Warsow is set in a futuristic cartoonish world where rocketlauncher-wielding pigs and lasergun-carrying cyberpunks roam the streets. It is a completely free, fast-paced first-person shooter without hard graphical violence. Red stars instead of blood indicate hits and colored cubes replace guts as gib effects.

Speed and movement is what Warsow is all about. Like a true cyberathlete you jump, dash, dodge, and wall-jump your way through the game. Grab power-ups before your enemy does, plant a bomb before anyone sees you, and steal the enemy’s flag before they know what is going on!

Patch 2.1 (15 April 2016)

General:

• The client will probe the official Warsow mirror for all .pk3 downloads before attempting to download the file from game server.
• Third-party .pk3 downloads are stored in a separate directory to prevent them from overriding basewsw assets or shaders.
• When connected to a pure server, do not fully reload the game assets on map change.
• Changed default console font to monospace Droid Sans.
• Changed help messages for 'callvote map' to contain the title of the map being voted for.
• Added tab-completion of console commands and variables to chat.
• Downloaded third-party add-ons will now go into separate filesystem directory. Use +set fs_usedownloadsdir 0 on the command line to disable such add-ons altogether.
• Improved support for Quake 3/Quake Live maps.

Renderer:

• Offloaded the renderer to a separate thread. r_multithreading 0 reverts to traditional single-threaded mode.
• Added r_maxfps to cap the refresh framerate in multi-threaded mode, changed cg_showFPS 1 and 2 to display refresh and client framerates respectively.
• Increased the number of background loader threads to 4.
• Fixed support for palette-based PNG images with alpha channel.
• Use optimal VRAM storage format for grayscale lightmaps when deluxemapping is disabled.

Gameplay:

• Don't render flesh hits for RG and MG pellets as they were often mispredicted.
• In bomb gametype, reset all map entities to their initial state at round start.
• Allow grenades to be shot straight down.
• Disabled the minimum walljump height if jump button is pressed.
• Fixed instagib shots stopping on the first hit player.

Server:

• The server will now re-open console log file on SIGUSR1.
• Running multiple servers in the same homedir won't corrupt .pk3 files downloaded via autoupdates.

Modding:

• Expose "random" entity property to gametype scripts.
• MeansOfDeath (MOD_RIOTGUN_S, MOD_GRENADE_SPLASH_S, etc enums) is now passed as the fourth argument to "kill" score event in gametype scripts.
• Added G_ResetLevel() to gametype scripting API. The function resets all map entities to their initial state, keeping clients intact.
• Added Client::getMMLogin() method to gametype scripting API, which returns the match-maker login for authenticated players.
• Added hasChallengersRoulette, forceTeamHumans, forceTeamBots, disableObituaries gametype properties to scripting API.

Linux:

• Changed base data, cache and runtime directory paths to conform to XDG specs.
• Fixed MOUSE4 and MOUSE5 mouse buttons support.

Mac:

• Changed base cache directory path to ~/Library/Cache/.
• Fixed MOUSE4 and MOUSE5 mouse buttons support.

Mapping:

• Added "random" key support to func_timer and target_delay, specifies delay variance. Total delay = delay +/- random seconds.
• Added "delay" key support to "target_delay" for backwards compatibility with Q3 maps.

Race:

• Sector reports are now buffered until the end of the race.
• Top command to display records in reverse order.
• More records are now stored (30).
• Added quickmenu with basic commands.
• Picking up a weapon doesn't remove it from the map.
• Associate records with login names when possible.
• Color- and case-insensitive nickname associations for records.
• Weapon information is now saved when saving a position.
• Allow loading prerace-saved positions in prerace.
• Added setting a speed for the saved position (only in practicemode).
• Limited announcer sounds to once per player.
• Simple randmap vote with a pattern to search for.
• The kill command will now make spectators join.
• Nice checkpoint feedback in the console.
• Disabled starting a race while alive after finishing.
• Fixed the respawner after finishing.
• Allow racerestart while not racing.
• Linked kill to racerestart.
• Fixed displaying of the top scores in the hud. They are now shown when you connect.
• Save no more than one time per player to the local highscore file, so the highscores are not populated by one player.
• Print finish and sector times to the console so they can be looked at later.
• Assign saved top times to their owners when they reappear.
• Added practicemode with noclip and position save / load commands.
• Disabled warmup.

HUD:

• Apply localization to scoreboard strings.
• Expose system mono font to the HUD via con_fontSystemMono.
• Draw crosshair even when out of ammo.
• Updated the "connection interrupted" icon.
• Added drawCleanStatString and drawCleanPlayerName commands for drawing player and team names without color codes and forcing the current color.
• Added TEAM_ALPHA_NAME and TEAM_BETA_NAME constants to draw team names with drawStatString.
• drawPlayerName now ignores the current color and defaults to white, only taking the current alpha into account.

WarsowTV:

• Fixed demo playback.

UI:

• Fixed random crash on vid_restart.
• Color correction profile can now be applied to the "worldview" widget by specifying the "color-correction" RCSS property.
• Improved demo player modal window.

