SPOTREP #00093Tue, 14 April 2020
FROM: High Command
TO: Arma 3 Users
UNIT: Main Branch (Windows)
ACTIVITY: Game Update 1.98 (Old Man, PhysX)
SIZE: ~ 1.65 GB / ~ 486 MB (depends on Contact ownership)
Notes Please be sure to unsubscribe or disable the Steam Workshop version of the "Old Man" scenario. It contained the beta version, but an improved version has now been integrated into the vanilla platform. The Workshop item will no longer contain game data (to avoid conflicts), but is no longer necessary for anybody.
Contact consists of 2 data packs / folders:
o Contact (via PLAY CONTACT or -mod=Contact): for the singleplayer "First Contact" campaign experience (accessible only to owners - optionally loaded)
o Contact (Platform): for most other use cases, including sandbox multiplayer (loaded by default for all players)
Consider using the Steam client option to verify the integrity of the local game cache to avoid corrupted data after downloading this update.
Consider defragmenting your HDD after downloading large updates.
Updating a deeply moddable game and its platform is not without risks. We use various methods to communicate upcoming changes to our awesome modding community, such as via the Dev Hub. We also co-operate directly on troubleshooting, and we offer an opportunity to test updates via our Release Candidate tests. Modders, server administrators and other members of the community do their best to prepare for updates and to address issues post-release as quickly as possible. Please be mindful of some interruptions (especially in the first hours / days after a release) while we all work to improve the game together.
A Legacy Build Steam branch is available for advanced users. It contains the previous significant main branch version (1.96). It can be used to compare specific changes between major releases. The access code for this branch is: Arma3Legacy196
This update does not apply to the experimental Linux and Mac port betas.
You can find the servers in the Steam library (switch the filter to "Tools") - "Arma 3 Server" (based on your OS, it will download the Windows or Linux version).
o Administrators can also use the command-line SteamCMD utility. The app ID is to be 233780.
o NVIDIA GameWorks Technology provided under license from NVIDIA Corporation. Copyright ฉ 2002-2018 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIAฎ and PhysXฎ are trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation and are used under license.
In case of problems, please check the Bohemia Interactive support F.A.Q., Arma 3 F.A.Q., BattlEye F.A.Q., or Launcher troubleshooting guide.
You can help us to further improve the game by posting your feedback on the Feedback Tracker.
CHANGELOGData Added: "Old Man" open-world singleplayer scenario* (unsubscribe or disable the Workshop mod)
Added: Static M2 (low / raised), with optional ballistic shield and collimator sight
Added: Red Beret
Added: Infected Characters (not accessible in the editor; documentation pending)
Added: Old Man items and props (medicine, bank cards, ID cards, etc.)
Added: Old Man decals
Added: Old Man Welcome Screen
Added: Old Man Field Manual records
Added: Old Man main menu tile (image only for now)
Added: The old Czech Hedgehog asset is no longer hidden
Added: Localization strings to some of the armed variants of vehicles (Qilin, Prowler (AT), MB 4WD (AT))
Added: Additional geometry to Tanoa Fire Escape Stairs - FT - T145614
Added: RscListBoxMulti config class for scripted UI creation of multi-selection list boxes
Added: BIS_fnc_transformVectorDirAndUp function for rotating vectorDir and vectorUp in 3 axes
Added: Optional mission config property arsenalRestrictedItems to blacklist undesired Arsenal equipment
o Example: arsenalRestrictedItems[] = {"U_B_Soldier_VR"};
Tweaked: BIS_fnc_startLoadingScreen - activated support for different loading screen resources
Tweaked: BIS_fnc_rotateVector3D was optimized and should now run up to 5x faster
Tweaked: BIS_fnc_ambientFlyBy was improved and cleaned up
Tweaked: Van should now be able to drive over bridges correctly - FT - T146150
Tweaked: View Geometry of some Altis structures - FT - T146447
Tweaked: Medikits and Toolkits can be now stored in vests if there is enough space - FT - T128710
Tweaked: AH-9 / M-900 fording depth
Tweaked: Crouched walking with sidearm animation collision shape - FT - T147980
Tweaked: Skin tone matching on various characters and their injury materials
Tweaked: Made consistent the Fire Geometry across all characters
Tweaked: Light configuration on the To-199 aircraft - FT - T127800
Tweaked: Re-binarized key terrain assets to match the updated PhysX version (more in the next update)
Tweaked: Copyrights mentions updated to 2020
Changed: Tanoa was made the default world once again in support of the "Old Man" release
Fixed: Miscellaneous translation issues (kudos to POLPOX, KC45, Kaoru Uduki, and various others for their help with improving Japanese texts especially)
