Upcoming Rust Update Turns the Survival Game Into a Cozy Experience

Rust has an exciting slate of features lined up for the final quarter of the year, headlined by a massive overhaul to wildlife and fauna mechanics. According to the game’s newly revised roadmap, upcoming patches will introduce domestic dogs, ambient wildlife, brand-new animal species, smarter AI routines, and fully fledged livestock breeding. While these additions offer practical survival benefits, they represent an absolute dream come true for roleplayers looking to indulge in peaceful farming-sim fantasies amidst the brutal survivalism of Rust.

Livestock update available in the Rust Staging Branch

Although the comprehensive animal update hasn’t officially hit the main servers and lacks a definitive release date, core livestock assets have already arrived on the AUX01 staging branch for early experimentation. Testers can now encounter the fauna slated for the official rollout, including cows, goats, and sheep. Much like horses, these creatures can be acquired through trade with NPCs. Once secured, players can raise them, breed them to cultivate superior genetic traits, and eventually harvest them for essential resources like meat, animal fat, cloth, and leather.

To thrive, every animal requires consistent access to fresh water, grazing grass, and herd companionship to maintain optimal happiness. While survivors can physically lead animals, they must first establish a bond. Caretakers build trust over time, gradually reducing the creature’s innate hostility. Though this mechanic is still a work in progress, the current progression tiers range from Stranger and Knows You to Tolerated, Bonded, and finally Herd status. Reaching maximum friendship integrates the animal fully into the player’s collective. To protect these investments from predatory wildlife like wolves and bears, players will need to construct secure enclosures utilizing newly introduced gates and fencing.

Animal husbandry introduces a surprising layer of depth through breeding mechanics. Much like cultivating high-tier hemp, vegetables, and berries for “god clones,” managing genders and genetic attributes is vital for producing the ultimate generation of livestock.

Adventurous players eager to sample the livestock update can access it by opening the Rust Staging Branch properties on Steam, navigating to Game Versions & Betas, and entering the private beta password . This grants immediate entry into the AUX01 branch to test out this dynamic early build.

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Source: Polygon