July Update - Tonight! what can you expect to see.

The July 2025 update introduces several key gameplay features, policy changes, and visual improvements to support a more structured and user-friendly Rust experience.

Party System

A pre-game party system has been added, allowing players to group up from the main menu before joining a server. Party members will spawn within roughly 100 metres of one another on first join, facilitating coordinated starts. Parties can be created using the `party.inviteparty` console command or through friend invitations in-game or via Steam and Discord.

Deployable Snapping

Deplorables such as furnaces, lockers, beds, planters, and shelves can now be snapped precisely to walls or aligned with one another using basic or advanced snapping modes. This supports cleaner base layouts and significantly reduces the need for repositioning items post-placement. Players can adjust snapping behaviour through a dedicated menu setting.

Outpost Respawning

Players may now unlock Outpost as a spawn point by completing a one-time mission from the NPC located there. Once unlocked, Outpost can be used as a safe respawn location with a 30-minute cooldown between uses. This offers a fallback option for players under pressure without undermining early-game progression or base recovery.

Patrol Helicopter Behaviour

The patrol helicopter’s targeting and flight logic have been improved to increase predictability. It now maintains patrol boundaries more consistently and uses a defined flee path, displayed via a dotted map line. If shot down, it reliably crashes at the airfield. It will no longer flee if its target is within close proximity of a monument centre.

Ban Policy Update

Facepunch has introduced a ban reconsideration policy. Players with a single ban older than eight months and no repeat offences are now permitted to repurchase the game on a new account. Hardware bans, recent bans, and multiple offences remain ineligible. This does not clear disciplinary records; violations after re-entry will lead to permanent removal.

Additional Changes

- Legacy Wood walls and gates are now available in the Legacy Wood DLC

- Two new storage barrel variants have been added to the Abyss DLC

- Visual updates include biome fog adjustments, improved volumetric cloud rendering (currently on staging), and expanded post-processing

- Auto Turrets have received stability optimisations

- Bug fixes include improved water purifier handling, nametag display consistency, and accurate decal spraying on layered building blocks

- Admins using `debug.invis` now see an active indicator when invisible

These changes aim to support improved player coordination, fairer policy enforcement, and more efficient base management while maintaining Rust’s overall balance and challenge.