PATCH NOTES [ENG]

Fonte: Sito ufficiale

DARK ZONES

For PTS Phase 2, the Dark Zone structure still revolves around three rotating rulesets: Classic, Toxic, and Balanced Dark Zones.

This phase is mainly about seeing how each Dark Zone variant feels: if the rules are clear and the rewards feel worth it, how the updated weapons and gear affect PvP, and how the overall experience comes together.

The PvP balance pass applies across all PvP environments, including Conflict and all Dark Zone variants. More details are available in the Global PvP Balance section below.

A Dark Zone vendor overhaul has also been added, with updated inventories, new caches, and rebalanced DZ Currency costs.

DARK ZONE ROTATION

DARK ZONE VARIANTS

CLASSIC DARK ZONE

(PvEvP / Normalized / Global PvP Balance: Active / SHD & Expertise: Active / Rogue Protocol: Active)

Classic Dark Zone remains the baseline PvPvE experience, with Normalization, SHD Watch, Expertise progression, Rogue Protocols, and periodic Invasions active.

TOXIC DARK ZONE

(PvE / Normalized / Global PvP Balance: Active / SHD & Expertise: Active / Rogue Protocol: Disabled / Season / Toxicity)

Toxic Dark Zone remains the seasonal PvE-focused variant, with Rogue Protocols and friendly fire disabled. Toxicity builds over time and can be managed through Surged Active Modifiers, Safe Houses or by leaving the zone.

Even though Toxic Dark Zone is PvE focused, it is still part of the wider Dark Zone experience. Global PvP Balance also applies here, so players can create builds around the same PvP ruleset used in other Dark Zones. The goal is to make the jump between PvE and PvP variants feel less abrupt, without requiring a full build rethink.

For Phase 2, several changes have been made:

• Landmark Chests now drop Sample Cannisters as contaminated cache items. These work like regular contaminated items and must be extracted.
• Calling the Extraction Helicopter in the Toxic Dark Zone now requires a Stabilization Agent, which has a 33% chance to drop from Landmark Chests.
• Toxicity no longer resets when entering a Dark Zone Safe House. Instead, the current Toxicity value is frozen while inside.
• Toxicity debuffs have been reduced.
• Toxic Dark Zone Hunter difficulty has been adjusted.
• Toxic Dark Zone Hunters now guarantee 1 Exotic Component each and have a dedicated 2% chance to drop Eagle Bearer or Ravenous.
• Sample Cannister gains and costs have been adjusted.

BALANCED DARK ZONE

(PvPvE / Normalized / Global PvP Balance: Active / SHD & Expertise: Disabled / Rogue Protocol: Active)

Balanced Dark Zone remains the competitive PvPvE variant, using high-level normalization based on the Conflict ruleset.

SHD Watch and Expertise are disabled. Deconstructing dropped contaminated items grants double Dark Zone Currency.

DARK ZONE VENDOR OVERHAUL

Dark Zone vendors have been adjusted for PTS Phase 2, with updated inventories, new utility and progression caches, and rebalanced DZ Currency costs.

Following Phase 1 feedback, we have reduced the cost of the new vendor caches:

• DZ East: Recalibration Cache (40 DZC) and Optimization Caches (60 DZC).
• DZ West: Exotic Component Cache (120 DZC / 4 Items) and Reconstructed Cache (180 DZC).
• DZ South: Prototype Core Caches (125 DZC) and Prototype Caches (260 DZC / Higher Chance for Better or Perfect Stats).

Full updated vendor inventory, all vendors:

Full updated vendor inventory, DZ East vendors:

Full updated vendor inventory, DZ West vendors:

Full updated vendor inventory, DZ South vendors:

PVP ENVIRONMENT IMPROVEMENTS

GENERAL DARK ZONE UPDATES

The Dark Zone entry and checkpoint updates introduced in Phase 1 remain part of the Phase 2 test.

Checkpoint Turret Damage Scaling

• To help prevent checkpoint containment, entrance turrets now deal additional direct Health damage to hostile Agents within range.
• Turrets inflict an additional 4% direct Health damage on top of their standard base values.

Entry Invulnerability Window

• Agents receive a 5-second invulnerability window immediately after entering a Dark Zone.
• This gives players a short moment to load in, check their surroundings, and decide their next move before taking damage.
• The invulnerability ends early if the player moves or fires their weapon.

