Dev Blog #47
After a short break over December, the team is back in action and gearing up for the first update of 2026. As we mentioned late last year, our main focus right now is performance. We want Rust Console Edition to feel smoother, steadier, and more reliable so you can spend more time surviving and less time fighting hiccups. Stick around and let’s have a chat about what’s coming to the island in the very near future.
Update 1.9
Let’s kick things off with the update landing this wipe: Update 1.9. This one is all about performance improvements. You will be able to see the full breakdown in the patch notes, but here’s what it means in real terms. This update is the first big step this year toward improving performance both in game and on the server side.
We are aiming for changes you can actually feel while you play. There are a wide range of improvements focused on memory optimisation and GPU usage, which should translate into a more stable experience across the wipe. Fewer rough moments, fewer stutters, and more time doing what matters. Building, raiding, and running for your life.
There’s still more work to do, but we want to see how these improvements perform throughout the wipe once they hit the main branch servers. Early signs are looking really promising, especially based on what we have seen from the Public Test Branch.
Over on the server side, we are also rolling out fixes, with a key focus on a disconnect issue impacting Xbox players. This should now be resolved for the most part.
In rare cases it may still happen, but it should be far less frequent, and we will continue keeping a close eye on it.
What's Next
At the start of next month, we have a special cosmetic sprinting into the store. We’ve seen a lot of love for American football within the community, so we wanted to do something different and fun, and that’s why we created the Touchdown bundle.
This is a special one, because it is our first skin release with two separate variants, Cobalt and Zenlabs, each representing one of the two fictional teams.
As always, let us know what you think, and whether you would like to see more themed drops like this in the future. And most importantly, tell us which team you are going to support.
What’s to come in February?
Next month we will be resuming DLC releases, bringing Nomad to the game. Alongside the DLC, we are also aiming to release another update focused on fixes and additional performance improvements, based on what we learn from Update 1.9 once it is in the wild.
We know some of you are hungry for new content. Trust us, we get it. But we really want to make sure the experience is stable and solid for everyone before we start stacking big new content drops on top.
World 2.0
World 2.0 is the first major content update planned for this year, and we now have a target in mind. Our aim is to release it at the end of April, with testing on the Public Test Branch ahead of that.
World 2.0 brings a lot of changes to the map, including some updates we know many of you are seriously excited about. But there’s one key priority before it lands: performance needs to be stable. We want World 2.0 to feel like a leap forward, not a stress test.
We will share more details in future Dev Blogs once we are ready to properly show what’s coming
Feedback form Round 2
Last year we shared a detailed feedback form with you, and it genuinely helped shape how we are approaching the start of this year. After Update 1.9 is out, we want to do a Round 2 and gather your thoughts again.
Once you have had time with the update, we would love to hear how the game feels and what you want us to prioritise next. Your feedback helps us focus on what matters most to the people actually playing, so when it goes live, please take a moment and tell us what you think.
That’s everything we have for now. Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s update, and if the Touchdown pack is your kind of thing, it will be ready to hit the store with the next rotation.
It’s good to be back. We cannot wait to share more of what 2026 has in store for Rust Console Edition as soon as we are ready. Until then, we will see you on the island.
