Firstly, I wanted to address the biggest complaints people have had about the new patch. Most of the complaints have to do with the introduction of more RNG into the game. I agree that's a problem for any kind of competitive esport or game. But let's also consider how certain changes reduced RNG, and made the game better. This is just my opinion but as follows are what I think about the changes (my writing is in italics):

• General
  • Headshot damage reduced from a 100% bonus to a 50% bonus for all weapons.

This is good. Since no one consistently hits headshots even at the very top levels, this is arguably reducing the RNG in the game.

• The shard bonus for killing players has been removed.

This is good, the shard bonus rewarded players too much, essentially giving them a free armor/class ability as soon as they killed 1 player. Now they must venture out, open more chests, and get more shards.

• Weapon damage has been rescaled from 0/10/20/30% to 0/20/40/60% using common damage as a baseline.

This is a weird change that I'm sure we won't see the end of - as to me it seems give a whole lot of value to the rarities, but it's pretty cool too, because it did feel like they didn't matter sometimes. Adds slightly more RNG, and hard to predict outcome.

• All players will start with 600 armor.

This reduces the RNG of the game! Places much less emphasis on controlling forges and crafting legendary armor.

• Armor from items has changed from 200/250/300/350 to 60/90/120/150.

Again basically does the same thing, reducing dependence on armor, which does reduce RNG. I don't think it's amazing but I think I like the direction of this change.

• Chicken timer reduced from 30s to 20s.

Increases chicken survivability, which is a great thing for duos and squads. Being chickened is less of a death sentence which I think is a good thing.

• Chicken speed increased from 90% to 135% of normal speed.

See above comment. Does the same thing.

• Chests
  • Weapons chests will now drop the same loot as normal chests.

#1 worst change of the patch that many people complain about, and is honestly a little mind boggling. Why even call them weapons chests? I agree this introduces a lot more landing RNG and I'm curious as to why they made this change, but also curious as to why the community points to one bad change as indication that Hirez has just totally abandonned their game!

• Disenchant values have been changed from 5/10/15/20 to 3/8/20/40.

This is fine. Increases value of rare items. Slightly adds more RNG, but too not oppressively.

• Chests now have a small chance to drop legendary armor, weapons, or abilities.
  • Chest drop rates have been adjusted. Chests can drop up to 4 items.
  • The rate at which chests drop different amount of items has been adjusted.

This change is in my opinion, a bad change when you combine it with the increased damage and shards from legendary weapons/abilities. Again, the community agrees, for the most part. But it's not that bad, and I would rather them do this change than the increased damage change, as long as it's extremely uncommon to get a legendary weapon.

• Potion chests have had their drop rates adjusted.
• Zeppelin chests can now drop between 2 and 4 items
  • Zeppelin chests can drop legendary armor, weapons, abilities, or armor potions.
  • Zeppelin chests will still always drop a Legendary weapon.

This is fine. With better Zeppelin chests, it's going to put more legendary stuff on the map, which negates some of their crazy benefits.

• Forge
  • Chicken trophies have been removed from the game.

YES, this is a good change! My first reaction was.... wait what? They're gone? But when you think about it, it's not a bad change, because it allows you play in a different style and still succeed. You don't need to kill people in the early game when you have basically a dice roll of abilities and weapons, you can wait it out, and still succeed. This change is excellent and the community hasn't commented largely from what I read (and maybe I've missed it). I can see how you'll miss the trophies, but they were a little arbitrary and giving one up for the random plain legendary weapon was never a good idea anyway - now you can craft those.

• The maximum amount of shards you can hold has been reduced from 200 to 120.
• Forge costs updated
  • Armor Potion cost changed from 30 to 25
  • Health Potion cost changed from 30 to 15
  • Armor cost changed from 60 to 50
  • Ability cost changed from 90 to 60
  • Non-Class Legendary Weapon cost changed from 120 to 80
  • Class Legendary Weapon cost changed from 200 to 120

All this stuff is necessary with the chicken change, I see no real problem with it. It doesn't change the fact that you can't hold more than a legendary class weapon's worth of shards, and the change of value to the armor/health potions seems smart, as armor potions are always more valuable.