---

Patch 2.01 (29 December 2015)

General:

• Rewinding demos no longer breaks POV switching.
• Fixed client-side crashes in CTF: Tactics game mode.
• Corrected the list of assets released under Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license (see license.txt).

Server:

• Fixed race condition which was preventing multiple server instances to complete initialization in case they were sharing the same home directory.
• Bugfixes and improved performance for the built-in HTTP server. UI:
• Fixed memory leaks, improved peformance for the server browser with l10n enabled.

Renderer:

• Automatically disable multithreading if Nouveau graphics driver is detected (Linux).
• Automatically use discrete GPU's on laptops with both integrated and discrete GPU's. HUD:
• Updated adem HUD.
• Updated strafe.hud for all HUDs.

---

Patch 2.0 (29 December 2015)

General:

• Switched to Creative Commons license for media assets.
• Added full out-of-the-box gamepad support (XInput on Windows, SDL on Linux and OS X).
• The engine automatically lowers the frame rate to 24 FPS and enables sleep state when the game is minimized.
• Multi-threading improvements for the following; fixed race conditions, reduced latency and the amount of context switches.
• .pk3 files explicitly named as "pure" are now preferred to different .pk3 files.
• Restricted downloads of binary modules and "pure" content to official Warsow web mirror.
• Greatly reduced memory footprint for fonts (especially for CJK).
• Pressing Escape key during the map load or connection set-up will now cancel the process much quicker.
• New high resolution "flat" icon.
• Maximum refresh rate now defaults to 250 fps.
• It is now possible to pause demo playback at the end of a demo file, instead of dropping to main menu (see "demo" command help).
• Added "flipped view" mode, set "cl_flip" to "1" to enable.
• Use HTTPS for secure authentication to matchmaker.

Renderer:

• 30% to 50% overall performance improvement.
• Greatly reduced VRAM footprint for textures.
• Added support for texture arrays, used for lightmaps.
• Added KTX texture format support.
• Enabled binary cache for GLSL programs to speed up startup time by default now.
• Enabled multi-threading to speed up map loading by default now.
• Curved meshes are now optimized to remove excessive polygons.
• Changed rendering order so that the sky is now rendered after world geometry to minimize overdraw.
• Fixed infinite far clipping plane calculations.
• The renderer now queries the operating system for available screen resolutions.
• Shadowmaps now account for normals of geometry they are cast on, making them less prone to be visible through walls and ceilings.
• Added "stencilTest" shader keyword.
• Added per map colour correction support. Toggle-able with cg_colorCorrection 0/1, maps can define colorCorrection key in worldspawn to use color correction profile.
• Removed "vid_mode", "vid_customwidth" and "vid_customheight" console variables in favour of "vid_width" and "vid_height" for video modesetting.
• Dropped support for "noDepthTest" shader keyword.
• Dropped "r_colorbits" console variable (used to set desktop colour depth).

Gameplay:

• New Tutorial game mode.
• Added 3 new awards:
• First Frag (awarded to the first fragger);
• Fair Play (say "gg" to your opponents during the post-match using the chat or the vsay);
• Man of the Match (You must score the most + achieve the ""Fair Play" award). See above.
• Added sounds for Lasergun, Electrobolt and Instagun impacts.
• New spawn points selection algorithm: returns the furthest point to which there's less than 4 points on the map; otherwise it returns to a random one, excluding the closest 3 points.
• Ammo packs dropped on a players deaths, now actually contain strong ammo.
• The movement style now defaults to "old movement", set "cg_movementStyle" to "1" for "new movement".
• Incorporated a number of movement fixes from Racesow.
• Ranked servers will now announce a players profile name at warsow.net alongside the nickname of the players entrance to the server.
• On ranked servers, the "players" command now also prints login names for authenticated players.
• After joining a server, the game menu is now opened automatically.
• On ranked servers, certain votes now require players to be authenticated.
• Votes now ignore AFK players.
• In round-based game modes, in-active players are not removed until the beginning of the next round.
• Added bot navigation files for wda5 and wbomb6.
• Player movement prediction now works properly when riding a moving platform.
• New RL/GL trail effect, cg_rocketTrail & cg_grenaderTrail merged into cg_projectileTrail.
• Bots will now ignore chatting players.
• Reduced respawn sound volume by 35%.
• Added new callvote options "shuffle" and "rebalance".
• Decreased weapon respawn timer to 10 in Duel.
• In bomb, players can now move at crouch speed during the pre-round; upped maximum running speed to 320ups.
• Removed 'Team Domination' game mode.

Graphics:

• New "illuminati" gibs.
• New Instagun & Electrobolt decals.
• New "simple items" sprites.
• New teleportation\spawn effect.
• New EB beam texture for cg_ebbeam_old 1.
• New default EB beam effect.
• New Lasergun beam, added hit model for LG endpoint.
• New bullet hit decal and model.
• Improved rocket launcher projectile texture.
• Added gloss textures for BigVic and Bobot player models.
• Added cg_viewBob, viewport smoothing/bobbing to falling/high jumps.
• Bomb model colour follows the planted state dynamic light color (red when planted, orange normally).
• Disabling gun "bobbing" now also disables fire and idle gun animations.
• New damage hit effect (cg_showBloodTrail).

