Pandemic on the Horizon, Anthology Free on YouTube

[h3]🎧 Protective Formations, Pandemic Systems, and the Push for Playability[/h3][p]📝 Episode Summary: This week's CERC HQ dives deep into the latest overhaul of the helicopter AI and the foundational work on the Pandemic game mode. The dev team details how helicopters now dynamically form protective bubbles around infantry, throttle to match formation speed, and navigate urban environments with improved object avoidance—all while still ironing out bugs like formation desync and jittering. Upcoming features include fast-roping, garrison animations, and weapon integration.[/p][p]On the Pandemic front, Chelseys AI has been reworked with a centralized manager system that governs infection spread, pod creation, and zone control logic. The team walks through the replication of legacy systems with vast improvements, including the planned behaviors for workers, expansion routines, and combat resilience against early-game bullying. They also preview new strategic AI tools such as infected launching pods across bridges and early concepts for future subway systems.[/p][p]Progress on the massive Bay Area open-world map continues with asset migration, navigation mesh verification, and improved collision systems, all aiming to replace the older, more limited maps in the future. Additional topics include implementing the save systems for Pandemic next week, unit seating for operators, and community Q&A touching on bridge-blocking strategies, infected countermeasures, and long-term gameplay goals.[/p][p]If you want to know how formations are evolving, why Chelsey no longer a pushover, or what to expect from pandemic-scale RTS gameplay in the coming weeks, this episode is for you.[/p][p]Key Highlights:[/p]

• [p]Helicopter AI forms protective formations, throttles to match infantry speed[/p]
• [p]Major Pandemic AI rework: centralized manager, smarter zone logic[/p]
• [p]Plans to counter bridge-blocking with infected pods, beach landings, and tunnels(potentially)[/p]
• [p]Bay Area map updates: real-world terrain integration and collision fixes[/p]
• [p]Future additions: unit seating for operators, save system revamp, doctrine tweaks in phase 3[/p]
• [p]Clear roadmap priorities with transparency on limitations and delays[/p][p][/p]

[p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Recap for those late to the party[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][h2]Cepheus Protocol Anthology: Season 1 on YouTube[/h2][p]We wanted to do something special for the community during the rebuild and with the delays around legacy triage. To give you something to enjoy while we push closer to Pandemic Co-op’s release, we’re bringing Cepheus Protocol Anthrology – Season 1 to YouTube, completely free (with ads).[/p][p]This motion comic originally launched on Steam in May 2022. It tells the story of the Pangu Virus outbreak in San Francisco through the eyes of multiple protagonists, with professional voice acting, comic book–style illustrations, and immersive sound design.[/p][p]📺 Release Plan[/p]

• [p]Six episodes are available right now on YouTube.[/p]
• [p]Starting on Thursday, we’ll release two new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday until all 12 chapters are live.[/p]

[p]👉 Watch the full playlist here: \[Playlist URL][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Thank you all for the continued support as we push through the rebuild and prepare for Pandemic’s next big milestone — Co-op. In the meantime, enjoy the Anthology and catch up on the story that sets the stage for Cepheus Protocol.[/p][p][/p]