Launch prep was rebuilt from the ground up for this cycle. Every launcher download now passes hash validation, shader caches are sanitized automatically, and live ops dashboards expose per-map performance in real time. The goal is simple: let everyone re-enter Pan Gu on equal footing with fewer client surprises.
Stability-first rollout
Deployment starts with a two hour quiet period where only internal characters log in. This enables us to capture launcher metrics, check macro migrations, and flip on new anti-packet rules before the public crowd hits the gate. Once the green light is given, cross-region shards open simultaneously at 18:00 BRT.
Systems touched
Launcher + pipeline
- Manifest hashes reissued to block outdated patches.
- Installer now writes crash dumps to a dedicated folder for easy uploads.
- Auto-migration carries UI layouts, rune presets, and macro bars forward.
Combat + economy
- Drop table tuning slows early inflation without stalling progress.
- Refined damage formulas for awakened classes lower spike variance.
- Faction contribution rewards now scale with participation windows.
Infrastructure
- Elastic monitoring includes per-map CPU, GPU, and network alerts.
- Discord webhooks post maintenance state in Portuguese & English.
- Support routing triages tickets by hardware profile for faster fixes.
Deployment checklist
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12:00–14:00 BRT · Quiet start
Automation runs integrity checks, clears caches, and confirms CDN mirrors. Only ops characters can log in during this block.
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14:00–18:00 BRT · Internal siege
QA squads stage in Archosaur, Territory War, and Neverfall to stress AI behavior, rune swaps, and instanced loot rules.
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18:00 BRT · Public unlock
All shards open in sync. Expect short rolling restarts while we trim server variance and capture metrics.
What we need from testers
- Record FPS before and after enabling the new 64-bit renderer and attach the hardware summary.
- Send launcher logs if you spot long patch verification times or antivirus false positives.
- Report any macro, rune, or UI layouts that did not migrate so we can reproduce the missing files.
- Flag dungeons that feel overtuned on day one so balance changes can land before the Pan Gu unlock.
Looking toward Rise of Pan Gu
Assuming the metrics hold, we will freeze 1.8.7 on February 20 and pivot to the Rise of Pan Gu content branch. The same tooling used here will move to weekly cadence so guilds can anticipate every unlock window instead of reacting overnight. Watch Discord for the next roadmap post—the community playtest signup goes live right after this sprint closes.