Rust’s July 2025 update brings a wave of changes aimed at making the game smarter, smoother, and more customizable. Whether you're a solo player, part of a squad, or managing your own Rust server, these updates offer something for everyone. From a native team system to smarter scientists and revamped Hardcore mode, here’s a breakdown of what’s new!
Precision Building With Deployable Snapping
One of the most anticipated improvements in base building is finally here: deployable snapping. This update brings an intuitive placement system that allows deployables—like furnaces, planters, lockers, and shelves—to snap into the right positions on floors and against walls.
Gone are the days of nudging your mouse pixel by pixel to perfectly align and fit your tool cupboard in your little 1x1.
"This is going to change raid defense meta too," says one veteran builder. "Symmetrical trap bases and aesthetic builds are about to get easier and sexier."
This improvement is also a massive win for RP and PvE builders who have long craved a more polished construction experience.
New Party System Enhances Teamplay
Facepunch is rolling out an official party system, answering years of community requests. Before, coordinating with teammates often meant juggling map markers, voice chat, or clunky workarounds—but that’s finally changing.
With this new system, you'll be able to:
- Invite friends to your party via a new in-game UI panel or the command
party.inviteparty <steamID>through your F1 Console - Use the player list to invite players currently on the server. You can simply open the player list and send a team invite with a single click.
- Easily locate your friends by precreating a team. If you are the first to join, the other team members will spawn close by.
- Receive notifications in the in-game Discord overlay and Steam if a player has invited you to their team.
This system should make Rust feel less like a solo survival simulator and more like the squad-based sandbox it’s meant to be. For players and server owners, especially those involved in Rust game hosting, it removes the need for third-party mods or tools to manage teams on community or modded servers, streamlining the experience for everyone.
Smarter Scientist NPCs – Brace Yourself
Scientists have always been a wildcard: sometimes a joke, sometimes terrifying. This update brings a significant overhaul to their AI and behavior.
Here’s what’s in store:
- Tactical awareness: Scientists can now use smoke grenades to flush players out, instead of F1 nades which was the initial idea.
- Improved pathfinding: They’ll actually chase you around cover, hold angles, and rush you at the right moment or even flank your position.
- Smarter backup: Nobody likes to get pushed by 6 NPC's at once. So instead Scientists will now request support from the nearest ally rather than alerting every NPC in the area to come rush you.
- New AI Zones: Their purpose is to resolve NPC's getting stuck and overcrowding one specific location.
This AI refinement isn’t just about making PvE more engaging—it’s also the groundwork for more immersive monument events and possible future missions.
“They’re going from dumb bots to mini PvP enemies,” one Rust YouTuber said. “It’s terrifying.”
The Cow Whisperer: Livestock In Development
Ever wanted to run a farm in Rust that didn’t just consist of hemp and pumpkins? Well, Facepunch has quietly begun work on livestock mechanics, starting with cows.
This feature is still in its infancy, but signs point to:
- Cows and other domesticated animals that may be added in the future
- New Food source, like a new meat variety or milk
- Barns and pens for animal housing
While cows won’t be launching in July, the dev team is laying down the foundations now, with internal tests and prototypes already spotted in commits. It is highly possible that we will be seeing other domesticated animals being added. Maybe pigs or goats? Or how about animal breeding with gene mechanics? Anyway, it’s too early for full-scale animal husbandry—but maybe that'll be coming too, who knows?
Hardcore Mode Gets A Major Overhaul
Rust's Hardcore mode is undergoing significant enhancements aimed at refining gameplay and increasing customization for Rust server owners. Recent commits have introduced several impactful changes:
- Item Restrictions by Game Mode: Developers can now restrict certain items from being crafted or used in Hardcore mode, creating a more tailored and challenging experience.
- Loot Distribution Adjustments: The loot system now lets game modes adjust spawn rates by item type. In Hardcore, firearms have a higher chance to spawn, boosting combat intensity.
- Server Configuration Options: New commands allow fine-tuning of gameplay:
server.respawnTimeAddition: Increases respawn cooldowns; Hardcore sets this to add 25 minutes for a total of 30.server.pveBulletDamageMultiplier: Raises player damage against NPCs to 1.5x, making PvE tougher.
These changes give private server owners and Rust server hosting users more flexibility to fine-tune Hardcore gameplay and tailor it to their community’s playstyle.
Notable Mentions:
The Controversial Bug Fix
A recent bug fix in Rust, addressing roof stability exploits, has sparked mixed reactions within the community.
The elimination of such building strategies has led to concerns from the community about reduced creative freedom and a less dynamic building experience, as it prevents building techniques which were previously utilized for creating advanced base designs, like disconnectable external tc's.
On the other hand, some players welcome the fix, viewing it as a necessary step to address long-standing issues that disrupted gameplay balance.
While the community remains divided, the overarching sentiment is a desire for a balanced approach that preserves the game's creative aspects while ensuring fair play.
Visual, UX & Gameplay Polish
The July update also packs a host of refinements that might not be as flashy, but they’ll absolutely impact your day-to-day play:
- Fog Tuning In Jungle Biome: The recently added jungle areas are getting more atmospheric with dynamic fog tweaks, adding realism and making ambushes even tenser.
- Outpost Respawns: After completing a mission in Outpost you will unlock respawns. It will have a very long cool down, but will allow you to spawn inside of it.
- ESC Menu Revamp: A sleek new escape menu UI is being tested, aiming to streamline navigation and give a more modern feel.
- Lighting Enhancements: Improved indoor lighting for bases and monuments to help distinguish details better if you're looking from outside.
Behind The Scenes Updates
While not directly tied to the July wipe, players are seeing signs of two new DLCs on the horizon and a whole new update centered around the ocean:
- Naval Update bringing floating cities and barges—possibly launching later in 2025.
- Pilot Pack: Includes a slick new helmet, themed M15 pistol skin, and flight gear aesthetic.
- Decor Lighting Pack: Cozy base items like neon signs, lanterns, and ambient light sources are being finalized for release.
Explore Rust Updates With Private Rust Server Hosting
Want to experience these updates firsthand? The best way to explore all the latest Rust features—whether it's the new team system, Hardcore mode changes, or building fixes—is by testing them on your own server. With reliable Rust game hosting from providers like Pine Hosting, you can set up a private environment tailored to your playstyle.
Rust server hosting gives you full control to tweak settings, try out upcoming content, and enjoy a smoother, more personalized gameplay experience before it hits live servers.
