Rust 2024 Roadmap: Backpacks, Clans, Performance Improvements, & More

(Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes)

Rust is still going strong in 2024 after over a decade since its Early Access release, thanks to its continuous support from its developer, Facepunch Studios, and the player base. This year, this multiplayer survival title still has more in store for its players, as outlined by its new roadmap. So, keep reading, and let's dive deep into the Rust 2024 roadmap.

Rust 2024 Roadmap: What to Expect

New content, features, and performance enhancements are at the core of the Rust 2024 roadmap. Below are brief overviews of what to expect from these additions and changes for the game’s PC version:

Backpacks

Inventory management can be challenging when you frequently run out of storage space while exploring the map. In February, Rust released the Bags to Riches update, which included backpacks, a highly requested addition by the game’s player base. Players can choose among two different in-game backpack sizes: small and large. The former only has 12 slots, while the latter has 28. This addition also comes with a new inventory slot for the backpack. However, the bag and its contents will drop upon death. Watch the trailer below for a quick look at this feature and other elements included in the Bags to Riches update:

Clan System

Lamalove, one of Facepunch’s developers, posted a commit months ago, showing that the company is working on a new clan system for Rust. Here’s the description of that commit:

• Implement a bunch of clan score events
• Killing a player from another clan
• Killing unarmed players (lose score)
• Being killed by a player in another clan (lose score)
• Destroying Bradley
• Destroying a TC owned by another clan
• Hacking a crate
• Running the excavator
• Boarding the cargo ship

With that, Rust players should be able to fight other clans to rise to the top with unique scoring possibilities. It also highlights the negative effects of killing unarmed players, which may help reduce challenges for new players.

Nexus System

Imagine interacting with an online friend from another server. It’s the idea behind the Nexus System, which might be released in a future update in 2024. In particular, the Rust Nexus System should work by allowing the game’s servers to form clusters, allowing players to travel to different servers using various modes of transportation. It could then link thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of Rust players to explore different maps and interact with other users.

Nighttime Enhancements

Walking around at night in one of Rust’s maps is a nightmare. Scouring in the dark for loot can make you into a free target for a sniper using the shade as a cover. In 2024, Rust’s developers may enhance the graphics when the in-game clock reaches nighttime. However, the developers still see it as nighttime to be a time of rest for weary players. Perhaps it's also the time to brush up on your Rust guitar skills.

Global Rendering

Last year, Rust’s developers released Global Rendering, a feature that should help reduce bases appearing suddenly. However, it might’ve been too early to release that feature as the Facepunch Studios disabled it less than a month after its launch because of the appearance of performance issues. However, the developers didn't forget about this feature and plan to rerelease it sometime in 2024. But first, further testing must be done before Global Rendering returns to Rust.

Additional Anti-Cheat Measures

Rust's developers still firmly believe that one of the best anti-cheat measures is obscurity. So, the game-developing company won't announce the details behind their latest anti-cheat measures, reducing the risks of cheaters gaining the upper hand. Nonetheless, Facepunch Studios promises to monitor and combat cheaters actively daily.

Additional Changes

Apart from the additions and improvements highlighted above, below are other things to expect from the Rust Roadmap 2024:

• Older monument reworks and improvements
• Continue experimenting and making meta changes to gunplay
• Softcore game mode Improvements
• Hardcore game mode experimenting
• Experimenting with progression
• Improvements to AI
• Improvements to events such as the patrol helicopter, Launch site APC and Cargoship
• World environment
• Underwater exploration
• Missions
• Using our data analytics to identify less commonly used items and balancing
• Experimenting with new ways/events to encourage players to engage with PvP