Rust originally released into early access in December of 2013, where it was met with skepticism by critics and audience alike, releasing amid the then-burgeoning genre of survival-crafting where Rust struggled to differentiate itself. The development studio Facepunch has continued to tweak the title, resulting in a release in February 2018 that markedly differed from the early access version (now called the Legacy version) of the PvP title. Fans around the world embraced the cruel world (in spite of unbudging critical reception) of Rust where gamers either kill, or be killed.
Facepunch has continued to craft additional content for Rust post-launch, resulting in the title reaching the highest concurrent player count (244,394) on Steam on February 6, 2021. The torrent of content from Facepunch isn't ceasing, it appears, as a massive incoming content patch brings with it the promise of even more opportunities that may not directly translate to murder.
Developer Facepunch has offered a glimpse of what's to come in Rust's March update to keep the lands of the multiplayer-only title relatively fresh, bringing about an underground railroad system that players will be able to dive into for valuable loot. Granted, gamers will need to beat back hostile mobs called tunnel dwellers safely to exfil with their loot in tow. Along with the rail system come railroad track carts that could help burdened players find an exit without needing to piggy-back heavy loot.
Along with the track carts, Facepunch is also adding in major landmarks to Rust that will serve as train entrances for easy access to the tunnel system. It should be noted that the major landmarks will likely be overwatched by hostile players seeking an easy bit of loot from otherwise occupied players, but the carts could offer a reprieve from gunfire as players zoom along the tracks, ramming other carts haphazardly left by unfortunate souls that came before.
The Bandit Camp is also slated to receive three new slot machines that can offer payouts up to 6,000 scraps. The Bandit Camp (or Bandit Town) is well-known within the community for offering a popular casino for players to gamble with their scrap and multiple heavily-armed guards that ensure that the Bandit Camp stays protected from bad actors within the server. The March update promises even more reason for players down on their luck to seek the swampy marsh.
This update offers insight into the developers behind a title that is continuing to break concurrent player numbers three years after release, even while Valheim posts new records seemingly every week. Facepunch seemingly has no intention of stopping the content rollouts to continue to build-up its player base.
Rust is available to play on PC now, and is coming to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2021.
Source: PCGamesN