Hey everyone,
We just dropped a new devlog going through everything you need to know about Zero Caliber 2. I made sure to put in never-before-seen gameplay footage - I would totally watch it if I were you!
(Or read it below - I included pics to illustrate the awesomeness.)
If you'd prefer to read up on what's waiting for you in our most ambitious game yet, here it is in written form:
▶ INTRO
We’re almost there. The release candidate build of Zero Caliber 2 is currently in testing - both internally and with our amazing beta testers. If nothing serious comes up, we’re launching on Steam on October 30.
In the meantime, we’ve been running a few awareness campaigns, and it made me realize - some of you might not even know how much work went into this game, or why it’s worth your attention. So let me walk you through everything you should know before launch. Whether you’re new to the franchise or a returning player, there’s a lot to be excited about.
▶ THE ARMORY
Once you’re done with the tutorial, you can head to the lobby.
This is your main hub - where your journey begins, and where you can experiment with all the tools at your disposal. In the armory, you’ll find the full range of weapons available in the game. Pistols, submachine guns, shotguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, even heavy weapons.
Everything’s laid out for you to grab and inspect. No menu browsing, no guesswork - just walk up, grab the gun, and get a feel for it.
We also have the wall of attachments - the amount of customization available is HUGE. We brought back our signature attachment system from the first game and improved on it - you can swap out grips, sights, suppressors, underbarrels and so on. Attachments snap into place physically in VR, so it’s all hands-on and satisfying. Once you’re happy with your build, it’s time to put it to the test.
▶ THE SHOOTING RANGE
The range is your next stop.
It’s right next to the armory, so you can quickly move between customizing and testing.
We’ve got static targets for you to just practice your aim, test recoil, and mess around with whatever gear you want.
The targets can be moved closer or farther away with a button press, and you can always inspect your accuracy between mags. If that’s too easy, there’s a moving target minigame that challenges your speed and consistency. It’s simple, but it does the job. You’ll want to come back here from time to time - practice never hurts, right?
And if that’s still not enough, head into the killhouse.
It’s a classic target run - rooms, corners, cardboard enemies - designed to test your reflexes and coordination.
All of this is optional, by the way - but it’s there for players who like to experiment, perfect their setups, or just want to blow off some steam between missions.
▶ THE LOBBY AREA
Back in the lobby, you’ve got access to everything else:
- Campaign
- Co-op
- Multiplayer
- Customization
This is where you manage your loadouts. At first, a lot of gear is locked - you’ll unlock more weapons, attachments, and cosmetics by progressing through the ranks and earning in-game currency.
But don’t worry - we’re not trying to make this your second job. Unlocking stuff is paced fairly.
You’ll constantly be getting new gear without feeling like you’re grinding endlessly. You can set up multiple loadouts, so you’re not locked into one style of play. Maybe you want a stealthy build, a close-range shotgun setup, or a good all-rounder. It’s all up to you.
Character customization is also in here - helmets, vests, gloves, outfits. We know it’s not the main focus of a shooter, but let’s be honest: no one wants to show up to a fight wearing the same outfit as their buddy. So we gave you enough options to make your operator look like your own. Once you’ve built your loadout, suited up, and maybe flexed in front of mini me, it’s time to jump into the campaign.
▶ SINGLE PLAYER CAMPAIGN
Zero Caliber has always been about delivering a full-blown campaign, and we doubled down on that for Zero Caliber 2.
The game takes place in a near-future version of the United States, where society has collapsed and water is the most valuable resource. A militarized cult calling themselves The Tlalokii has taken control of the remaining infrastructure and is tightening their grip on what’s left of the country. You’re part of a special unit deployed to push back against them - but as the story progresses, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. You’ll question the people giving you orders, and the people you used to trust. If you’ve played the first game, you’ll recognize Dalia - and in this one, she plays a bigger role.
The campaign takes you through a wide variety of locations: destroyed suburbs, military bases, airfields, dense urban areas, snowy mountain outposts, even old, World War II-style villages.
Every mission has a different feel, different pacing, and different combat scenarios.
You’ll fight in close quarters, take on long-range engagements, clear buildings, defend positions, escort convoys, and occasionally go up against vehicles, choppers, and heavily armed enemies that require real teamwork - or serious firepower - to take down.
Each mission can be played on three difficulty levels, so whether you’re new to VR shooters or a seasoned vet, you’ll find the right challenge.
And speaking of teamwork…
▶ CO-OP MODE
Every campaign mission in Zero Caliber 2 can be played in Co-op - with up to four players. You can host a private lobby and invite friends, or just jump into a public session and squad up with other players. We’ve worked hard to make co-op smooth and easy to access.
It’s not a separate mode or an afterthought - it’s the full game, just shared with others.
Voice chat is built in, the lobby system is seamless, and the whole experience just works. And while the game is fully playable solo, co-op brings a whole new level of fun and chaos. Whether you’re coordinating attacks or accidentally flashbanging your own squad, the moments you create together are going to stick.
But if cooperation isn’t your thing, and you just want to outgun someone, we’ve got that too.
▶ MULTIPLAYER
You can also host or join multiplayer matches right from the lobby.
We’ve got classic PvP game modes, with dedicated servers in all major regions, and you’ve got plenty of room to customize your games if you want to mix things up. Multiplayer isn’t the main focus of Zero Caliber 2 - but it’s a solid way to test your skills against other players, and it’s a great break from the campaign grind.
▶ WHY WE MADE THIS GAME
At the end of the day, we built this game because we missed games like this.
A full-featured VR military shooter that you can play solo or with friends. Something that hits the balance between realism and fun, gives you a ton of tools to play with, and lets you get creative with how you approach every encounter.
We’re not trying to compete with AAA studios. We’re a small indie team that really cares about this genre, and we’ve put everything we have into making Zero Caliber 2 a game worth your time.
The weapon handling, the physics, the level design, the pacing - everything was built with care. We also added a little bit of B-tier action movie energy too. Big explosions. Over-the-top action. Dramatic set pieces. That stuff makes things spicier, especially in VR.
▶ WISHLIST CAMPAIGN
Right now, we’re running a wishlist milestone campaign to help make this launch as big as possible. The idea is simple: the more wishlists we hit before launch, the lower we can drop the launch price. We already hit a milestone, and we're very close to hitting the 2nd one.
So if you like what you saw in this devlog, if you want to support indie VR shooters, or if you’re just curious to try something new - hit that wishlist button. It helps more than you think.
Wishlist Zero Caliber 2 on Steam (step 1):
Tell at least 1 friend about our mission (step 2)
Join our Discord (optional) -> https://discord.gg/xrealgames
Thank you all for getting us this far - let’s see if we can smash through that next milestone together! And if you've already wishlisted the game, don't forget to drop in here to enter our giveaway as well:
View game page
That's all for now. Stick around for the next one!
Cheers,
Dan + the XREAL Games Team