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Xash3D FWGS - November 2022

As you may have noticed, we often refer to the engine as "old engine", that's because for a while now we have been moving onto a new codebase, refactoring and adding features along, such as much requested voice chat.

What Is Coming?

by Flying With Gauss

Better network prediction and overall multiplayer improvements.
I mean it, much better, playing multiplayer now sometimes feels like better than on GoldSrc, but it still needs some work.

Enhanced compatibility with GoldSrc.
Support for original Half-Life game saves and compatibility fixes.

The "small" stuff:

  • Implementation of an extended map format made on top of original Half-Life's BSP30 (per-vertex lighting, extended clipnodes, etc.), BSP31 is now obsolete.
  • Implementation of Unkle Mike's extended studiomodel format: bone weights, inverse kinematics, procedural bones and other stuff for mod developers.
  • RefAPI for multiple rendering APIs support: OpenGL renderer split from engine and a basic Software renderer implementation.
  • Improved platform backend system that allows better portability across different systems.
  • Extension on library naming, that allows mod developers to distribute libraries for different operating systems and architectures in the same archive.
  • New library for common code: libpublic, that holds custom Xash3D's CRT, math and hashing functions.
  • New touch control: _wheel, works like a mouse wheel.
  • Temporary support for legacy 48 protocol.
  • Restored On-Screen Keyboard implementation for ports that don't have normal HW or SW keyboards.
  • Support of AArch64, MIPS, Elbrus and Risc-V CPU architectures.
  • SerenityOS support.
  • Support of MotoMAGX platform.
  • Support for systems with limited system memory. Allows to run complete engine on 32 megabytes of RAM.
  • Support for embedded Linux, i.e. using evdev, fbdev and alsa directly instead of SDL2.
  • Support for legacy SDL1.2.
  • Support for compressed ZIP/PK3 archives.
  • Non-dedicated Linux builds are now distributed as AppImages for i686 and x86_64 platforms.
  • Ongoing work on documentation of FWGS extensions, engine porting guide and ports maintainers list.
  • IPv6 support.

Voice chat

by a1batross, SNMetamorph and Velaron

Voice chat support is finally coming to all platforms, as requested by many for years.

Customization support

by Uncle Mike

Finally you can change your spray and more, with in-game downloads support!

New Android port

by Velaron

We moved to SDL2 as our backend, it used to suck back then, but right now our implementation seems to suck more. You know what also sucks? Google with their OS. They keep being so paranoid about user's "security", we need to do a lot of work just to make this thing running. Right now we need to write a new frontend and finish up on fixing bugs before releasing a stable build, but it's coming better than ever.

  • Android builds have GLES1 and GLES2 renderers enabled, choose from game menu or by passing -ref gles1 or -ref gles2 to the command line.
  • Android builds also have special mod hacks, allowing you to play some mods without any additional launchers.
MOD_VALVE,      // Half-Life
MOD_AOM,        // Afraid of Monsters
MOD_BIGLOLLY,   // Big Lolly
MOD_BSHIFT,     // Half-Life: Blue Shift
MOD_HALFSECRET, // Half-Secret
MOD_HEVSUIT,    // Case Closed, Bloody Pizza: Vendetta, Borderlands
MOD_INDUCTION,  // Half-Life: Induction
MOD_REDEMPT,    // Redemption/Absolute Redemption
MOD_SEWER_BETA, // Sewer Beta
MOD_TOT,        // Times of Troubles
MOD_URBICIDE    // Half-Life: Urbicide

filesystem_stdio implementation

by a1batross

Engine's filesystem was moved into a separate module, which also implements support for Valve's interface allowing to run more mods and clean up the codebase.

Drop of OSX/iOS support

by Flying With Gauss

Sadly we had to drop Apple devices support, simply because we don't and probably not going to own any of them and they keep removing essential features from the OS (see issue #61). If you own any of these devices and are willing to maintain the engine for them, you are welcome!

PNG support

by nekonomicon

Engine supports reading and writing PNGs now, so you can use an accessible format for your touch buttons and more. Due to conversion of touch button graphics, you may need to reset your touch configuration if you are missing some textures.

New model decompiler

by nekonomicon

Based on Kratisto's mdldec, supports non-Windows platforms, Paranoia 2/XashXT extensions and doesn't depend on any engine limits.
Get on ModDB.

Privileged commands/CVars system

by a1batross

Lots of server admins used to get access to unwanted data and crash or even destroy your game files. This should no longer be possible.

Half-Life SDK (hlsdk-portable) fixes and additions

by nekonomicon, FreeSlave, a1batross and malortie
  • FIXED: RPG laser visible when using func_tank.
  • FIXED: MP5 spread being switched between single-player and multiplayer.
  • FIXED: Bullsquid's spit crashing the game.
  • FIXED: Gonarch getting stuck in the tunnels.
  • FIXED: numerous problems around playing scripted sequences.
  • FIXED: most cases of FPS-dependent entity behavior.
  • FIXED: incorrect SF_MONSTER_GAG flag check.
  • FIXED: Tau Cannon's and Gluon Gun's beams have invalid color.
  • FIXED: reload animations playing twice sometimes.
  • FIXED: buggy MP5 ammo extraction when secondary ammo is full.
  • FIXED: missing precache for turrets.
  • FIXED: Gonarch spit crashing the game when sv_gravity is set to 0.
  • FIXED: incorrect model being displayed in third person mode.
  • FIXED: possible crash when sending a death notice in multiplayer.
  • FIXED: scientists now use their sense of smell.
  • FIXED: breathing sounds playing when not completely underwater.
  • FIXED: Houndeye's shockwave color when in a pack of five.
  • FIXED: default camera position for third-person view.
  • FIXED: wrong Osprey's wing smoking when hit.
  • FIXED: Tau Cannon's and doors' sounds getting stuck.
  • FIXED: invalid Tripmine's bodymodel on first pickup.
  • FIXED: Controllers target worldspawn during idle animations.
  • FIXED: specific ladders crashing the game (i.e. Half-Life: Sum).
  • FIXED: scientists' volume with different heads.
  • FIXED: sleeping Houndeyes now close their eyes.
  • FIXED: undefined behavior when jumping on tank's turret (i.e. c2a5b).
  • ADDED: cl_autowepswitch CVar, allows you to change automatic weapon switch behavior when picking them up.
  • ADDED: explosionfix CVar, fixes explosive damage through walls.
  • ADDED: corpsephysics CVar, makes corpses fly from an impact.
  • Yellow "stuck monster" particles are only visible when using developer mode.
  • Much more fluid weapon animations.
  • Improved monsters' squad behavior.
  • First-person mode is now enforced in multiplayer.