[V3.0] Experimental Update b259 Released — Sandbox Settings Improvements, Balance Tweaks, and Numerous Bug Fixes

The latest build V3.0.0 b259 has been released to the Experimental branch of the major 7 Days to Die update V3.0 “Dead Hot Summer”. This time the focus is on improvements to sandbox settings and bug fixes, along with plenty of balance adjustments to MODs and perks, plus fixes to issues with crafting, traders, turrets, and more.

For an overview of V3.0 itself and how to opt into the Experimental branch, check out our previous article “Dead Hot Summer” Experimental Is Live — How to Join and the Latest Update (b257) and the V3.0 Feature Page. In this article, we summarize the changes since b257.

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Switching to the Experimental Branch (Recap)

1. Right-click 7 Days to Die in your Steam library
2. Open the “Properties” → “Betas” (Game Versions & Betas) tab
3. Select latest_experimental from the dropdown to download

Note: For those who still end up pulling the older build (b252) via latest_experimental, the developers have prepared a new branch called latest_experimental_fallback. If you aren’t getting updated to the latest version, give this one a try as well.

The Experimental branch is a version under development. Because save compatibility may be lost or you may run into bugs, we recommend backing up any important data before switching.

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Added Elements

• Console commands that output and list the sandbox settings to the log (getsandboxoptions / gso). The current sandbox settings are now recorded in the log when a game starts
• WebAPI “sandboxsettings”: The current sandbox settings and custom code can now be retrieved externally, including the details visible in the UI (aimed at server management and integration tools)
• Added “Crouch Run Speed” to the sandbox settings
• XUi system_time binding: The real-world current time can now be displayed in the UI
• Added methods to XUi for registering XML attributes and binding handlers to existing controllers/views (for MOD creators)

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Changes and Balance Adjustments

• Unified the Tempered Blade MOD to the same values as other block-damage MODs. Adjusted from +10–60% → +5–30%
• Redesigned the Ergonomic Grip MOD to prevent stacking issues with other perks and items. Adjusted from +10–60% → +5–30%
• Fortifying Grip: Added logic so the effect does not trigger when you have no food or water
• Siphoning Strikes and Bar Brawling Vol 5 were also changed so their effects do not apply when you have no food or water
• Updated ammo tags to support Lucky Looter Vol 2 and the sandbox settings
• POI “House_construction_02”: Changed the bear sleeper placement to a boar for difficulty balancing
• POI “industrial_strip_03”: Updated the loot contents so that more vehicle-related loot appears

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Fixed Bugs

Sandbox Settings

• Issue where “Global Loot Stage” was not being reflected in the loot stage
• Issue where “Crouch Speed 300%” ended up being faster than “Walk Speed 300%”
• Issue where “Drop On Death: Delete All” did not work
• Issue where setting “Global Game Stage: Low” caused the starting game stage to be 0
• Issue where the Minimum speed was not correctly reflecting the speed-modifier sandbox settings

Crafting, Forge, and Trader

• Issue where inventory items became unusable after the previous game session was interrupted
• Issue where selecting a smelter type in sandbox made forge recipes free
• Issue where setting crafting cost to “None” still let materials limit item production
• Issue where Crafting Input did not work when set to “None”
• Issue where players could not retrieve items they had placed at an occupied trader
• Issue where having an additional grill caused a cooking grill tag error that affected cooking times

Other

• Issue where turrets corrupted the block space of other devices
• Issue where XUi Color values outside the allowed range (0–255) were truncated instead of being properly clamped
• Fixed the missing box collider on bat_Prefab (the bat)

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Summary

b259 is an update that improves the reliability of sandbox settings, one of the highlights of V3.0. Items that previously felt like “I set it but it doesn’t work” (loot stage / game stage / drop on death / crouch speed, and so on) have been fixed all at once, making it possible to enjoy building your own custom rules more reliably. Alongside this, there are balance adjustments as well, such as disabling certain perk and grip effects when you’ve run out of food or water.

Detailed explanations of each V3.0 system are compiled on the V3.0 Feature Page. Please share your Experimental play reports and bug findings with the community.

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* This article is a Japanese-language summary based on the official Steam news “V3.0.0 b259 EXP.” For the latest information, please also check the official Steam news.