All major changes coming to Rust Hardcore mode (August 2025 update)

The Rust Hardcore mode will go through some major changes with the title's upcoming August update. The Hardcore mode, as evident from its name, is primarily suited for players who want a higher degree of challenge in this survival game. In this mode, players are stripped of party tags, clan options, maps, blueprints, and more.

Naturally, progression in Rust Hardcore is quite difficult, and with the changes that have been planned for the future update, we are expecting a major improvement in the gameplay experience of this mode.

In this article, we will explore all the major changes coming to the Hardcore mode in Rust with the upcoming August update.

---

Every major change coming to Rust Hardcore mode with the August update

Here's a look at all the new features and changes that will be incorporated into Rust's Hardcore game mode:

Fog of War

Rust Hardcore will soon feature the addition of Fog of War. When the Hardcore mode first debuted in Rust, the developers removed both the map and the in-game compass from this mode to make it more challenging. Players had to remember their bearings, set up their signs and landmarks when they needed to navigate to different monuments across the map.

The lack of a map and an in-game compass discouraged players from venturing far from their main base, and most players generally remained within the vicinity of the first monument that they stumbled upon.

With the addition of Fog of War, players will be able to slowly uncover areas on the map as they venture farther inland. The map will feature all the locations that a player has visited, providing them with an easy way to navigate from Point A to Point B.

---

Compass

While the developers do not plan on bringing back the compass overlay in this game mode, they have decided to introduce a handheld compass in the game. It will need 100 Metal Fragments to craft and will provide players with an easy way to navigate through the entire map.

The Handheld Compass is going to be a default blueprint in the game. Players need not research it separately, nor do they need to be in the vicinity of Workbenches to craft this item. Paired with the Fog of War map, this item will play a crucial role in helping players navigate both inland and the open seas in Rust Hardcore.

---

Workbench changes

The Workbenches Level 1, 2, and 3 feature a range of blueprints that players can learn by spending Scrap. In Vanilla Rust, players can, through the Workbench Tech Tree, get their hands on the blueprints for various weapons in the game.

However, with the upcoming August update, Rust will remove all guns from the Tech Tree across all the Workbenches in the game. Players can no longer rely on this mechanic to get their first gun in the game. Rather, they will have to venture out and either get their first gun by killing an enemy or find it by pure luck through military and elite crates in the game.

---

That's everything you need to know about the major changes coming to Rust Hardcore mode in the August update. For more related guides, check out these links:

• Beekeeping in Rust: How to start, bee grenade, and more
• Rust Minigun and Military Flamethrower: How to get and use
• Homing Missile Launcher in Rust: How to craft, how to use, and more
• Fishing in Rust guide: How to fish, benefits, and more