Dev Update Video [12-10-2025] Shrinking Circle?

@burnbacon Emergent pve is already disabled in hourglass matches and the circle cannot center on an island

He is referring to adventure, in my opinion…. Thank the heavens!!!

I do agree that turning the game into a BR Simulator with boats is a bad call. I would’ve preferred time limit and scores to settle the draw.

Also think that migrating crews is a bad choice. If you can’t get a returning crew to get it through their heads that coming back will only mean more pain and embarrassment then what are you doing “keeping” a fort.

IF that chases you off? Well then it wasn’t yours now was it?

@burnbacon said in Dev Update Video [12-10-2025] Shrinking Circle?:

• Shrinking Circle (Future Dec update)
  Tired of Runners? Tired of LONG pvp fights...Well Hourglass is now a Battle Royale. Like Fortnite! so the circle will shrink, On a Set Center Point. Keep that in mind. Gonna turn fights into Predictable ends.

The shrinking circle is LONG overdue in my opinion. Hourglass became a tiresome slog not long after it released. The format is stale and needs a shakeup. The shrinking circle is a great start to improvement.

We'll see what the "starting supplies" they talked about brings...that could really be the ticket IMO. Here's my suggestion:

-in a dive vs dive match, both ships supplies temporarily default to the base Arena supplies. The winner of the match would have their supplies revert to whatever they were before they dove as soon as the other ship is sent to the tunnel of shame.

-in a dive vs Defender match, both ships have whatever supplies they have. This would encourage people to actually do the defending mode if they really love the whole supply battle thing.

Also...we don't KNOW that it will shrink on a center point. It hasn't even gone into testing on Insiders yet...and I'm SURE everyone will call out issues if however they implement it truly becomes an issue.

Also also...hourglass fights always have a predictable ending: one winner & one loser 🤪

@sweetsandman a shrinking circle is GREAT!

………. When you can just hard post a building. Imaging a shrinking circle but you had to be driving 2 awkward handling tanks and not stop. If you stop likely you’ll get blown up. Make a slightly wrong turn or get caught on the back side of a building? You just lost, the circle moved…..

Now take all of that and make it ships and instead of buildings to maneuver around we get parade islands…. So I think shrinking circle is a lazy fix.

Make it time limit and points like arena had, it’ll encourage engagement. If you run you’ll lose as you haven’t hit the other ship and aren’t pressing the fight.

@jon-sea-nah

Honestly...why not both? I've suggested a points based system in the past among other different models.

I truly wish they had variety of match types for hourglass.

-shrinking circle
-timed with point system
-an Oddball-from-Halo type model where you need to harpoon something but it can only stay on the harpoon and is easily knocked/shot off and the objective is to maintain it on your harpoon for X amount of time
-a capture the flag match (similar to old Arena..and then a multi-flag one similar to OG Arena)
-Strongholds where you need to maintain control of 3 different locations for the most amount of time

There's all sorts of cool stuff they could do but probably (definitely) won't do.

If all we wind up getting is a shrinking circle, at least it will be an improvement over the current system.

I dislike the idea of a shrinking circle, why don't battle the issue of "long Hourglass fights" in SoT fashion: send a Kraken, Meg or a Skeleton Ship or two; besides some more holes in the ships it should motivate people to get a move on before they spawn.

@lem0n-curry

I do think that one of the "problems" (and I use that word loosely) with that is that you will have some players intentionally avoid combat until after the PvE spawns as it could give them better odds if they know how to manipulate the PvE's mechanics well enough to get it "on their side" to gain an advantage. You know that would happen. Not saying that's a reason not to do it...but just calling out something that you know this playerbase would for sure do.

I think there could be similar "problems" with a timed/points system where players would take the lead in points and then just run endlessly until the time runs out. These are things that this playerbase 100% would do and it's not even debatable.

Again, not saying these are reasons not to explore those changes. Just calling out some potential "issues."

@sweetsandman said in Dev Update Video [12-10-2025] Shrinking Circle?:

@lem0n-curry

I do think that one of the "problems" (and I use that word loosely) with that is that you will have some players intentionally avoid combat until after the PvE spawns as it could give them better odds if they know how to manipulate the PvE's mechanics well enough to get it "on their side" to gain an advantage. You know that would happen. Not saying that's a reason not to do it...but just calling out something that you know this playerbase would for sure do.

I think there could be similar "problems" with a timed/points system where players would take the lead in points and then just run endlessly until the time runs out. These are things that this playerbase 100% would do and it's not even debatable.

Again, not saying these are reasons not to explore those changes. Just calling out some potential "issues."

I think the PvE should attack or annoy both ships as much equally as possible, perhaps adjusting some mechanics.

Both ships should be in the ink and attacked by same number of tentacles.

E.g. Sailing close to an island somewhat protects you from a Meg, she can't attack one ship it shouldn't attack the other one or use a mechanic from the ancient one, put some fire on the shore-lining one or have some ocean crawlers on the ship.

@lem0n-curry I mean yeah in a perfect world Rare is able to program the PvE to deliver equal and fair punishment without any ability for the players to manipulate things to their advantage.

If there's anything we've learned in the last 8 years...they're pretty incapable of preventing players from figuring out a way to manipulate things to their advantage 🤣

Sounds promising. I'm looking forward to seeing the HG changes implemented, hopefully it will refresh it somewhat. Runners are the worst, I'd almost rather face cheaters at least they get things over fast for the most part. Sinking your opponent should be the goal, frustrating them into quitting is completely unacceptable.

I'm a little concerned about the circle shrinking based on the center, rather than between two ships. I guess islands could be a problem. Really good HG matches often end demasted, broadside to broadside. I'd hate to see the winner picked based on whoever is closer to the center. But we'll see how it goes.

Time is everything in this game, reducing the burden of gathering supplies raising flags etc will defintely help getting back into the fight. Hopefully encourage others to try it. Especially those who feel their time is wasted if they sink quickly after prepping their ship properly.

@lem0n-curry i would (harm) ms if long fights on solo sloop randomly spawned a pve event that agro'd me. It would suck if it agro'd my opponent too , would ruin the fight.

@captain-knyt

My last HG match today had a Skeleton ship "sail into" our fight. Which is another thing players dislike. I dont care, I enjoyed it.
(along with storms or Fog) but those werent issued.

Oh you can force the center close enough to an island, doesnt have to be directly, just close enough. But again, "Dont know the size it shrinks" yet. Who to say...

Seen enough Fortnite/Warfare fights where a simple building that cant be destroyed or passed through block a player from winning because the storm cut off there route, took enough damage as they tried to run through it.

@itzeggward said in Dev Update Video [12-10-2025] Shrinking Circle?:

@lem0n-curry i would (harm) ms if long fights on solo sloop randomly spawned a pve event that agro'd me. It would suck if it agro'd my opponent too , would ruin the fight.

Both ships should be attacked by the PvE, IMHO it would be more fun than if in a scenario where both ships are anchored and the shrinking circle sinks one boat.

@lem0n-curry said in Dev Update Video [12-10-2025] Shrinking Circle?:

I dislike the idea of a shrinking circle, why don't battle the issue of "long Hourglass fights" in SoT fashion: send a Kraken, Meg or a Skeleton Ship or two; besides some more holes in the ships it should motivate people to get a move on before they spawn.

^^^^This I’m good with PvE from hell attacking if it takes too long

@jon-sea-nah

Someone send this to Rare creative team! And why isn’t wasn’t a thought!