GLOBAL PVP BALANCE

This first balance pass focuses on currently active Weapon and Gear Talents across Conflict and all Dark Zone variants. The goal is to reduce mandatory “must-pick” options and give more builds a chance to compete.

This is part of a wider, multi-phase effort. Future updates are planned to look at Skills, Attributes, Status Effects, and other PvP areas.

Following Phase 1 feedback, we made another pass on the PvP balance list. This includes some further tuning for damage talents, status-based talents, armor repair and bonus armor options, support focused builds, etc.

We also revisited a few specific items like Striker’s Battlegear, Cavalier, Core Strength, Negotiator’s Dilemma, Ongoing Directive, The Bighorn, Strega, Backfire, Pestilence, and many more.

The full numeric adjustments are listed separately in the dedicated balance list.

VEDI LA LISTA DEI BILANCIAMENTI (clicca qui)

Note: When reviewing these changes, please look at the wider PvP balance picture rather than focusing on one talent in isolation. Some changes may look significant on their own, but they are part of a broader effort.

MODIFIERS

Several Modifier adjustments have been made for PTS Phase 2:

• Pneuma – The Surge Effect no longer depends on the weapon used to apply stacks. For example, Inhale can now be triggered by Headshot kills with any weapon, not only MMRs/Rifles/Pistols.
• Sopoforic – Toxicity now only increases when Sopoforic applies Disorient through its own effect, instead of increasing on every hit.
• Plague Doctor – It now affects Health only, instead of Health and Armor.
• Active and Hostile Modifier values have been adjusted across multiple areas.

ESCALATION

Several reward and economy updates have been made for Phase 2.

REWARDS

• Escalation Completion rewards now grant +1 Exotic Component for each Escalation Tier, starting at Tier 5.
• Prototype targeted loot drops have been added back to Escalation chests.

ESCALATION TOKENS

The Escalation Token economy has been adjusted to better reward group leaders and make the overall flow less punishing.

REQUISITION VENDOR

Escalation Requisition Vendor prices have been updates to match the new token balance.

• Random Prototype Cache – 10 Escalation Tokens
• Gear Prototype Cache – 20 Escalation Tokens
• Weapon Prototype Cache – 20 Escalation Tokens

NEW GEAR, WEAPONS, TALENTS

The following adjustments have been made since PTS Phase 1.

Ortiz: Reficere Gear Set

• 4pc Talent “Ortiz Rapid Application Nanite Prototype”
  • Healing Duration and Radius reduced by 75% → 90%
  • Healing Efficiency increased by 100% → 150%
• Chest Talent “Overcharged Nanites”
  • Increase the Healing Efficiency bonus from 100% to 150%. → 150% to 225%
• Backpack Talent “Improved Dampeners”
  • Decrease the Duration and Range reduction from 75% to 25%. → 90% to 25%

Caduceus Exotic AR

• Talent Caduceus: 1.5% of the hit’s dealt damage → 2%
• Magazine Mod: 20 Rounds → 40 Rounds

Underboss Exotic SMG

• Underboss has been added to the Y8S2 Gear Cache.
• Its PTS1 Notes version had no mods, it will now have an Optic Mod providing +15% Crit Chance.

ADDITIONAL UPDATES

Prototype Gear

• Prototype Core costs for upgrading Prototype Augments have been increased. Maxing out one item now costs 46 Prototype Cores, up from 31.

Retaliation

• A new threat may now ambush you during Retaliation. Stay alert.

PTS ONLY

During the test, all modifiers will be unlocked from the start.

Adam Shipley’s Inventory:

• PTS Cache: Y8S2 Gear – Contains all upcoming Gear, their blueprints, their respective materials, and all other materials used in the Expertise system.
• PTS Cache: Materials – Contains Brand and Gear Set materials not included in the Gear cache, Prototype Cores, Escalation Token, and other materials used in the Expertise system.

Known Issues

• Some gear, weapons, and talent visuals are currently a placeholder.
• PTS Cache: Blueprints – is available in the PTS build, but it currently reflects its previous state and may not include all newer blueprints. The team is looking into a better solution for a blueprint access in future PTS builds.

QUESTO È IL PATCH NOTES DELLA FASE 1.
IL PTS È ATTUALMENTE NELLA FASE 2.

Fonte: Sito ufficiale

DARK ZONES & PvP UPDATE

Year 8 Season 2 brings a new structure to the Dark Zone, with the three existing maps rotating between different rulesets.

