Just weeks after its release, the real-time strategy game Broken Arrow has received a substantial update. This new patch allows players to adjust map size in skirmish and custom matches, a feature previously automated by the game. Additionally, developer Steel Balalaika Studio has implemented refinements to the anti-cheat system.
Update 1.08 introduces new player-versus-environment (PvE) scenarios on the Kaliningrad and Ruda maps, supporting up to three players. A significant balance change in this update is the reduction of the infantry sprint cooldown from 60 to 30 seconds. Steel Balalaika stated they intend to make balance adjustments gradually, starting with this change.
Regarding cheating, over 2,000 players have been banned in Broken Arrow. However, the developer is reviewing bans that may have been issued unfairly. For example, Steel Balalaika noted on Steam that players using cheats solely in single-player modes might have been banned from multiplayer because the current anti-cheat system cannot distinguish between single-player and multiplayer cheat usage.
Released on June 19th at a price of $50, Broken Arrow has quickly become a popular title. According to SteamDB, it ranks among the top 100 sellers on Steam, consistently attracting around 20,000 peak concurrent players daily throughout July. The game offers a realistic approach to the RTS genre, featuring a 19-mission single-player campaign that follows both US and Russian forces and includes over 300 distinct military and technical units.
Below are the full patch notes:
Added:
- Option to change map size added to Skirmish and Custom lobbies. Size is automatically selected based on player count by default but can be forced in additional lobby settings.
- Game servers added in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia (Monitoring global player distribution and adding servers accordingly. Current GLOBAL region server geolocations: US West, US East, Hongkong, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia).
- Portraits added for Baltic states vehicles.
- Swimming animation added for applicable ground troops.
- PVE 1-3 Kaliningrad scenario (tower defense style) added.
- PVE 1-3 Ruda scenario (tower defense style) added.
General Fixes & Improvements:
- Resolved several crash-to-desktop (CTD) issues caused by memory leaks.
- Fixed memory leak issue on server infrastructure, improving multiplayer stability.
- Corrected multiple instances where the “Reconnect to battle” button did not appear.
- Fixed issues with “Player.log” file consuming excessive disk space.
- Fixed an issue where the Campaign menu would become stuck.
- Resolved an issue where players might load into a game with an empty map lacking playable zones, capture zones, or spawn points (in both single player and multiplayer).
- Fixed an issue where players might have 99/99 units in a deck after loading a game.
- Corrected an issue leading to disconnection from the game server with an error message.
- Reduced maximum FPS cap from 300 to 144.
- Fixed an issue causing dropdown options to be unclickable in some cases.
- Resolved a UI issue in the reporting system that prevented showing the correct player’s profile upon clicking.
- Adjusted matchmaking system to minimize games with significant differences in ELO rating between teams.
- Improved matchmaking mechanism for better ping-based server selection. Note: Using VPNs, “connection boosters,” or other proxy-like solutions may worsen multiplayer experience.
- Fixed movement interpolation for transferred units.
- Resolved an issue where certain input devices (joysticks, gamepads, racing wheels, vJoys, specific mice and keyboards) interfered with UI option selection.
- Fixed incorrect date/time format display in various in-game messages.
- Fixed the “Flares! Flares!” achievement not counting correctly.
- Corrected an issue preventing players from overriding anti-overkill with their AA by right-clicking a target.
- Fixed cases where Steam Workshop scenarios were incorrectly initialized.
- Fixed CIS region servers popup screen overlap.
- Fixed incorrect “ready up” UI sound.
- Rebinded default camera rotation button from Left CTRL to Middle Mouse Button (MMB).
- Corrected misleading mission unlock conditions hints on the Campaign screen.
- Fixed M712 Copperhead visual effects incorrectly resembling a cluster round.
- Adjusted 127mm gun visual effects (Arleigh Burke).
- Adjusted the lifetime of mortar and howitzer impact visual effects.
- Fixed MC-130H not having a model under certain circumstances.
- Fixed Tochka-U’s missile texture appearing pink.
- Adjusted parachute animations.
- Fixed CAAT Tow marines` pose with M240.
- Resolved an issue causing S300V/S350/S300PM deployment animation to be stuck, resulting in missiles firing directly into the ground.
- ‘Bay of Winds’ zone capture time adjusted from 30 to 15 seconds to match other maps.
- Various weapon icon fixes.
- Various localization fixes.
Campaign Fixes & Improvements:
“Blackout” mission:
- Fixed the mission getting stuck in some cases.
“Show Time” mission:
- Fixed issue preventing earning the time-related medal.
- Resolved a case where players would get stuck after failing bombing runs too many times.
“Peacekeeper” mission:
- Fixed mission’s intro cutscene not scaling correctly for 4K resolutions.
“Self Service” mission:
- Increased the timer for the final stage to 20 minutes (from default 5 minutes).
- Cap. Batalin now provides 2 helicopters immediately when supplies are delivered, instead of adding them to reinforcements.
“Papers Please” mission:
- Fixed instances of invisible units appearing.
- Improved balance of pre-placed equipment at the storage base.
- Various improvements to ally and enemy behavior.
- Enemy attack pattern on the HQ slightly improved.
- Fixed an issue where the mission would get stuck after losing the HQ zone.
- All units received appropriate winter camouflage.
“Operation Cold Harbor” mission:
- Various improvements for each difficulty level, providing slightly more resources and units.
- Improved the behavior of attack waves from Narva.
- Fixed a bug where pilots could be detected before the secondary mission popped up.
- Minor improvements to Batalin`s movements.
- All units received appropriate winter camouflage.
“Forbidden Waters” mission:
- Various improvements for each difficulty level, providing slightly more resources and units.
- Improved AI behavior.
“Broken Arrow” mission:
- Various voice over fixes.
- Fixed a bug where the Green Light Team could capture the last objective (Bennett Plan).
Balance:
- Reduced sprint cooldown from 60 to 30 seconds for all infantry/recon infantry units.
- Fixed a mistake in the base price of CAAT TOW (110 => 100), which caused inconsistent deck values.
- Spetsnaz GRU Verba option: Added a second Verba launcher to balance this option with the others.
- Ingenery-Shturmoviki price adjusted (60 => 70).
- Fixed optics value for Skrezhet with Zu-23M + Igla to detect helicopters from further away.
- Fixed TOS-1 rear HEAT armor value being lower than kinetic armor.
- Fixed A-222 Bereg howitzer having lower reload times in a mixed loadout.