Fixed: Broken tooltip in object equipment storage in 3DEN - FT - T117193
Fixed: CTRG Northgate had an incorrect magazine
Fixed: Script error in Splendid Camera when mouse or joystick inputs were mapped to camera controls - FT - T146601 / T117681
Fixed: Rugged Tablet custom texture - FT - T145005
Fixed: The medical decal on Medical Tent should no longer flicker
Fixed: Typo in Livonia's ILS configuration
Fixed: Scrollable building door states in 3DEN
Fixed: NATO Pacific Mk6 Mortar, HMG and GMG were assembled into Independent versions instead of NATO Pacific - FT - T145362
Fixed: Warlords - The inventory screen no longer remains open when opening Arsenal - FT - T147759
Fixed: Broken Offroad (Repair) damage and destruction materials - Forums - General Discussion
Fixed: Potential script error in the patrol module - FT - T117706
Fixed: hintC not showing special characters when used with alternative syntax - FT - T76965
Fixed: Corrected a typo in BIS_fnc_ambientBlacklist
Fixed: Some Spectrum Device values disappeared after unequipping the device and equipping it again - FT - T148160
Fixed: Ifrit shadows were broken when hiddenSelectionsMaterials were used - FT - T148354
Fixed: Spectrum Device antenna ground holders were broken when Contact was not loaded
Fixed: Y-axis of the Spectrum Device was incorrect when Contact was not loaded - FT - T148470
Fixed: Ability to climb down from Garage (Large)
Fixed: Floating bricks in the Scaffolding (New) prop
Fixed: Removed obsolete Fire Geometry elements in the Scaffolding (New) prop
Fixed: Removed ill-defined glass panels in the Dome (White, Under Construction, Nearly) prop to prevent issues with impact sounds and grenade throwing
Fixed: Pole Wall 03 was indestructible
Fixed: Wipeout airbrakes rotating in the opposite direction - FT - T144897
Fixed: Turret indicator on the armed Speed Boat - FT - T148400
Fixed: When setting the date in Eden Editor, days of the week were incorrect in January of a leap year (e.g. January 2020) - FT - T148292
Fixed: Script error at the beginning of "Remnants of War" campaign scenario "The Redacted" - FT - T142535
Fixed: An undefined variable error in the Functions Library
Fixed: Various RPT spam errors on several terrains
Fixed: The random placement radius could be too big when using large markers in BIS_fnc_moveToRespawnPosition
Fixed: Zeroing text offset in the GUI
Fixed: Shadows on CSAT APR masks - FT - T149715
Fixed: The default marker description was replaced
* Content requires ownership of Arma 3 Apex expansion
Potential Spoilers ("First Contact") Fixed: Issue where dialogue got stuck if the player entered the mini UGV before Čapek finished his biopsy probe briefing in Anomalous Phenomena
Engine Added: Updated to PhysX 4.1.1
Added: BattlEye anti-cheat update
Added: Script commands triggerInterval and setTriggerInterval to make it possible to alter the trigger condition check frequency of detectors
Added: Script command getTextWidth
Added: allActiveTitleEffects script command to detect currently active title effects
Added: vehicleMoveInfo now returns sendSimpleCommand status
Added: Possibility to change armor simulation of a character hitpoint via classes defined in HitpointsProtectionInfo with a simulation parameter
Added: FOV is now synced in Picture-in-Picture screens if a turret[] parameter is used in the RenderTargets definition
Changed: Network synchronization when two vehicles collide improved (local versus remote)
Fixed: Some task commands returned nil when their argument was null
Fixed: Crash when you request support for a soldier in your squad
Fixed: Simulated things should no longer fall too fast and fall through the ground (e.g. weapons)
Fixed: Optics Post Process Effects (opticsPPEffects) not being loaded correctly
Fixed: Crash when releasing a joint constraint without any actor
Fixed: PhysX CCD for small objects with a different PhysX shape and object bounding box
Fixed: Event Handler "HitPart" did not return selection names properly when a vehicle was damaged by an explosion (this prevented accomplishing the Mass Virtual Destruction Steam Achievement)
Fixed: Ability to equip vehicle weapons as a player (has been disabled)
Fixed: Various potential exploit vectors
Server Updated: Stand-alone Windows Dedicated Server (1.98)
Updated: Stand-alone Linux Dedicated Server (1.98)
o The data in -mod=contact is not fully multiplayer compatible (it is meant for the singleplayer campaign experience); we recommend only hosting servers with it for special use cases
o This data is signed by a new A3C key whose presence can be used to control what client data is allowed on the server
o Known issue: Steam client modifies the steam_appid.txt file incorrectly. In case of issues, verify its content is: 107410
o Known issue: Sometimes the add-ons are loaded from the wrong installation (e.g. main game)
o Try adding -mod=curator;kart;heli;mark;expansion;jets;argo;orange;tacops;tank;enoch to your arma3server.exe shortcut