Weapons:

• Reduced Rocket Launcher pick-up ammo count to 5.
• Reduced Lasergun and Plasmagun pick-up ammo count to 50.
• Increased Lasergun and Plasmagun ammo box count to 100.
• Increased Electrobolt ammo box count to 10.
• Removed custom gravity and friction from Grenade Launcher projectiles.
• Unified knockback of Grenade Launcher and Rocket Launcher to 100.
• Unified minimum knockback of Grenade Launcher and Rocket Launcher to 35.
• Unified splash radius of Grenade Launcher and Rocket Launcher to 125.
• Changed Gunblade full recharge and reload time to 600ms.
• Changed Gunblade projectile damage, splash radius and knockback to 40, 70 and 90 respectively, self-damage ratio increased to 100%.
• Increased Gunblade melee damage to 50 and decreased reload time to 600ms.
• New Riotgun spread pattern based on Fibonacci/sunflower spirals.
• Increased per-pellet knockback for Riotgun to 7 (140 on 100% hit), spread reduced.
• Increased Rocket launcher reload, damage and projectile speed to 950ms, 80 and 1150ups respectively.
• Increased Grenade launcher reload, damage and self-damage ratio to 800ms, 80 and 100% respectively.
• Increased DPS for Lasergun to 140, knockback increased to 14.
• Increased Machinegun bullet damage to 10, reload time increased to 100ms, spread removed.
• Increased knock-back for Electrobolt to 80.
• Increased Plasmagun speed and knockback to 2500ups and 20 respetively.

Maps:

• New Tutorial map.
• Improved wdm6.
• Improved wdm1 item layout.
• Added colour correction profiles for wdm5, wbomb6, wbomb1.
• Removed wdm3.
• Removed wca2.

Mapping:

• "target_print" entities can now provide overlay help messages/hints to players (use the the "helpmessage" key in Radiant/map editor of choice).
• Added support for "target_kill" and "target_teleporter" entities from Quake3.
• Use "gravity" attribute on the "worlspawn" object to set map gravity. Localizations:
• Added 9 new localizations: Belarusian, Bulgarian, Lithuanian, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian.
• Maps can now be localized individually (drop .po files into l10n/maps/).
• Centre-printed messages and map locations are now localizable. Sound:
• Added "s_globalfocus" option: when enabled the game will continue to play its sound and music even if the user switches to another application.
• It is now possible to use .ogv video files as background music tracks.
• Fixed support for remote .ogg music tracks/streams.
• Reduced default sound mixer delay from 200ms to 140ms (snd_qf).
• The background music is now not interrupted at demojumps.

HUD:

• Added current time to the HUD in the race mode.
• Added text animation for game awards.
• All HUD elements are now resolution-independent.
• Optimized rendering of scoreboard strings.
• Scripting: it's now possible to pass a non-constant math expression to setFontSize.
• New spec HUD, added adem HUD.

UI:

• Added voicecomm menu for Team Deathmatch, Bomb, CTF and CTF: Tactics game modes (bound to Left Shift by default).
• Revamped title screen, this incorporates a players profile and stats from warsow.net.
• Added an option for server browser to open a dialogue with suggested game servers after the search is complete.
• Added quit confirmation dialogue.
• Added descriptions for game modes.
• Added pre-load option, enabled by default (set "ui_preload" to "0" to disable).
• Added several new configurable options.
• Added confirmation dialogue for "Move to TV" command.
• Removed IRC chat tab.

Server:

• The built-in HTTP server now runs in a separate thread.
• Optimized file transfers from the built-in HTTP server.
• Matchmaker HTTP authentication now respects sv_ip.

WarsowTV:

• Fixed an issue with the automatic chase-cam, which occasionally goes rampant in round-based game modes.
• Enabled TCP connections support.

Linux:

• Switched over to SDL2 for video initialization and input. NOTE: versions prior to SDL2 suffer from doubled mouse sensitivity. This is expected to be fixed in SDL 2.0.4.
• ALT+Tab works now.
• Keyboard input doesn't steal the whole system focus.
• The game now respects system keyboard layout.
• Switched over to dynamic linking for support libraries.

Windows:

• The window can be minimized when the game is running in windowed mode.
• ALT+F4 works again.
• The UI now respects system DPI settings.
• Added support for Japanese and Korean input to the chat.

SDK:

• Added NetRadiant and Q3Map2 with KTX texture format support, older versions won't load the textures properly.
• Added .map files and models for all stock maps.
• Added source files for textures and models.
• Switched to cmake as the unified build system for C/C++ code.
• Added Dockerfiles for cross-compilation.
• Added debian meta-package to install all engine dependencies.
• Updated to AngelScript 2.29.2.