Last week, Hi-Rez Studios and developer First Watch Games delayed a major update for the multiplayer hero-shooter Rogue Company, instead offering players a new limited-time mode called "Extraction" to bide their time. The delayed update officially went live Monday, offering players access to a new map called "Vice" based in Miami, Florida, a new system to punish those who quit matches, and a training area.
Vice frames matches in the midst of a perpetual EDM festival called the Zero Drop Raid, bathed in pastel purples and oranges from a sunset that one might expect thanks to shows like Miami Vice. Rogue Company, the cross-platform shooter which is still in its closed beta, will offer players three types of matches on Vice: Practice Extractions, Strikeouts, and Demolitions.
For those players who are new to the game, or want to test out weapons, abilities, and characters they just unlocked, First Watch Games added a "Shooting Range" mode in this update. The developer has also implemented Rogue Company's deserter penalty system revealed last week to discourage players leaving matches early and going idle. If someone leaves a full party, is inactive for about two minutes, or disconnects at least five minutes before the end of a round, they will face an increasing timer that prevents them from queuing new matches.
This update is the first in a three-phase content roadmap put out by Rogue Company this month, with phase two promising to add in a new playable character, custom matches, ranked mode, and more. The Vice update also makes plenty of smaller changes meant to flesh out the game, such as adding the ability to undo purchases in the item shop, as well as new visual options for colorblind players.
Much like updates in any ongoing multiplayer title, First Watch Games also fixed a host of bugs, such as incorrectly displayed player names, while balancing character abilities, map spawn locations, and weapon statistics. Getting involved in the game's closed beta requires purchasing one of Rogue Company's three Founder's Packs, so it makes good business sense for the developers to be cleaning up as they go.
A brand-new map should keep players interested for a while, especially considering more locales are being planned. In fact, professional streamer Dr Disrespect is working on designing a Rogue Company map after showing off his chops to the game's development team on Twitter.
Rogue Company is in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Source: Rogue Company