State of Decay 2 just got a big patch for stability and bug fixes

The Case of the Disappearing HUD has been solved

If technical issues have been bringing you down in State of Decay 2, today’s patch is hopefully here to help. It’s a large, far-reaching update that touches “just about every bit of the game.” The download is a whopping 20GB, though Undead Labs says that future updates “should top out at about 5GB.”

The very first item on the list, “Grenades no longer get stuck and explode in front of client character’s face or behind their head while throwing,” is indicative of the kinds of problems this patch intends to smooth over. Improvements for stability, performance, and multiplayer were the priority here.

“We have big plans for State of Decay 2, and we’re humbled and appreciative to you for giving us the opportunity to make those big plans happen,” said studio head Jeff Strain. “Keep playing, keep surviving (or not, as sometimes happens), and stay tuned for more good stuff!”

I was always going to wait for an update or two before beginning State of Decay 2; I played the original game, so I knew to expect a rough launch. Recent travel and review commitments have made it easy to follow through on that plan, but now that I’m back home, I think it’s time to get started.

Even with the grenade bug fixed, I still feel like my survivors are going to have a terrible accident.

Patch 1.2 Highlights

Gameplay

• Grenades no longer get stuck and explode in front of client character’s face or behind their head while throwing
• Fixed instances of clients dealing damage to their host’s non-active community members with explosives
• Flashlight beams no longer cast shadows from the player’s character model (which had caused flickering shadows)
• Characters no longer “self-shadow” when using a flashlight in multiplayer
• Fixed issue with doors appearing the opposite of the state they are in
• Resolved situation where, when getting into vehicles, the camera could become detached from the player’s character
• Fixed issue where, when clients swap weapons while in vehicles, the weapons do not swap upon exit from vehicle
• Fixed rare bug that could prevent Warlord legacy arc from being completed
• Fixed rare bug that could block Sheriff legacy arc from starting
• Fixed issue where player’s loot sometimes becomes invisible until their entire backpack is deposited into a Supply Locker

Networking and Multiplayer

• Numerous networking bandwidth and CPU improvements
• Game now exits to main menu faster when a client loses their internet connection, so players will no longer hang after dismissing the pop-up
• Improved network vehicle interactions in multiplayer games to address weird “rubber-banding” and physics issues (including cars flying into the air).
• Host facilities no longer appear invisible to clients during multiplayer

Zombie and Character Behavior

• Zombies no longer become immune to the Assault Kick
• Reduction of step height to prevent survivors popping up onto props while moving

HUD

• Fixed issue with player HUD disappearing after NPCs are executed by zombies
• Community advice list no longer shows up under vignette on the map

Environment and Collision

• Fixed numerous collision spots across all 3 maps where players or vehicles were getting stuck
• Fixed numerous collision spots across all 3 maps where players were getting stuck in an infinite freefall animation loop
• Elimination of white line that appears when driving at night time
• Addressed a variety of spots in world where player was not able to climb over props they should’ve been able to
• Additional polish and reduction of LOD popping
• Additional lighting tuning passes, reduction in glowing props

Other Fixes

• Addressed a variety of general crash bugs
• Updated a number of strings that were previously hardcoded in English
• Audio mix optimizations

Path 1.2 Highlighted Changes [State of Decay 2]