Insurgency Sandstorm receives its Operation: Shell Shock content drop with update version 1.19 on PC, packing two new semi-automatic shotguns, a Challenges system, cosmetic additions, and a limited-time game mode called Chad Team 666.
The developer, Saber Interactive, ships the update as a mix of free and paid content and a long list of bug fixes and improvements across art, gameplay, levels, UI, mod tools, and miscellaneous systems. For the full technical release notes from the studio, consult Saber’s release notes.
What’s in Operation: Shell Shock
Challenges arrive as a new way to earn rewards while playing. The system includes three types:
- Daily Challenges – objectives that rotate every 24 hours.
- Weekly Challenges – larger objectives that take longer to complete.
- Static Challenges – always active, with multi-stage objectives that unlock further levels as prior ones are completed.
Active Challenges are visible in the Stats menu under the Challenges tab and can also be tracked from the Play menu in Co-op or Versus. Completed and tracked Challenges appear on the Results screen after matches. Challenges count only in official online matches; local play and community servers do not progress these.
New weapons
Operation: Shell Shock adds two semi-automatic shotguns:
- S12K (Security) – AK-platform inspired semi-auto shotgun with fast follow-up shots.
- US12 (Insurgents) – semi-auto shotgun built for close-quarters damage.
Chad Team 666
A timed, Halloween-adjacent mode: squads of vampiric special forces face waves of zombified enemies in a checkpoint survival scenario. It’s a high-intensity, flavor-first mode meant to be run for short bursts.
Cosmetics, camo, and personalization
Operation: Shell Shock adds faction patches, uniform camos, extra cosmetic color options, equipment color choices, tattoos, and a new Face Scar menu for character customization. Notable additions include MM-14 Pixel and Night Raven as universal camos, plus new Security and Insurgent patch sets.
Skin Try-out System
Players can preview premium weapon skin sets in the Training Range. Skins marked with a money icon in the Aesthetic menu can be equipped and tested in the Range; they are automatically unequipped when exiting the Range.
Patch Notes – 1.013.000 / 1.26
Art & Graphics
- Fixed an issue where the Desert Corpsman mask and headgear caused the player’s hair to disappear in third-person and in the Customize menu.
- Fixed an issue where the Desert Corpsman gloves caused the forefinger to clip through in third-person.
- Fixed an issue where the Desert Corpsman shirt duplicated the left arm tattoo onto the right arm.
- Fixed an issue where the player’s arms and tattoos were incorrectly mirrored, duplicating the left arm tattoo onto the right arm.
- Fixed an issue where carrier vests and armor appeared detached from characters and floated in midair in third-person.
- Fixed an issue where weapons clipped through walls when standing too close.
- Fixed an issue where folded bipods appeared unfolded in third-person and in the Loadout menu.
- Fixed an issue where bipod-mounted weapons displayed incorrect animation states in third-person or after interrupted reloads.
- Fixed an issue where interrupted reloads while using bipods caused magazines to disappear temporarily.
- Fixed an issue where player animations were broken when blinded and performing actions like reloading or throwing grenades.
- Fixed an issue where reload animations appeared incorrect when interrupted by vehicle interaction.
- Fixed an issue where the Forest Warden Bottom clipped with Heavy Armor in third-person view.
- Fixed an issue where the Protective Gear Boots clipped with the Biker Bottom.
- Fixed an issue where female PMC Bottoms with Technician Tops had morphing issues.
- Fixed an issue where the MM-14 Pixel camo pattern differed from the intended reference design.
- Fixed an issue where the Night Raven camo had inconsistent pattern scaling between legs and torso.
- Fixed an issue where the Rust & Wrap AKM skin appeared invisible when viewed through scopes in third-person.
- Fixed an issue where optics appeared distorted when aiming down sights on the SVD while using the Quick Draw Grip or Aiming Grip.
- Fixed an issue where optics were overly bright when using certain scopes on night maps.
- Fixed an issue where the IR flashlight appeared visible under NVG conditions when it should have been hidden.
- Fixed an issue where the helicopter from fire support appeared entirely white on Last Light.
- Fixed an issue where Shell Camo (Torso) coloring differed from previous updates.
- Fixed an issue where the armor and carrier displayed as belonging to the opposite faction after switching sides.
- Fixed an issue where uniform camo coloring for Shell Camo (Torso) differed between updates.
- Fixed an issue where the M249 tape and other belt-fed weapon elements were invisible in third-person.
- Fixed an issue where the M249 inner section lacked texture when using the Night Raven skin.
- Fixed an issue where the AKM, AUG A3, and G36K could appear invisible or contain missing components in certain conditions.
- Fixed an issue where the G36K displayed an unintended extra piece near the barrel.
- Fixed an issue where PKM bullets disappeared from the magazine when reloading on bipods.
- Fixed an issue where Desert Corpsman and Forest Warden outfits showed incorrect material blending or color differences.
- Fixed an issue where NVG accessories could appear under the character’s feet after resupplying in third-person.
- Fixed an issue where the AR-7090 left hand remained static when switching firing modes.
- Fixed an issue where the M250 bolt did not move when firing in third-person.
- Fixed an issue where the M16A2 extended magazine with the Bloodwood skin disappeared when viewed through a scope.
Gameplay
- Fixed an issue where purchasing the Plague DOC patch did not decrease the player’s currency balance.
- Fixed an issue where players could become invisible to others after being killed by friendly explosives while inside a vehicle.
- Fixed an issue where players could not destroy caches in subsequent rounds if the previous round ended while an IED or C4 was planted.
- Fixed an issue where players could drop an infinite number of magazines on the ACE 52 when using an extended magazine.
- Fixed an issue where players could not fire the F2000 or F2000 Tactical for 1–2 seconds after reloading an explosive or smoke launcher.