Each ruleset is built around a different type of experience: the seasonal PvE loop, a more even PvP environment, or the traditional Dark Zone risk-versus-reward gameplay.

PVE DARK ZONE

The PvE Dark Zone is a Year 8 Season 2-specific feature directly connected to the Cleaning up the Streets Global Modifier.

This version of the Dark Zone is designed for those who want to experience the space without the same PvP pressure. Rogue protocol is completely deactivated and damage between players is disabled. Agents are deployed into a highly contaminated environment not to fight each other, but to work together as a unified front.

Normalization is active, while SHD Watch and Expertise progression remain fully functional to help you deal with the threats inside.

It is still a shared area for up to 12 Agents that is meant to feel tense and unpredictable. This time, that tension comes from the environment and enemies, including Hyenas under the effects of Potent Spice, which makes them even stronger and more lethal.

What to expect:

• Toxicity covers the entire zone applying hazardous effects.
• You will be able to team up with others while you are there. The official party system is supported, and you can invite other Agents to group up.
• This Dark Zone becomes one of the main places to recover Sample Cannisters, a new seasonal resource tied to the Hyenas’ activity. They can be found from Landmark chests, material chests, Hyenas, and, at a reduced drop rate, other enemy factions.

Toxicity

Toxicity is a new pressure mechanic that starts building once you enter the area. Certain Hostile Modifiers can also increase it in different ways, so the longer you stay and the more encounters you take on, the more dangerous the area becomes.

As Toxicity rises, you will be affected by cumulative debuffs. To reduce it, you can activate a Surged Active Modifier. To clear it fully you can enter the safe house or a check point, or leave the Dark Zone completely.

NORMALIZED PVP DARK ZONE

The Normalized PvP Dark Zone is a new ruleset built for those who want a more competitive PvP experience with fewer progression-based advantages.

Normalization is active, while SHD Watch Power and Expertise Power are disabled. Everyone enters on a more even playing field, where your tactical decisions and aim carry more weight.

What to expect:

• High-stakes economy. To make this zone more rewarding for competitive agents, breaking down dropped contaminated items grants a 200% DZ Coin bonus.

STANDARD DARK ZONE

This zone functions as the traditional Dark Zone that Agents already know. It’s the “middle ground” for those who want the traditional risk-versus-reward loop.

Normalization remains active here, but SHD Watch and Expertise progression still count toward your power.

What to expect:

• Standard Rogue mechanics and periodic Invasions are active.

DARK ZONE VENDOR UPDATES

Dark Zone vendors have also been updated with new prices and additional utility caches. Each vendor now offers different cache types:

• DZ East: Recalibration Caches (90 DZC) and Optimization Caches (130 DZC).
• DZ West: Exotic Component Caches (160 DZC) and Reconstructed Caches (320 DZC).
• DZ South: Prototype Core Caches (170 DZC) and Prototype Caches (400 DZC) for ascending gear to the new Prototype Tier.

GENERAL DARK ZONE UPDATES

• Entrance turrets have been adjusted to better prevent door camping by dealing additional direct Health Damage to hostile Agents within range.
• Agents now receive a brief invulnerability window when entering the Dark Zone, giving them time to load in and assess their surroundings. This protection ends early if the Agent moves or fires their weapon.

PVP GEAR, WEAPONS, AND TALENTS BALANCING

Year 8 Season 2 also brings a broad PvP balancing pass, starting with a major retuning of weapon and gear talents.

This first phase focuses on addressing talents that have had too much impact on PvP balance, reducing some of the biggest power spikes, and giving more builds a chance to compete across Conflict and Dark Zone.

This is part of wider, multi-phase effort to improve PvP balance, with future phases planned to look at skills and attributes in PvP.

Due to the number of changes included, we’ve listed the full adjustments in a dedicated table.

VEDI TUTTE LE MODIFICHE PVP (clicca qui)

(È una lista in PDF di 33 pagine)

MODIFIERS

GLOBAL MODIFIER

Year 8 Season 2 introduces a new Global Modifier, Cleaning up the Streets, centered around the Hyenas’ latest experiments with Potent Spice.

As part of the season, Hyena forces are using the PvE Dark Zone as staging areas to store the chemical compounds needed to produce Potent Spice. These same compounds are also needed by civilians and Agents for humanitarian efforts, creating the core seasonal loop around recovering and using Sample Cannisters.

Sample Cannisters

Sample Cannisters are a new seasonal resource tied to the Hyena faction and the Global Modifier gameplay loop.

