Chapter 5: Focal Point - December 2023 Article news - Black Mesa: Blue Shift mod for Black Mesa

Hello! It's been a whole year since Captive Freight release, yet it feels like it was just yesterday! It's been an incredible year filled with emotions and extraordinary challenges.

This anniversary marked a significant milestone in our journey. We've faced significant challenges and differences along the way. However, through our perseverance and teamwork, we've overcome all the obstacles. On this special day, we are thrilled to present you a lot of exciting news! We worked tirelessly to bring the most captivating and engaging Blue Shift chapter to life.

Our team is passionately working on Focal Point with tremendous enthusiasm. From gameplay to storyline, every aspect of the project is under scrutiny and careful analysis. We're refining details, implementing fresh ideas, and utilizing cutting-edge technologies to create the most captivating experience for you.

Currently, we can say that chapter 5 is about 60% done. It's a significant milestone, but there's still a lot work ahead. We meticulously review community feedback, make adjustments and enhancements to ensure the unique and interesting Xen experience for everyone.

All of us embarked on this project without prior experience in making anything that could even remotely match the serene beauty of Black Mesa's Xen. As we delved into the creation of our initial levels, we found ourselves navigating uncharted territories, immersing ourselves in a world of learning and exploration. The early stages of creating those levels were akin to stepping into a realm of unexplored creativity. We were venturing into unknown landscapes where every stroke of design, and every concept we conjured became a lesson itself. As for the release...

However, enough words – it's time for us to delve into the most intriguing parts of our article - soundtrack, screenshots, textures, models, in other words - visual stuff!

Let's start with some materials showcase. Maps can't look good without good texture work. These are some of the enviroment surfaces for later parts of Focal Point - dirt, rock, moss.

We won't be showing only the beautiful part of xen - some gross infestation will be used in both Focal Point and Power Struggle:

Listen to another great ambient soundtrack from Daver while you go through the rest of the article:

The work our mappers have done so far for chapter 5 is incredible. It may be huge and beautiful, but it's not gonna be a cakewalk for you - make sure you're ready for this! Here's plenty of screenshots for you!

Woah, it's so vast, but the air there is so thick it's kinda hard to breath... Let's go outside for some fresh xenian air...

If you were still wondering why it takes us so long to make this chapter, take a look at single map scale:

Of course we're also making a ton of custom models! You're gonna see these plants on your way to the focal device:

You're going to find some "ancient" human tech from their first expeditions to the borderworld!

Do you remember that one part right before the Lambda Complex in Black Mesa where Xenians deployed a giant alien turret? We neither, because it was cut in the remake. But we're gonna be restoring some of this cut stuff - you all deserve experiencing it in Source!

In addition to the restored cut content, we will add at least 5 brand new creatures for Focal Point! We won't spoil everything to you right away, but we'll tease some of them in this article.

Meet the Shellsquid! More dangerous, very strong and scary monster that can hit you from very long distances with powerful projectiles:

Looks like there's something deep in the water...

At the same time, part of our team that doesn't have to work on Focal Point is going through previous chapters and making some enhancements here and there. As example - new get-up animation and improved lighting for Rosenberg's container scene:

As always, we have some stuff for our Patreon supporters too! This time it'll be concept art of another xen plant, W.I.P. model based on it, new living xen inhabitant model and another cool updated animation. Go take a look at everything on our Patreon!