On January 6th, we made one of the scariest decisions of our lives — we deleted the entire game and committed to rebuilding it from scratch.
Why? Because you deserved better.
Over the past six months, we’ve worked tirelessly to rebuild Cepheus Protocol from the ground up. From day one, our mission was to support co-op as a core experience and to ensure we lived up to your expectations — not just our own.
That’s why we launched the weekly CERC HQ: not as a gimmick, but as a way for you to hold us accountable, to witness progress in real time, and help shape the direction of the game. It’s something few — if any — developers have done, and we’re incredibly proud of it.
We’re now approaching the final stretch of Phase 1, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s to come. Major strides have been made across core systems, building mechanics, and UI polish.
Remaining Work Before Phase 2
Night Vision Passive
Displaying passives in-world (AOE/Radius indicators)
Fixing Right-Click Face Rotation
Operator Jump
Recoil tweaks + Attachment audit
Gunsmith + Customization UI
Operator Melee System
Operator Leveling System
Operator Improved Crouch Transition
Operator Rewritten Parachute System (Battlefield 2042-style)
Shotgun Fixes
General Bug & Crash Fixes (about a dozen)
UI Pass (Reskinning the entire UI bringin up to standards of legacy and beyond)
Building System Enhancements
We’re working hard to wrap this list up by next week — stay tuned, and don’t forget to drop into the next CERC HQ to see our progress in action. Once Phase 1 wraps, players will be able to host their own sessions at any time — no restrictions. Phase 2 will roll out using the same beat we’ve used all year: private and public tests that evolve into full readiness.
Curious about what we’re working on and where we're headed? 📘 Read about our Development Phases & Current Goals
Horde Mode – Monterey Bay Map
Based on your feedback and extensive testing, Monterey Bay will become our "golden standard" for Horde Mode.
After Derek and I finish the final stretch of Phase 1 tasks, we'll begin implementing a new stage-based Horde mode.
Here’s the breakdown:
As you lose parts of the city, infected spawns move up and gas towers lock down overrun zones.
These zones are permanently lost — there’s no going back.
You're gradually encircled and pushed back to the CERC HQ Regional Office, the final stronghold.
Think “Rush Mode” — holding objectives rewards you with a money multiplier per infected kill.
If a structure in your grid falls, you’ll have 60 seconds to evacuate before it becomes uninhabitable.
It’s a dynamic system designed for pressure, momentum, and tough strategic decisions as you fight to survive across an evolving battlefield.
CERC HQ Time Change
Based on your feedback, the weekly CERC HQ livestream is moving to 3 PM EST.
This updated time better aligns with both EU and US players and will allow more of you to attend, ask questions, and contribute to development directly.
— The Cepheus Protocol Team