Hit Survival Game Rust Releases Major Overhaul to 2026 Roadmap

Even though Rust has been out of early access for eight years, developer Facepunch is still updating the hit survival game on a regular basis. Rust is a game that players must invest a lot of free time into with each monthly wipe, so the developers continue to add content to keep it interesting. At the start of the year, the devs at Facepunch shared a roadmap, revealing what they had planned for the entire year of 2026.

However, in a recent stealth update to the roadmap, several of the entries listed were either removed or delayed to 2027.

Updated Rust Roadmap

As we enter the fourth quarter of 2026, Facepunch has reviewed its goals for the remainder of the year. This has led to some entries on the roadmap being moved around or completely scratched off — the Battle Pass being one of them. Previously, the planned Rust Battle Pass was scheduled for launch during the third quarter of the year. However, the company opted to focus on monument improvements and reworking the clan system instead. Many fans weren’t too upset about it, as they didn’t feel like Rust was the type of game that should have cosmetic rewards through paid subscriptions. They will be happy to know that the Battle Pass entry has now been completely removed from the roadmap and replaced with “Rust Premium.”

Players who own more than $15 worth of inventory items in Rust qualify for Rust Premium status. This gives them access to Rust Premium servers, which are less prone to harbor cheaters with empty inventories. It is unknown how Facepunch plans to expand Rust Premium, as it is quite insignificant for the time being, but hopefully, it’ll include some fun features and exclusive cosmetics.

Image: Facepunch Studios

Procedural caves, the nexus system, the nomadic dweller, improved underground terrain, the grappling hook, and terrain deformation have all been pushed back for next year. The highly anticipated animal husbandry update should come out before the end of the year alongside player customization, the bug reward system, and biofuel generators. As a surprise, one of the previous stretch goals has now been moved up on the to-do list and is now expected to release in 2026: pet dogs.

Some players will like these roadmap changes more than others. It is unknown just how much they will shake up each wipe, but it is great to know that the team is still working hard to improve Rust every day. The game’s September force wipe is less than a week away, so hopefully we will know more in an upcoming blog post before the monthly update.

Rust is available on Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.