- Fixed an issue where single-shot fire mode on the M250 and H21 had a noticeable firing delay.
- Fixed an issue where the H21 had a delay when firing the first round.
- Fixed an issue where the H21 iron sight appeared distorted when aiming and shooting close to objects.
- Fixed an issue where the H21 magazine did not appear for several seconds after resuming a reload while using a bipod.
- Fixed an issue where vehicle interactions could interrupt reloads and cause misalignment.
- Fixed an issue where weapon reload animations could break if interrupted by vehicle actions.
- Fixed an issue where bipod-mounted weapons displayed incorrect states when transitioning between prone and standing.
- Fixed an issue where the M16A2 last purchased cosmetic item did not save in presets after restarting.
- Fixed an issue where grenade explosions could cause the title to freeze during training.
- Fixed an issue where reload or weapon switch animations did not fully play when using the M1 Garand’s smoke or explosive launcher.
- Fixed an issue where the character’s hands clipped with the IED during the planting animation in first-person.
Level Design & Improvements
- Fixed an issue where players could access unintended rooftop areas on Farmhouse.
- Fixed an issue where players could climb onto rocks and gain an advantage on Farmhouse.
- Fixed an issue where players could access unintended terrain near Point A on Forest Push Insurgents.
- Fixed an issue where Objective A could be blocked from outside on the defender side in Forest Push Insurgents.
- Fixed an issue where a restricted area seam was visible behind Security Spawn A in Forest Push Insurgents.
- Fixed an issue where Security players could spawn kill Insurgents on Forest Push Insurgents.
- Fixed an issue where players could climb to an upper tier and gain an advantage on Forest.
- Fixed an issue where players could get inside a wall and gain an advantage on Crossing.
- Fixed an issue where important gameplay props were not rendered from distance on Crossing.
- Fixed an issue where AI players could get stuck at the respawn point on Crossing Outpost point A.
- Fixed an issue where bots spawned but did not attack Point A on Crossing Outpost.
- Fixed an issue where players could climb into rocks and deal damage from unintended positions on Crossing.
- Fixed an issue where bots spawned but did not attack Point A on Hideout Outpost.
- Fixed an issue where players could climb onto a roof and gain an advantage on Last Light.
- Fixed an issue where players could climb onto a roof and gain an advantage on Tideway.
- Fixed an issue where players could climb into inaccessible terrain on Citadel.
- Fixed an issue where players could exploit a rock on Summit to hide inside it and attack enemies.
- Fixed an issue where parts of the wall could disappear or flicker when moving on Ministry.
- Fixed an issue where the Insurgents technical vehicle did not move during the final counterattack on Trainyard Checkpoint Security Point H.
- Fixed an issue where the loadout room was too dark on Trainyard Insurgents.
- Fixed an issue where lighting was missing in the loadout/class room on Outskirts.
- Fixed an issue where environment details could visibly pop in at close range on Citadel, Hillside, Ministry, and Trainyard.
- Fixed an issue where the stationary turret could become invisible when rotating the camera.
UI/UX
- Fixed an issue where flat tops were missing on the M4A1 outside of the weapon customization menu.
- Fixed an issue where eyewear glass displayed incorrect tint colors compared to previous versions.
- Fixed an issue where the S.O.R.T. helmet visor color did not update properly when changing lens color options.
- Fixed an issue where cosmetic presets for Security characters would get randomized.
- Fixed an issue where cosmetic colors appeared inconsistent in the Customize menu after restarting the game.
- Fixed an issue where the MM-14 Pixel camo could not be purchased in the Customize menu.
- Fixed an issue where the black variant of the Yeti Top colored the entire top instead of the intended sections.
- Fixed an issue where the “Add Upgrade” tab for the M250 disappeared after installing a third upgrade.
- Fixed an issue where canceling preset saving after changing character gender did not work as intended on console platforms.
- Fixed an issue where the Customize menu returned to the previous tab after purchasing a tattoo on console platforms.
- Fixed an issue where the points bookmark in Replay did not display correctly and extended beyond the control panel on console platforms.
Mod Editor
- Fixed an issue where bots could occasionally spawn at the world origin (0, 0, 0), causing them to die instantly.
- Reduced lag when editing Blueprints that inherit from ItemFirearm.
- Exposed additional INSSoldier and ItemBase variables and functions to Blueprint.
- Added SquadLayout to the right-click asset creation menu.
- Fixed a crash in Outpost when testing in PIE caused by Blaster enemies using paid cosmetics.
- Fixed missing sound effects for Insertion and Extraction Blueprints in custom maps.
- Added a new tool, ModDataAsset, which replaces most Blueprint Structs and supports handling data of different types.
- Enabled the following plugins:
-
- Water
- Chaos Vehicles
- Landmass
- Blueprint Material
- Texture nodes
- Enhanced Input
- Live Link
- Live Link Camera
- Take Recorder
- ImGui
- Fixed a crash in Outpost when testing in PIE caused by Blaster enemies using paid cosmetics.
Miscellaneous
- Fixed an issue where the title could crash during 10v10 Versus matches.
- Fixed an issue where the game could crash on Forest after capturing a point and earning an achievement.
- Fixed an issue where the game could crash at the EAC screen with a “pros.sdk.x64.dll” error message.
- Fixed an issue where the game could crash when joining a group using a party code with a space at the end.
- Fixed an issue where the title could freeze when a player detonated a grenade during the first run of Basic Training.
- Fixed an issue where FPS could drop near tables with weapons on the Training Range Night map.
- Fixed an issue where MOTD banners were not translated after changing language and resetting settings.
- Fixed an issue where DLC store links for the Assault Pack and S.O.R.T. Gear Set directed to incorrect pages.
Premium DLC released alongside this update can be checked via Saber’s release notes.
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