VEIN update cuts content file size in half, targets structural collapse

The latest VEIN development update is on the experimental Steam beta branch rather than the live game. Hotfix 5 and 6 bundle a month of bug fixes, and the same update adopts a lossless content compression method that cuts the game's content file size in half. Patch notes: Hotfix 5 | Hotfix 6.

Placed objects are being given physical load-bearing ability: exceed the limit and the structure collapses. The point is to allow standalone buildings like a cabin in the woods without letting players cover a town in Rust-style towers. It's work-in-progress and planned for 0.025 unless something changes. Vehicle physics are part of the same work, so attached furniture won't be destroyed on impact; it simply becomes physical.

Vehicle design work is done ahead of replacing all vehicle art. All vehicles in VEIN now have real-life analogues, some renamed to match. The new art includes animated dash readouts and steering wheels, glove boxes, hoods, trunks, gas covers, doors, removable seats, plus dynamic rust, dirt, and scratches that build up over time.

Greenhouses with intact glass keep temperatures warm through the seasons and let plants grow relatively well. New greenhouses can't be built yet, but existing ones should work. Building maintenance is also changing: dirt and mold buildup is now tied to maintenance quality, and buildings can be repaired with salvaged items.

VEIN now has roughly 30 zombie types, including sports equipment wearers, job-specific outfits, and outdoor clothing. Zombies' damage profile has been audited and rebalanced, and their behavior list has been cleaned up ahead of new character art and animations.

Blunt melee animations are finished and much more impactful than the placeholders, with work moving to the Fifty-Seven pistol. The new player character is also being integrated: hair and clothing code has been cleaned up, and weapon attachment positions are being ported so held items don't float.

• Controller support: Gamepad and keyboard/mouse keybinds are now separate in settings, with slider and focus support added across many UI elements. More work is needed before gamepad support matches modern games.
• HLODs: Distant stand-in geometry is more accurate now and can include trees and buildings, which should let dense forests and landscapes be visible from far away without a performance hit.
• Server performance: A fix is coming for utility cabinets. Previously, every cabinet had to recompute coverage whenever something was built or destroyed; with dozens of cabinets on a dedicated server, that was a major bottleneck. The next update should fix it, a preliminary step against desync and rubberbanding.

The team is also integrating new art, continuing work on Westwood's north section with unique interiors for new buildings, plus ongoing 0.025 work and general bugfixing.