Rust finally adds gamepad support on PC, with a blueprint overhaul and a new weapon in the same update
Rust players can now use a gamepad across the survival game’s core PC gameplay. The November update adds controller support through Steam Input, along with changes to blueprint progression and a new Uzi 9mm.
Facepunch Studios says this is a first release of gamepad support, and some features still lack dedicated controller controls. The developer plans to keep adding support, so players should expect some rough edges while using the new setup.
Inventory and crafting screens use a stick-controlled cursor by default. Players can switch to D-pad navigation in the new gamepad options, which also include settings to adjust how the controller feels.
Image: Facepunch Studios
Rust changes the way players progress through its tech trees
The update changes several parts of the game beyond controls. Workbenches no longer require blueprint fragments to craft, and players no longer spend scrap on the tech trees. Instead, the three trees use different tiers: blueprint fragments, pages and books.
Image: Facepunch Studios
Scrap still has a purpose. Players can use it to research individual items at a research table. Facepunch says basic blueprint fragments can be found in common loot such as barrels and boxes, and upgraded into the next tier.
The developer says puzzle rooms and harder content remain the fastest route through the system. It also expects to adjust the new progression rules if needed, so it is worth checking future updates before planning a long-term strategy around the current costs.
Image: Facepunch Studios
A new Uzi and performance changes accompany the controller update
The Uzi 9mm has two firing modes tied to its folding stock. With the stock folded, it fires automatically and can be used with shields. Unfolding the stock switches it to semi-automatic fire and increases accuracy, according to Facepunch.
The patch also includes a long list of performance work. Among the changes, deep-sea content loads when players enter the area, while the server map image is released from video memory about a minute after the connection screen closes. Facepunch also lists changes intended to reduce hitches around large bases.
Those technical changes are not a promise of a particular frame-rate increase on every PC. For controller players, the clearest starting point is the new gamepad settings screen, where the inventory navigation method and other controls can be adjusted.
