The first Rust update of 2026 has arrived. As of January 1st, Facepunch Studios has executed a global Force Wipe, resetting maps and blueprints across nearly all servers. This month's update clears the slate for a massive year ahead, headlined by the upcoming Naval warfare overhaul.

🌊 The January Update: What's New?

1. The Clean Slate

Every first Thursday of the month brings a forced map wipe, but January 2026 is special. It's a "blueprint wipe" for most officials and community servers, meaning everyone starts from zero—rock and torch in hand. It's the perfect time for new players to jump in or veterans to return.

2. February Naval Update Preview

While the January update is lighter on content, it sets the stage for February 5th, 2026. Facepunch has confirmed this will be the "Naval Update", introducing:

• Boat Bases: New building blocks designed for water bases.
• Ghost Ships: A new roaming PVE event on the high seas.
• New Monuments: Underwater and coastal points of interest.

3. The 2026 Roadmap

Facepunch has teased ambitious plans for the rest of the year, including:

• Animal Breeding System: Taming and breeding wolves and bears.
• Player Model Rework: Updated animations and customization.
• Legacy Content Reworks: Updating older monuments to match modern standards.