1.0 will introduce two new maps, along with improved gun sounds, polished gameplay, new achievements, map updates, and co-op improvements. Additionally, significant enhancements have been made to the door mechanics and anti-cheat implementation. A 1.0 reveal trailer has been prepared to mark this milestone.
Part Of So Many Lives
Zero Hour has been in early access for three years following four years of dedicated work. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have supported us since its early access launch, helping us shape a game that reflects our vision. While we've made significant progress, we acknowledge that there's more to refine and improve. As we prepare for the highly anticipated 1.0 release on August 15, 2024, we’re excited to announce that this milestone signifies our transition out of early access.
Throughout this journey, we've strived to fulfill our promises, although some aspects, like networking, proved challenging due to resource limitations. Our first experience with a multiplayer game of this scale has been exciting, and we're committed to continued growth and learning.
Update Part 5 rolled out the first of three new maps: Dockyard, exclusive to co-op mode. Now, we are thrilled to introduce the remaining two maps: School and a vibrant Bollywood-themed Bar. Each of these maps offers unique experiences, enhancing the diversity of Zero Hour. Additionally, we will be focusing on optimizations, bug fixes, and overall enhancements to further improve the gameplay experience.
As we transition, the game's pricing will also be updated, moving from $11.99 to $18.99. Looking ahead, our commitment to Zero Hour remains steadfast. We'll continue refining the game and releasing patches and improvements.
We are thrilled to have you on this journey with us. Your support has been invaluable, and we can't wait to show you what's in store as Zero Hour progresses beyond early access. Thank you for being a part of our community and for helping us make Zero Hour even better.
- Zero Hour Dev Team
Introducing the 2 New Maps:
Critical Response
A prestigious private school set in an elite area of Dhacca is under siege. Located dangerously close to the Prime Minister's residence, this attack is intended to send a dire message. Negotiations have successfully secured the release of many students, but the terrorists now hold some staff members hostage to leverage their high-stakes demands. Tasked with bringing order to chaos, the MS unit needs to rescue the staff and restore safety.
Cocktail Crisis
Masked behind the glitz of a Bollywood-themed bar lies a web of illicit activities: human trafficking, drug trade, and coercion of staff into unspeakable acts. Intel links these operations to the very terrorists threatening the city with a catastrophic bombing. Infiltrate the establishment, unravel the connections, and apprehend the manager for interrogation.
Improvements
Improved Gun Sounds
Our team has been diligently working on enhancing the gun sounds to make them meatier and more realistic. We've incorporated real-life samples and created several iterations, sharing them with our players on Discord for feedback. This approach has helped us understand what works best and the direction we should take. We've attached a video showcasing a comparison between the current gun sounds and those in the upcoming 1.0 version.
Polished Gameplay
Taking feedback from the survey reports, we have implemented several improvements to polish the game. Key changes include new animations for stance changes while rappelling, allowing players to move the mouse and look at wider vertical angles, and the addition of a revive system for downed players. We are also expanding our pool for procedural prop placement, providing more variations in every match. Additionally, you will no longer need a laser to perform a canted aim; you can toggle between the two aiming methods at any point. Changes have also been made to the sprinting mechanics: getting shot while sprinting will momentarily disable sprinting. Considering this, we are slightly increasing stamina. Running will now lower your weapon to better match its actual position, enhancing immersion.
New Achievements
We are adding more achievements to reward players for accomplishing various challenges in our game, including co-op players. Completing achievements will earn you badges that you can proudly display beside your username in matches.
Map Updates
We are retexturing Embassy Raid, Bank Heist, and Breaking Meth to bring them closer to our newer map standards. Additionally, some maps like Residential House and Terror House will receive new decorations to better fit their themes.
Co-Op Improvements
We've ramped up the difficulty in co-op by enhancing the suspect AI to feel more realistic. Suspects are now more aggressive and respond quickly to player actions. They will also move hostages, potentially leading to crossfire casualties. Additionally, they can detect players rushing or running and pre-fire in response. We've also improved the squad AI to better detect and react to suspects and check for door traps before breaching.
Door Improvements
We've received numerous complaints about the current door mechanics in the game. Long-time players appreciate the system for its skill requirement and learning curve, but new players often find it unintuitive, clunky, and unpolished. To address these issues, we've made significant improvements to the door system.
Breaching options like using C2 or shooting the door open will still be available when you look at the door knob. However, opening and closing doors have been simplified. Looking at the middle of the door and interacting will now directly open or close it. Interacting with the door knob will slightly open the door, and interacting again will close it. The ability to push the door open while it's ajar remains unchanged. Additionally, doors will now collapse completely when using C2 or a door rammer, removing the door from the scenario entirely.
Anti-Cheat Improvements
According to survey reports, many players feel that cheaters are still ruining the PvP experience. Denuvo has been working on improving the anti-cheat implementation in the game to better accommodate its P2P network structure. These improvements will help detect cheaters more quickly. Additionally, we are considering adding a feature to notify players when a ban is made, although this feature is not yet confirmed.
Announcement For 1.0 Reveal Trailer
We have prepared a trailer to reveal our 1.0 release date, and we want to give you a heads-up that it addresses sensitive content. The trailer is based on the new school map included in the 1.0 update. We have crafted this experience with the utmost respect for those who have experienced similar traumatic events and understand the importance of maintaining sensitivity.
When the school map is released, it will not be a mandatory mission required to progress the game. Players who are not comfortable playing it do not need to partake in it. Additionally, the game will immediately end if players attempt to shoot students, ensuring that such actions are not part of the gameplay.
We hope you are excited for our 1.0 reveal trailer and look forward to showing you what we have in store.
Thank you for your patience. Please make sure to report toxicity and provide feedback & suggestions in our Discord server using the following links.
Discord Global Community : Zero Hour Official
Discord French Community : Zero Hour France