patch · November 7, 2025
PEAK. Patch 1.43.a Adjusts Zombie Aggro and Restores the Scout Cannon
PEAK. patch 1.43.a introduces clear death bar indicators for spore infection, adjusts zombie target locking, and brings back the high-velocity Scout Cannon specifically for backpacks.
Patch 1.43.a for PEAK. brings targeted adjustments following the ROOTS update, focusing on zombie mechanics, audio fixes, and a major compromise on the infamous Scout Cannon launch glitch.
Infection and Zombie Behavior
Scouts can now track infection thresholds easily thanks to a new tell added directly to the Death Bar, showing when a player holds enough spores to turn. Meanwhile, converted zombies drop their current focus every ten seconds to recalculate and chase the closest living player. A planned change allowing carried scouts to turn mid-transport was delayed and omitted from this release.
The Scout Cannon Compromise
The high-velocity propulsion exploit makes a partial return. The development team revealed that the mechanic relied on an accidental force value of 5000 instead of the intended 30, effectively launching items at extreme speeds. Patch 1.43.a restricts this extreme velocity exclusively to backpacks, allowing players to retain a specific method for skipping sections.
Audio and Item Fixes
Several nagging audio bugs have been resolved, including ambient sound effects for the Cursed Skull and Book of Bones which now mute properly when stored inside a backpack. Mandrake scream volume now correctly scales with the SFX slider, and persistent screaming loops that occurred at long distances have been eliminated. Player-specific audio sliders also retain their custom settings correctly after a disconnect and reconnect cycle.
Environment and Crash Resolution
Throwing a Cursed Skull into lava no longer causes the game to crash. Additional environment fixes resolve missing root collision on redwood stumps and correct an unintended height boost when falling onto mushrooms while equipped with a parasol. The UI for the extra stamina bar now updates accurately when players drop to minimal remaining stamina.
Why this patch matters
Patch 1.43.a delivers practical quality-of-life adjustments while preserving a favorite movement quirk for players who rely on backpack physics.