In the latest update, Rust has added a new feature that lets players track their contacts on servers where it's enabled, a novel solution for the survival game's lawless nature. That’s quite a nice social addition for players tired of being griefed, and it's well-timed as Rust recently came to Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
After an eight-year stint on PCs, Rust Console Edition was released at the end of May. While the Xbox One and PS4 versions of Rust are basically the same as the PC release at their core, it was designed by Double Eleven studio specifically for console players as a separate experience. According to the studio, it was decided from the early stages of production that the two versions of Rust would exist independently. The console versions will be introduced to the major pieces of content already available on PC, but the two clients won’t share the same update roadmap going forward. The first sign of this difference is the latest update, which is currently available for PC players only.
On its official Rust blog, Facepunch Studios revealed that a new social feature had been added to Rust to help players keep track of their interactions with other users in the game. This contact system adds a new tab to the inventory menu, where survivalists can categorize the players they’ve encountered either as "friendly" or "enemy." Those who have killed a player will be automatically flagged as enemies by the system, while anyone that a players comes into close contact with will be added to a separate “seen” category. It sounds quite handy even for the recently added Softcore Gamemode, but servers that wish to maintain the pre-update experience can disable the contact system. Additionally, binoculars received a slight upgrade in the update, now showing friends and foes with small icons over players' heads at a glance.
A basic iteration of a reputation system is also included in the latest Rust update, and Facepunch says the early feature will be improved upon soon. It remains to be seen if the contacts feature will prove effective in reducing players confusion, but the recent update could contribute to the game’s sudden resurgence in popularity. Back in January, Rust set a new concurrent player count record, peaking at over 240,000. With yet another major update and the recently released Rust Console Edition, the developer seems determined to keep new and old players engaged.
It seems as though the latest Rust update is the developer's way of encouraging players to socialize, especially those who aren't notorious for killing everyone on sight regardless of their victims’ intentions. The additional reputation system will also likely help gamers find like-minded pacifists (or fellow cold-blooded killers) to team up and survive with. It's a fitting and logical step for the game to take, and Rust Console Edition players are likely wondering when they'll get their own version of these quality-of-life features.
Rust is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Source: Facepunch Studios