They are used in two main ways:

• Contribute Sample Cannisters at the seasonal vendor to increase the Sample Size bar and unlock stronger High Quality Munitions bonuses.
• Active Modifiers can automatically consume Sample Cannisters on activation to trigger a more powerful Surge version of their effects.

They can be found from several sources:

• PvE Dark Zone Landmark chests – Guaranteed large amount
• PvE Dark Zone material chests – Guaranteed medium amount
• Hyena enemies in the PvE Dark Zone – Medium chance to drop
• Hyena enemies outside the PvE Dark Zone during missions – Small chance to drop
• Other enemy factions – greatly reduced chance to drop

Sample Cannisters are sent directly to your inventory and do not need to be extracted.

Agents can carry a limited number of Sample Cannisters at once. This capacity can be increased by equipping a specific Passive Modifier.

Seasonal Vendor

The seasonal vendor is located in the Base of Operations, next to the Specialization table.

At the vendor, Agents can add Sample Cannisters to the Sample Size bar. Increasing Sample Size unlocks additional High-Quality Munitions bonuses throughout the season:

• Starting bonus: +50% Optimal Range
• Level 1: Adds +50% Weapon Handling
• Level 2: Adds +50% Magazine Size
• Level 3: Adds +50% Damage to Armor
• Level 4: Adds +50% Rate of Fire

These bonuses are cumulative, meaning each new level adds to the bonuses already unlocked. Once a level is reached, that bonus becomes part of the High-Quality Munitions buff.

High-Quality Munitions

High-Quality Munitions is the temporary buff granted after adding Sample Cannisters at the seasonal vendor.

• The bonuses included in this buff depend on your current Sample Size progress.
• The duration of the buff depends on the number of High-Quality Munitions stacks you receive.
• Each Sample Cannister added grants 5 High-Quality Munitions stacks.
• While at least one stack remains, all unlocked High Quality Munitions bonuses are active.

Stacks are consumed only by manual or automatic reloads from an empty magazine. Other effects that refresh ammo or reload weapons do not consume stacks. Once all stacks are depleted, the High-Quality Munitions buff ends.

ACTIVE MODIFIERS

Active Modifiers can be empowered through Surge.

When activating an Active Modifier, if you have enough Sample Cannisters in your inventory, the required amount is automatically consumed to trigger a stronger version of that modifier. Surged Active Modifiers improve the base effect, add extra bonuses, or reduce certain drawbacks depending on the modifier used.

While inside the PvE Dark Zone, activating a Surged Active Modifier also reduces Toxicity.

Active Modifiers can be upgraded. At higher levels, they gain improved effects such as shorter cooldowns, longer duration, or reduced Surge cost.

PASSIVE MODIFIERS

There are 9 Passive Modifiers, split into three categories: Gadgets, Resistances, and Offensive.

Together, they support the main seasonal mechanics by improving Sample Cannister management, reducing Surge costs, helping Agents deal with Toxicity and Status Effects, or adding new ways to debuff enemies.

HOSTILE COUNTERMEASURES

Hostile Modifiers in Year 8 Season 2 focus on strengthening enemies, supporting nearby faction members, and applying additional pressure to Agents.

Inside the PvE Dark Zone, Hostile Modifiers also interact with Toxicity, increasing the meter in different ways.

NEW WEAPONS, GEAR, AND TALENTS

NEW EXOTIC WEAPON

*This will be the Climax exclusive reward. It will not feature in the PTS.

NEW EXOTIC GEAR

NEW GEAR

NEW NAMED WEAPONS & TALENTS

PTS ONLY

During the test, all modifiers will be unlocked from the start.

Adam Shipley’s Inventory:

• PTS Cache: Y8S2 Gear – Contains all upcoming Gear, their blueprints, their respective materials, and all other materials used in the Expertise system.
• PTS Cache: Materials – Contains Brand and Gear Set materials not included in the Gear cache, Prototype Cores, Escalation Token, and other materials used in the Expertise system.

Dark Zone Rulesets During PTS

• Dark Zone East – PvE
• Dark Zone West – Normalized
• Dark Zone South – Standard

Known Issues

• Some gear, weapons, and talent visuals are currently a placeholder.
• PTS Cache: Blueprints – is available in the PTS build, but it currently reflects its previous state and may not include all newer blueprints. The team is looking into a better solution for a blueprint access in future PTS builds.