Rust 2026: The Year of Creativity & Urban Warfare
Following the monumental Naval Update, Facepunch has unveiled the rest of the 2026 roadmap. This year focused on expanding the "Creative Meta" and introducing high-density urban monuments that change how we think about base building and raiding.
๐จ The Artist Pack DLC
Released in February 2026, the Artist Pack introduces a suite of decorative and creative tools. Players can now craft Paintball Overalls, new paintable canvases, and display frames that allow for deep base customization.
Upcoming Monuments: Apartment Complexes
A new "Tier 3" monument is in development: the Apartment Complexes. Unlike the tiered buildings in the desert, these are fully explorable skyscraper-like structures with procedurally generated interiors, elevator systems, and "Rentable NPC Units" where players can temporarily store loot in a safe-zone-adjacent environment.
New Animals & Farming Husbandry
The wildlife overhaul continues in 2026 with the addition of:
- Cows: A source of milk and high-quality leather. Can be domesticated using the new animal trough.
- Sheep: Provide wool for high-tier clothing and rugs. Can be sheared once every 24 hours.
- Revised Wolf AI: Wolves now hunt in actual packs and will interact with player-built structures by howling to alert other nearby threats.
Urban Combat & Gear
- Riot Shields: A highly requested defensive tool. While heavy and bulky, they provide frontal protection against pistol-caliber rounds, making them ideal for breaching apartment rooms.
- Deployable Ladder Overhaul: Ladders can now be "anchored" with a blueprint, making them harder for defenders to break but requiring more scrap to craft.
- Night Vision Improvements: New "Thermal Goggles" are teased for late 2026, allowing players to see heat signatures through thin wooden walls.
Technical Roadmap
Facepunch is targeting a 15% reduction in client-side RAM usage through a new Global Texture Streaming system. This will be critical for players exploring the increasingly dense monuments and customized naval fleets.
๐ Security Update
2026 brings stricter anti-cheat measures for "Scripting" and recoil-macros. Ensure your server is running the latest EAC-hardened branch to protect your community.
Ready to build your urban empire? Get a High-Performance Rust Server and be the first to dominate the 2026 roadmap content.