Greetings, Pilots!
Today marks Season 6's first update. We're calling this one a small patch for overall fixes and polish, tackling issues that popped up after the new version dropped, plus some optimization items already on our list.
We've seen some questions about our update pacing, and worries that the season's too short to finish the Battle Pass. Let's clear that up.
As we mentioned in a previous Dev Notes, Season 6 will last at least 10 weeks. We plan to launch a mid-season update with new Modified Strikers in late November, and expect to wrap up Season 6 and start Season 7 in late December.
In the previous update, we mentioned that we would gradually adjust or update the game's existing gameplay depending on feasibility. This time, we made some basic adjustments to Vigil Imbrium/Eye of Misra and Cape Blanc Observatory/Stella Observatory Isle.
Vigil Imbrium/Eye of Misra: With these changes, we want to make combat positions on these two maps more focused, so that players no longer face the high-pressure decision of all three points being active at once, letting Pilots concentrate more on the fight.
Cape Blanc Observatory/Stella Observatory Isle: This round of changes adds a countdown display, helping Pilots plan their combat priorities more clearly.
The changes to the above two map groups are relatively light, so we've decided to release them first once adjustments are complete. Maps that need extra work will go live gradually once they're ready. For example, some capture point maps are easier to defend than to attack, and payload maps have a very uneven strategic emphasis across the full match—these are all issues we hope to gradually resolve.
Finally, we're also exploring new battle modes based on existing maps to enrich the 6v6 gameplay experience. This content is still in the preparation stage, and it's one of our key development goals for December.
In addition, optimizations to more systems will roll out in subsequent updates, such as the Achievement Mission system. Currently, the Achievement Mission system has two problems:
- With updates and Striker performance adjustments, some missions can no longer be completed normally;
- The completion conditions of some missions don't match the Striker's team role, which can put players in conflict between completing the mission and helping the team win the match.
Based on this, we'll prioritize lowering the requirements for some missions so Pilots can unlock the related Achievements, Medals, titles, and Weapon Skins more smoothly. On that basis, we'll rework certain missions to better align with the relevant Strikers' traits and protect team interests.
Finally, since we've brought up the mid-season update, that means new MOD Strikers are on the way too—the Modified Hurricane's Aux is now in the final stages of production, and the related model and effects design are progressing as expected. We'll bring you more detailed information in the future.
See you on the battlefield!
