Mark your calendars. Cross Product Multiplayer hits Steam on August 22nd.
After six years of progression, and months of intense beta testing, Half-Life: Cross Product Multiplayer will officially release on Steam on August 22nd, 2025!
This isn't just a launch, for it is a new era for the title. Alongside the Steam release, it wouldn't be right for us to blindly drop it on Steam with no refinements - that's why we've developed Season 9, Patch II (v2.9.2), refining gameplay, expanding modes, and reworking core systems based on player feedback.
🔧 What's new in Season 9, Patch II?
🧩 Steam Integration
The game now takes advantage of the Steam Input API for enhanced controller support, with vibration (+ Impulse Triggers on Xbox controllers) and PlayStation 4&5 Lightbar feedback.
We've implemented Steam Workshop support. Create and share maps, gamemodes, models, sounds, and more, whether you made it yourself, or it's a community HLDM classic. Additionally, there will be themed competitions in the future on the Workshop, where creators can compete to get their content officially included in the game.
An official Aura SDK tool is coming soon to help you build your addons with specialised tools beyond what's available in the game.
🌐 VGUI2 + New Server Browser
Aura 2.4, the codebase powering this patch, now features an implementation of the updated VGUI2 system. It's the interface system used by the Source engine, and it gives us more power than the engine does alone with the ability to create custom panels and interfaces. Currently, VGUI2 is in use for a brand-new server browser system; our future plans include a fully modernsied scoreboard and chat system powered by the UI framework.
🎮 Gameplay Enhancements
Though we usually leave new gamemodes for season updates, we've decided to mark this occasion with:
Team Instant Gib
Shotgun & Bow
Shield Regeneration sounds now have clientside prediction to ease the effects of longstanding network issues.
Players now spawn with full shields in all standard gamemodes (excluding SWAT).
Viewmodel arms now reflect your chosen colours.
Rebalanced weapon damage and item placement, especially in the CTF and Domination gamemodes.
🗺️ Map Updates
Refinements to Kasino, 2Fort, Datacore, Crossfire, and more.
CTF maps are now playable across all gamemodes.
CTF & Domination support added for the Half-Life 25th Anniversary Maps and DMC:
Ascension
Contamination
Hex
Hierarchy
Labyrinth
Pool Party
Radiated
Rocket Frenzy
🔊 Polished Audio & Visuals
Flag statuses now clearly reported in the HUD & Scoreboard in CTF.
Added custom crosshair and spawn system options in Custom Games.
Expanded killfeed, chat, scoreboard font, and added a togglehud command.
ℹ️ Other Fixes & Features
Kill & chat-sounds are now on by default.
Fixed long-standing bugs like improper M249 SAW reloads and phantom shield sounds.
Important
As part of this release, we are now officially retiring the legacy Mod DB version of the game. All current downloads (Season 5-Season 9, Patch I) will be delisted from the platform. Steam is now the definitive and exclusive way to play Cross Product, as it stands in its multiplayer state, and when the campaign launches. Legacy builds will be preserved on the Internet Archive for those interested in the game's evolution at a future date.
💥 The wait is almost over!
August 22nd, 2025 marks the beginning of a new chapter for Cross Product. With modern tech, community & open-source modding, and fast-paced combat, this is the ultimate Half-Life multiplayer experience built for fans, by fans.
Wishlist now. Get ready; and we'll see you on the battlefield.
Sabian Roberts
Lead developer @ The Phoenix Project Software SVG
2025-07-23