Surface RUST: Naval Update, Artist Pack DLC, Paintball, Lunar New Year & More
“But Llama, you’ve been swearing for months now that we’re finally getting the Naval Update… last time you sounded really sure. What gives?”
Fair question. The short answer: when Facepunch confirms content is shipping, we prepare accordingly. When that same content gets delayed the day before release again, there isn’t much to adjust besides expectations.
To be clear, we won’t be re-covering Naval Update content already detailed in our December Naval Update Preview, which was canceled in December of 2026. At this stage, most changes from Facepunch appear to be polish, bug fixes, and balance adjustments rather than additional game systems.
Some features we noted in December that weren’t yet functioning; they are now. Variables we might have stated as fact may have been adjusted slightly. Content we posted in guides, such as the Floating City Monument and Floating City Vendor Loot Tables, will be updated for accuracy in the coming weeks. And be sure to check out our latest RUST Player-Made Boat Building Guide!
What’s Coming in RUST’s February Update (Outside the Naval Update)
The trend of cosmetic and utility-focused DLCs continues into 2026, with February’s primary addition being the Artist Pack DLC. Other DLCs are in development, including a Boxes Pack and a Crypt-themed stone building skin, though only the Artist Pack appears ready for release.
Artist Pack DLC
This is a sizable pay-to-use DLC, currently estimated to include approximately 27 unique craftable items. Some items differ only by size or framing style, so related variants are grouped together below for clarity.
Art Canvases
Artist Canvases are essentially borderless, completely flat paintable platforms that may be butted right up to one another for seamless creations, such as murals or really big insults for your roofcamping neighbor.
Light-Up Frames
Light-Up Frames have a simple power-in and power-out slot and require 1 unit of power each. They can be toggled via Switches or other controls and feature simple salon-style bulbs that surround the paintable area.
Ornate Frames
Ornate Frames are purely decorative and do not support electrical connections. Their appeal lies entirely in presentation: gold trim, an engraved placard, and a plywood backing suitable for painted artwork. The placard text can be customized via the menu wheel.
Paintable Reactive Target
The Paintable Reactive Target is exactly what you’d expect: a typical reactive target, artistifafieded and customizable. It has the same interface as its base model, but you can add your favorite teammate’s name before shooting it. #teambuilding
Paintable Window
Everyone has looked at our window options in RUST in the past and thought… man, I wish I could black those things out. Well, now you can. Artistry can take a weird turn here, because if you lay down a solid top coat first, you can use the eraser tool for that see-through effect you’re all wanting.
Otherwise, the Paintable Window is just a paintable version of the Strengthened Glass Window; same stats, health, and all. They look largely the same, except that the built-in pane separators are missing from the paintable version.
Paintball Overalls
Introduced alongside the Artist Pack is a new non-lethal, cosmetic-focused combat system centered around paintball mechanics. With it, you will find the new Paintball Overalls, which is a re-skinned NPC Jumpsuit with moderate stats that protect the chest and legs.
The color of the Paintball Jumpsuit is dependent on what color of Paintballs are loaded into your Paintball Gun, and it changes in real time. It deals 0.25 damage per Paintball to anyone NOT wearing overalls, and real damage (9) to those that are.
Portable Easel
Everyone needs to go full Bob Ross sometimes, and now you can in RUST. You can place most paintable surfaces on this easel, and the easel itself may be placed anywhere that you have building privilege or that there is a complete lack thereof. The same rules apply as with any other deployable in that regard.
Shutter Frames
Shutter frames have a simple power-in and power-out slot, and each requires 1 unit of power. They may be toggled via Switches or other modes and have a metal grate drop-down, like those your favorite 90’s convenience stores used to have to keep out robbers.
Gear, Weapons & Loadout Updates
Several items are being added. As we said, all the RUST Naval Update stuff is in our past guide, so we won’t be including that here. There are a few additional items related to the Lunar New Year event, but most are painting-related. See the full list below.
New Items & Gear
| Item Name | Item Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Assorted Artist DLC Pack Frames. | A celebratory mask for the LNY2026 event will likely be a limited-edition store item. Comes in Black, Brown, and Unicorn. | |
| Silly Horse Mask | “A silly rubber horse mask to celebrate Lunar New Year 2026. Comes in three varieties.” | A celebratory mask for the LNY2026 event, presumably, will be a limited-edition store item. Comes in Black, Brown, and Unicorn. |
| Paintball Gun | “An air gun that uses compressed gas to fire and make targets works of art.” | Probably a future event tool for sanctioned Twitch or Kick events, as well as an in-game, mini-game sort of weapon. Weapon Flashlight and Lasersight are the only functioning, attachable items. Yes, they can be put in Auto Turrets. |
| Paintball | “Ammunition for a paintball gun.” | Self-explanatory. |
| Double Diving Tank | “An oxygen tank that enables breathing under water for a period of time. Can be refilled at a workbench. Holds 80% more Oxygen than a standard diving tank.” | Received through the Naval Labs mission, per Helk Commit. |
| Scientist Plushie | “Scientist Plushie” | Youtooz code redemption comfort item. |
| Heavy Scientist Plushie | “Heavy Scientist Plushie” | Youtooz code redemption comfort item. |
| Paintball Overalls | “A set of paintball overalls.” | Reskinned NPC Jumpsuit with moderate stats that protect the chest and legs. The color depends on the color of the balls in your Paintball Gun and changes in real time. |
| Lunar New Year Horse Armor | “A full body Lunar New Year themed armor for a horse. Provides strong protection for you and your steed, at the cost of greatly reduced movement speed.” | Functionally identical to Roadsign Horse Armor, with Lunar New Year theming. As of writing, textures and final detailing appear incomplete, and acquisition details have not yet been confirmed. |
What’s Next?
We’re due for an official 2026 RUST Roadmap soon, which Alistair has teased and promised. More DLCs, talk of Cows and Sheep being incorporated into the game, along with commits relating to Apartment Complex monuments, item charms, and a bunch more. There’s also another Twitch event, Homebrewed 4.0, starting February 5th, 2026.
As always, all preview information is subject to change prior to release. We’ll continue updating this coverage as commits land and Facepunch finalizes the details of February’s RUST release. Be sure to join our community on Discord and discuss the latest updates.
