Gray Zone Warfare Update 0.4.0 Features Revamped Task System

Survival shooter Gray Zone Warfare has unveiled major details for its upcoming 0.4.0 patch, codename Spearhead.

As Gray Zone Warfare reiterates its focus on PvE dynamics, the game has redesigned its tasking system to, very bluntly, make it suck less.

In a problem that is all too familiar in hardcore games (looking at you, Tarkov), the current quest structure relies on either bumbling around for an hour trying to find a small item off of a vague description, or Alt-Tabbing to check the Wiki.

Starting with patch 0.4.0, tasks will have a clearly defined area on the map, accompanied by intel photos where appropriate, so you should be able to get through quests without having to break from the game.

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Quest and trader progression is also getting a major redesign, so you won’t have to spend as many hours in the starter towns.

The renewed focus on the story and PvE elements is a nice change of pace, following the footsteps of ARC Raiders as both games try to establish a healthy, long-term strategy where getting shot at by xxxDadSlayer67xxx and all the balancing issues that come with putting PvP first are not a core part of the gameplay experience.

To support this, non-playable factions have received a major overhaul. You will get to fight visually and mechanically distinct groups: bandits, rebels, regional PMCs, and many more. Say goodbye to the era of either shooting Flip-Flop Joe or Cracked Army Guy, with no in-between.

New Weapons and Equipment

As has become tradition in Gray Zone Warfare, every major patch comes with a selection of new weapons to brave the jungles of Lamang with.

The upcoming Spearhead update is bringing a healthy mix of new weapons and all-time classics, especially if you are partial to Vietnam-era gear. Let’s go over them chronologically, because history is fun.

Springfield M14

While the Soviet Union had adopted the Kalashnikov assault rifle as early as 1949, the United States military was still not ready to let the M1 Garand go. This culminated in the M14, a select-fire rifle chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.

Although its life as the standard service rifle was fairly short due to a certain Eugene Stoner, the M14 found a long second life as a designated marksman rifle. Perfect for landing long-range shots across the lake in Midnight Sapphire.

Sa vz. 58

Frequently (and unfairly) called the Czech Kalashnikov, the vz. 58 is a completely different weapon, first fielded in 1959.

The vz. 58 has a short-stroke gas system and a milled receiver. The bolt holds open after firing the last round, making reloads quicker and more intuitive than in the AK series.

Expect at least some modernization kits for the vz. 58 for accessories, making it a powerful weapon even early in the game since it accepts the standard 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov magazines, which average bandits love in Gray Zone Warfare.

Colt M16A1

Despite a rocky trial period, the M16 replaced the M14 as the standard rifle for the American grunt in the late 1960s. The M16A1 (née XM16E1) solved most critical issues, cementing the AR-15 platform as the epitome of the modern rifle.

The M16A1 comes with a 20-inch chrome-plated barrel and fires the lighter 5.56x45mm NATO round. The standard carry handle is compatible with ACOG scopes, but you will also be able to install handguards with Picatinny rails to mount accessories.

KAC KS-1

The most modern gun to make it to Gray Zone Warfare is the KS-1 assault rifle, the Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) modernization of the AR-15.

The KS-1 was chosen recently for British special forces units and will be competing with the Daniel Defense DDM4 as the late-game western rifle.

Laugo Arms Alien

Last but certainly not least comes the Laugo Arms Alien, a modern Czech semi-automatic 9x19mm pistol that stands out through its aggressive visuals and modern design features.

Although initially popularized as a competition gun, the Alien has found love in certain special forces circles. Just beware of the price, as all of those R&D costs piled up to make it an extremely expensive handgun.

Additional Equipment and Customization Options

The game is introducing sight magnifiers in patch 0.4.0, allowing you to get the close-range performance of red dots and holographic sights while also giving you reasonable ranged accuracy at the expense of some visual real estate. Like other sights in the game, the magnifiers can crack from damage.

For snipers and scouts alike, the game is also adding binoculars, including a nice pair with a rangefinder, so you won’t have to check the map for range anymore.

Special weapon customization, like rattlecan paint jobs or engravings, can be obtained from bosses, but if you bring the weapon home to the traders, you will be able to buy them without having to farm them.

The Gray Zone Warfare patch 0.4.0 ‘Spearhead’ is coming this Spring. Gray Zone Warfare is currently available on early access exclusively via Steam.