Added fastload archive file injection (which allow us to ship certain files as archives which are loaded faster than the single files).

Added the low quality textures as fastload archive.

Added precomputed shader files as fastload archive.

Added precomputed map’s nav meshes as fastload files.

Improved the LUA script loading routine.

Removed fsb files from the default consistency check.

Packet loss handled gracefully

Improved reliability & responsiveness

Users can reconnect to servers now almost immediately

Fixed issues that caused the server and client to fall into a infinity loop under certain circumstances (commonly known as the “half crash”)

The ping values are now correct and updated with every packet

net_stats now shows the ping, packet loss rates and Out of Order amounts.

Reworked the way net_log works to be able to fully debug all kind of network issues.

Fixed an issue that negatively impacted the performance for users of the Intel Core-i CPU series

Improved the overall thread handling (updated the Intel TBB library etc.)

Now using the VC 12 toolsets, which increases stability.

Replaced Spark’s own shared pointer class with the C++11 shared pointers, which improves memory management.

New players now have to play the 5 minutes long tutorial before being able to join a server.

This doesn’t apply on any of the training mode’s servers (Tutorial, Sandbox and vs. Bots)

Marine Bots now trace targets with human reaction times.

Marine Bots now detect enemies based on sight and sound.

All in-game UI elements (excluding the console, r_stats, net_stats, etc) will scale now accordingly to your screen’s resolution.

Scale all used fonts so they are always easy to read.

While holding shift you can now peek around corners without exposing your complete body as skulks. Basically what the enemy sees fits now to what you see.

Instead of moving the egg before evolving has finished if there is not enough room for the evolving lifeform, you now move after evolving

Egg placement logic has been made more fail safe

Added extra bindings for voiceover options: “Weld me”, “Follow me”, etc.

Updated the bot names list.

You can now access the badge manage page of hive directly from the Customize Player menu

Eggs killed by an exo will now show up correctly in the killfeed.

Dropped weapon expire times now are displayed for the commander.

Added the derelict concept art as loading screens

Added an unstuck command

Added experimental Local Voice Chat, a new voice chat channel which will only be played locally to teammates and has a 3D effect applied on it. By default the local voice chat key is unbound.

Bots now use random skins

Bloom is now disabled by default (as it caused various issues for multiple GPU models).

The server update rate on auto-join is now 100 ms which is equally to the steam server browser used one.

Added an atmospheric density option to change its density.

Adjusted the default options. Sensitivity is now 2.5 by default and raw input is now on by default

Added “Frontiersmen” as a menu music option

Adding tagging of map to screenshots. Now when you take screenshots and upload them to Steam, it will show which map the screenshot was taken on.

Added collision geo behind the spectator join in the ready room

Increased los blocking grate in geothermal to obscure more of the tp

Adjusted cover for the rt in geothermal to stop it from being sniped from the window

Added glass above door in offices (was missing)

Added collision to most glass windows in the office area linking to turbines

Fixed that the regeneration animation and sound was played when an alien structure got dropped.

Fixed nameplates showing up under the Insight name/HP bar while zoomed in Overhead spectator.

Fixed vote keys being blocked for the first press if there’s no active vote.

Unknown keys (like ö ä é etc.) can now be used in keybindings

Don’t apply the afk check on the local host. That will stop local servers from shutting down all the time.

Fixed that some tip video’s subtitles did not get clipped correctly

Fixed that in overview spectator both kind of nameplates did show up when you zoomed in close enough

Fixed that it was possible to reset the to hive reported playtime

[Linux] You can now select sound devices properly.

Fixed some minor compiler issues.

Fixed standing on a gorge tunnel when the exit gets closed will cause the tunnel mouth to stay open instead of closing

You can now use the a DNS for your server. This is pretty helpful if you don’t have a static ip. Numerous free dynamic DNS services can be found in the internet.

To enable this feature you can just use sv_dyndns <dns>

After a vote kick the kicked player now get banned for the amount of votekickbantime minutes (default: 30)

You can disable the consistency check now with the consistency_enabled option

Banned client’s connections get now rejected directly before they even count to the connecting clients queue

Made window sizes for model and sound browser bigger by default so you don't have to resize everything to see anything

Fixed tools not being able to find the executable directory for resources

You can now vertically resize the "Play Animation/Cinematic" windows

Pathing layer is no longer ported over when loading levels

Optimized rendering a little

OverviewInvisible and InvisibleGeometry groups in the editor are no longer rendered

You can now open files like levels directly with the Spark tools via “Open with”

Locations now support rotation in game

Added no_evolve which prevents a player from evolving on top of it

Added SetFontAndSize(fontFamily, fontSize) function for text elements to choose a properly scaled version of the font family chosen to avoid blurry fonts when scaling.

Added GUIMakeFontScale(guiItem) function that checks the current guiItem scale and font choice and automatically chooses the appropriate scale and font to avoid blurriness. Make sure you apply both scale and font size before using this function.

New ModLoader API: Read more details here

luajit: Changed debug.set(local|upvalue) to flush all traces when it's used on immutable upvalues so it doesn't crash anymore.

Marine bots do not move their weapon correctly in the tutorial.

The Editor currently does not assign textures to geometry when there are too many entities visible

Hi everyone!Patch 276 is finally ready for release. The Changelog is below this text & will be posted on the main site tomorrow.We're shooting for around 10-11am PDT // 1-2pm EDT // 6-7pm UK // 7-8pm (19:00-20:00) CET // 4am AEST (Friday morning).Thank you all for bearing with us and continuing to run your NS2 servers!Cheers!-ObraxisCo-Lead NS2CDTWith these changes load times should be much improved.Known Issues: