Last month, MADFINGER Games deployed a huge update to the Gray Zone Warfare ecosystem. It was called Rogue Ops, and it marked a major milestone for the developer, taking the game from pre-alpha to alpha and delivering new locations, lore, missions, mechanics, and much more of a thick endgame loop.
Today, the team has rolled out 0.5.1.0, a substantial update that addresses the core issues present with the delivery of Rogue Ops. It takes the frustrations of the community and (hopefully) does away with them, bringing major changes to how AI enemies behave and how the new Hideout mechanic works.
Major Gray Zone Warfare Update Fixes Key Issues
In the patch notes for the new 0.5.1.0 update in Gray Zone Warfare, the team revealed that they’ve finessed the game’s artificial intelligence:
We’ve made significant changes to how AI enemies detect and track players, with one clear goal: AI should be dangerous because it’s smart, without creating the impression that it’s cheating.
Enemies should no longer magically know your exact position after hearing a gunshot. Instead, sound only gives them an approximate location, and the farther away you are, the less accurate their guess becomes. AI enemies are no longer telepathic either! Rather than instantly sharing your exact position, they’ll rely on information they can actually gather, such as gunfire or the screams of their comrades.
Stealth is now more consistently viable, flanking is more realistic, and combat feels more balanced overall. The team advised that firefights will feel more dynamic and varied after this change.
Additionally, hitboxes, grenades, enemy movement, and how they behave in combat have all been examined and updated for this release. Everything from reaction times, hearing, player approximation, and cover behavior has been addressed.
The game’s Hideout mechanic, which was the beating heart of the 0.5 update, has been addressed. The team has tried to reduce any ‘unnecessary grind’, eliminating some of the ‘chore’ behavior associated with the new feature.
They’ve improved the rewards you get from handing over Hideout materials and increased how much money you make from selling the things you manufacture in your Hideout. Smuggling tasks have been made more lucrative, production and disassembly times have been adjusted, and the size and weight of some building materials have been reduced to make them more portable.
And in terms of the vast number of bug fixes and changes coming in the 0.5.1 update…
AI
- Fixed an issue where the flight of an AI’s grenade did not match its throwing animation
- Fixed an issue where AI hitboxes did not match their pose while aiming down sights
- Fixed an issue where AI in cover behind a door could hold it shut and teleport out of the doorway when shot
- Fixed an issue where some AI could fail to respawn for the rest of a deployment
- Fixed an issue where a recaptured COP could get fewer or no allied AI guards
- Fixed an issue where AI patrol members could stay at their spawn point instead of following their patrol leader
Animations
- Fixed an issue where the character could get stuck in the phone-holding animation
- Fixed a broken animation when switching from the Steyr AUG to a knife
- Fixed the Steyr AUG A3 reload animation for injured bandit AI
- Fixed characters briefly appearing in an A-pose on the “Choose your operator” screen
- Fixed AI not playing hit reaction animations when shot
Audio
- Fixed an issue where all sounds except UI sounds could disappear after respawning
- Fixed an issue where voice lines during the scenic flight were cut off after switching out of the game (Alt+Tab)
- Fixed an issue where active headphones stayed on during the scenic flight after switching out of the game during the loading screen
- Fixed an issue where nearby radios and TVs could play over each other
- Fixed ambient sound disappearing in the Staff Housing yard at Asylum
Gameplay
- Adjusted repair kit prices so the Gunsmith Tool Set costs more than the Firearm Tool Set
- Adjusted the weight and size of hideout building materials and disassembly materials
- Fixed an issue where the character could not stand up after going prone while overencumbered
- Fixed an issue where players could not repair an item when they had exactly the required amount of money
- Fixed an issue where Ground Zero radiation could stop for everyone on the server after a player died
- Fixed an issue where a repair timer could run endlessly
- Fixed an issue where players could not sprint directly from prone
- Fixed an issue where tripwires could trigger again when a player returned to them after dying
- Fixed sulfuric acid spawning in partial stacks on smugglers and pirates
- Fixed the manpack radio not always spawning at its locations
Health and Medical
- Fixed wrong use counts for blood bags and bandages when healing other players
- Fixed an issue where the health panel could show 100% damage on an organ that was not destroyed
- Fixed missing wound descriptions for bear traps and spike traps in the health panel
Tasks and Tutorial
- Fixed an issue where Chameleon tasks and some other tasks were not offered because a nearby task blocked them
- Fixed an issue where the “KIA – Tasks terminated” notification did not appear
- Fixed an issue where task items sent by vendors could be destroyed or were lost in the 0.5 character update, blocking the task
- Fixed an issue where handing over items for a task twice in quick succession could take the items or money twice but count them only once
- Fixed an issue where the smuggling bag could be removed from the task loot box, so the pickup objective could not be completed
- The Hazardous Treasures task now shows that a hacking tool is needed
- Fixed a Turncoat task briefing that asked for a package instead of a briefcase
- Fixed an issue where the tutorial task pop-up did not appear again after respawning in the helicopter
UI and Controls
- In-game news lists now use standard bullet points
- Added a pop-up that explains the season reset to returning players
- Updated hideout item icons to match their new sizes
- Fixed several Streamer Mode issues, including the player’s name showing in chat, a missing map icon, and broken squad and friend invites
- Fixed item details disappearing after inspecting an item
- Fixed an issue where vendors sent an empty message when hideout production was canceled
- The server shutdown notification is now translated
- Improved map performance when zooming or moving the map with many areas unlocked
- Fixed an issue where the in-game FPS counter showed different values than external FPS counters
- Fixed an issue where SA58 and Glock-18 kills and shots were not counted in weapon statistics
- Fixed an issue where returning players saw a different account creation screen than new players
- Fixed waypoints being placed with a delay
- Fixed the captured COP tooltip disappearing after reopening the map
- Fixed an issue where stash items could appear locked after opening the vendor tab and the settings menu
- Fixed an issue where players could not invite others to a squad because of a “different game version” message
- Fixed an issue where the Friends tab showed character rank, faction, and game mode for friends who were offline or had no character
- Fixed the game mode icon not updating after changing characters
- Fixed squished item images when splitting a stack
- Fixed balaclava and cap icons not fitting their inventory slots
- Fixed news article images not appearing until the article was reopened
- Fixed the hideout production progress bar disappearing when the player had enough resources for another recipe
- Fixed a stack count showing on unstackable items in hideout disassembly
- Fixed the color of the cancel production button in the hideout
- Fixed the Field Manual title staying in English in Polish
- Fixed a typo in the season transition message
- Fixed incorrect dashes in the credits
Visuals and Rendering
- Cloud shadows now update smoothly on all graphics presets
- Reduced cloud shadows on the ground in sunny weather
- Fixed pixelated effects in the night sky during storms with Effects Quality set to Low
- The particle effect when a weapon is hit is now easier to see
- Reduced ghosting around bright glowing surfaces
- Fixed map and UI flickering when HDR is enabled
- Fixed flickering hair and beards in the character preview on the Equipment tab
- Fixed an issue where weapon parts could appear at the character’s feet after changing apparel
- Fixed an issue where the light from a tripwire flare could disappear when looking away from it at certain angles
- Reduced grass flickering at night, mostly with night vision and DLSS
- Cloud shadows near the player now update smoothly on all graphics presets
Weapons and Parts
- Fixed an issue where knife attacks sometimes did not deal damage, mostly at low stamina
- Fixed an issue where a 32-round magazine could not be fully loaded after a round was chambered from it
- The Steyr AUG now warns that a suppressor does not fit with the 14.5″ or 16″ barrel and a handguard, instead of showing it as compatible
- Fixed some rifles from UNLRA weapon crates coming loaded with the wrong ammunition
- Fixed an issue where weapons were canted less with a folded magnifier, hiding the center of the screen
- Fixed an issue where a magnifier on the G36 could block the view through the collimator
- Fixed an invalid attachment combination of the M700 modX rail, the Juliet flip-away mount, and the Juliet4 4x magnifier
- Fixed floating trigger parts on stripped Steyr AUG receivers in item details and when dropped
- Fixed the Glock 17 (Olive) appearing tan
- Fixed reticles of NVG-compatible collimators becoming too bright and blurry when using night vision
- Fixed weapon and binocular hitboxes being the wrong size and blocking bullets while put away
- Fixed bullets sometimes not causing wounds, bleeding or knockdown after hitting armor or ricocheting
World
Base camps and starter towns
- Fixed an issue where players could get stuck on the observation platform at FOBs
- Fixed an issue where players could get stuck behind the chair inside the container at FOBs
- Fixed floating medical supplies near the ambulance at Emergency Response in all starter towns
- Fixed a spot where players could get stuck between the bridge and terrain near the Lumberyard in Nam Thaven
- Fixed a spot near the Villas at the CSI base camp where players could get stuck between the terrain and stairs
- Fixed a spot near Bravo 1 where players could get stuck after going prone underwater
Fort Narith
- Fixed an invisible wall that blocked bullets at a corner of the underground hangar
Hunter’s Paradise
- Fixed a spot near COP Bearcat where players could get stuck between a rock and a tree
- Fixed a spot in a stream north of Foxtrot 2 where players could get stuck
- Fixed a spot in a riverbed near Foxtrot at (163, 166) where players could get stuck
- Fixed a spot at Ban Langphou where players could get stuck between a car and a roof
- Fixed the notebook for capturing COP Panther clipping through the tent
Midnight Sapphire and nearby villas
- The card reader at Villa Marta now shows a message when there is no power
- Fixed floating loot near the Midnight Sapphire and the roadside houses
- Fixed a spot at Villa Erica where players could get stuck between a wardrobe and the ceiling
Pha Lang Airfield
- Fixed a spot near the hangar at Pha Lang Airfield where players could get stuck in a plastic box
- Fixed loot clipping with a body near Papa 1 LZ
- Fixed a spot at the South Hangar where players could get stuck between a wall and boxes
Tiger Bay
- Fixed food spawning in the makeshift laboratory fridge
- Fixed loot clipping through objects at the Vacant Farm
- Fixed a spot near Tiger Bay where players could get stuck between rocks
- Fixed spots near Banmou Lake where players could get stuck between rocks
YBL-1
- Fixed spots near the Criminal Hideout and the Riverside Shack where players could get stuck between rocks or between the terrain and a log
- Fixed a spot at YBL-1 West where players could get stuck between rocks
- Fixed a spot at FN-3 Auxiliary Base where players could get stuck between rocks and the terrain
Asylum
- Fixed the SATCOM Terminal not spawning at its location
- Fixed missing mutated tissue in the morgue laboratory
- Fixed mesh fences that cut players like barbed wire
- Fixed a loose loot spot that spawned two items
- Fixed a window with no collision
RLSL-1
- Fixed the sewer door under the Telescope Building that could not be opened
- Fixed the stair railing at the living quarters blocking bullets
- Fixed missing collision on a concrete sign
- Fixed a duplicated TV at the Headquarters
- Fixed spots where players could get stuck between rocks and trees near the living quarters, around the Telescope Building, and behind pallets
- Fixed a spot at the Radar where players could get stuck on a food trolley
Research Site
- Fixed spots where players could get stuck between rocks, trees, and furniture near the main entrance, the Research Facility, and the Armory
Other locations
- Fixed a spot in a cave at (196, 114) where players could get stuck
- Fixed floating loot near the Sawmill
- Fixed a spot near the Sawmill’s Remote House where players could get stuck between rocks
- Fixed electrical parts clipping at the Campsite
- Fixed a doubled window at the Hidden Dock
Other Fixes
- Fixed several game crashes, including crashes when attaching optics and when quitting during the tutorial
- Fixed several server crashes
- Fixed an issue where squad members could be sent to a different server after the squad leader changed the server region
- Fixed misaligned “Joint Operations” text on the custom servers screen
- Fixed an issue where the game mode could be switched during and after creating a custom server
- Fixed an issue where players could be kicked when connecting after switching to a character with a different faction or game mode
Are you eager to see how Gray Zone Warfare behaves after this latest update? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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