DEV BLOG #45

A fresh wave of cold air is rolling into the island of Rust Console Edition this month and many of you have been waiting for it. The snow biome is waking up in a big way and the next wipe is about to reshape the frozen landscape. Time to step into the cold and explore everything arriving with this update ❄️

The biggest arrival is the new Arctic research base monument. The Cobalt team pushed deeper into the island and set up operations in this harshest environment. Of course expanding here did not come without its challenges and the research group had to make sure they were prepared for the conditions ahead.

You will find this new monument exclusively in the snow biome. Its structure is wide open just like the desert base, which makes navigation simple but also leaves you exposed. Scientists patrol every corner and players nearby can spot you quickly, so entering without a plan is a great way to end up back on the beach. Prepare well and move with purpose.

Inside the facility you will discover generous loot and two blue puzzle rooms. One of these rooms shelters something completely new for Rust Console Edition, a vehicle built for the frozen wastes.

The snowmobile slices across the ice with incredible speed, looking unstoppable in motion. It slows somewhat on rougher ground, except on sand and snow, but nothing can rival its performance on frozen lands. If you want the ultimate machine for conquering the cold, this is the one you will want to own.

A new threat also waits in the snow. Polar bears now wander the coldest parts of the island in search of their next meal. They are powerful, territorial and not impressed by your confidence, so stay sharp when you explore the frozen biome. A quiet stroll can turn into disaster without warning.

Also Coming With This Update!

This update also includes a new wave of bug fixes along with stability and performance improvements. Many of you made it clear in the latest feedback form that this was a top priority and we hear you clearly. Work on these improvements is ongoing and you can expect even more fixes arriving next week.

Alongside the Arctic update, we are also rolling out a range of quality of life improvements, such as many deployable improvements, exploit fixes, monument changes and more. Full details will be shared with the patch notes, so keep an eye out for it.

Our aim is to deliver a smoother and more reliable experience throughout the festive season. Please keep sharing your feedback and letting us know how Rust Console Edition is performing for you.

Ice’d UP!

Two new DLC packs arrive with this update. The Arctic Pack boosts your survival in freezing climates with a redesigned hazmat suit that trades some radiation protection for powerful cold resistance, along with a striking snowmobile skin and Ice’d up weapon designs perfect for anyone who plans to dominate the snow biome.

The Ice King Pack delivers a bold and icy aesthetic, wrapping your character in fully frozen armor, completing the look with a throne set that gives your presence a powerful chill unlike anything seen on console before.

Christmas is coming!

December brings the return of the Christmas event with all the familiar features from last year and a few surprises waiting in the snow. Present spawns are back, gingerbread mines are bursting with gifts and the mean gingerbread men are once again roaming around looking for trouble. A festive sleigh is joining the celebration too, letting you race across the island while you enjoy the holiday chaos! 🎅

Santa will also take to the skies during the event, swooping across the island with his Supply Drop and tossing presents to anyone lucky enough to be close by. Just remember, opening fire on him might feel tempting, but it will land you on the naughty list faster than you can say ho ho ho.

A free new building skin will also be available during the event, letting you turn your base into a full gingerbread home. It is a sweet way to show your holiday spirit and a hilarious way to distract anyone who tries to raid you while craving a dessert.

Several monuments will also get a festive makeover, filling the island with lights, decorations and just a little too much cheer for a place this dangerous.

The event will run across all official servers starting December 12th, giving everyone plenty of time to dive into the holiday madness. Community servers can switch it on as well, so everyone can enjoy the festive atmosphere together and turn the whole island into one big winter celebration. 

New skin Rotations

Before we wrap up, here is a quick update on skin rotations. In our latest feedback form, about 80 percent of you mentioned wanting faster rotations, and we would love to give you something that feels a little more exciting each week. Creating new skins takes time and plenty of testing, but we always try to improve the experience where we can. Starting on December 4, all packs and individual items will rotate weekly, giving everyone a fresh selection to look forward to on a weekly basis.

That is everything for now. Your support truly means a lot to us and we hope you enjoy everything arriving in this update. This will be the last Dev Blog of the year in this format, but we are working on a special thank you letter for our Rust Console Edition community. It will share some of our thoughts and plans for 2026, without being a roadmap, and we hope it brings a warm close to the year. Keep an eye out for it.

- See you all on the island.