🧠 Dev Recap – They’re Climbing Now
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This developer podcast dives into the latest playtest of the revamped horde mode map and systems. Efron kicks things off with an update on Alcatraz, highlighting UV mapping progress, set dressing, and a versatile new procedural stairway tool in Blender. As the map nears completion, attention shifts to a major breakthrough: a reimagined gate system designed to finally fix long-standing pathfinding and unit navigation issues. Michael shares animation polish work and new operator features, including terrain-aware leg IK and an overhauled Glock model. Gameplay balance gets a brutal makeover: enemies are deadlier, damage types are in full effect, and the days of cheesing spitters with sandbags and barbed wire are over. Blowup enemies now deal serious structural damage, forcing players to rethink defensive strategies. The core of the episode is a live co-op playtest stress-testing these changes. The infected’s new verticality—climbing walls and ambushing from rooftops—introduces chaos, as players scramble to defend choke points and adapt to smarter AI. Developers analyze player behavior and discuss AI roles: spitters as snipers, blowup guys as siege units, and the concept of fallback defenses. The session is packed with emergent moments, exploit discoveries, and bug fixes in real-time. New features like color-coded operator lights and upcoming systems like grenade throwing and an ability system are teased. The Q&A wraps with community questions on single-player balancing, dynamic difficulty, night vision, and player-requested features like automated flare towers and synchronized music via in-game speakers. This episode shows a project in flux—refining, breaking, and rebuilding its systems in front of a live audience. It's messy, insightful, and a testament to iterative design under fire.
🎮 Community Playtest Recap
https://youtu.be/ahmHYRXNI1E
We ran a 3-hour public playtest last week, packed with chaos and feedback! Curious about what we’re working on and where we're headed?
📘 Read about our Development Phases & Current Goals
🎙️ Next CERC HQ – Livestream Details
🕔 When: June 7, 2025 – 7 PM EST (New Time!) 📺 Where to Watch:
💬 Topics We'll Cover:
Co-op Progress
Total Revamp based on Community Feedback
Level Design Updates
🎤 Don’t miss our Live Q&A! We’ll be answering questions from the community during the stream.
📺 Missed a Stream? No Worries!
Spotify Podcast Archive (VODs may take 24 hours to appear)
🔭 What’s Coming Next?
This is just a shortlist of goals currently in motion—be sure to watch the last CERC HQ for a more detailed breakdown.
Finalize Operator Ability System
Expand Playable Classes
Visual UI Polish
Prepare for Phase 2: Airstrikes, Doctrines, Vehicles
Stay Frosty,
— The Cepheus Protocol Dev Team