME launch option has been removed as ENDGAME is the main FR branch. To use the Pre-ENDGAME FGD, use the -preendgame launch parameter.
As I have said on the original comments and the Discord, the translations page on translations.bitl.dev is down, due to my hosting software, YunoHost, removing the software for the site after an update for it failed. Fortunately, all the data is safe and was saved in a backup. However, I wasn't able to restore the backup or re-install the software that runs translations.bitl.dev, so I found an alternative and uploaded the data there.
https://gitlocalize.com/repo/9958
The original blog post store.steampowered.com/news/app/397680/view/4536906156535185614 will be updated with the new link. If you're interested in translating, I'd highly recommend reading this post.
