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Patch Notes 2025.10.9 - public-playtest

[h2]How to Opt In[/h2][p]Here’s how to opt into the Cepheus Protocol public playtest on Steam:[/p]
  1. [p]Open Steam and go to your Library.[/p]
  2. [p]Right-click Cepheus Protocol and select Properties.[/p]
  3. [p]In the left panel, click on Betas.[/p]
  4. [p]From the dropdown menu, choose public-playtest.[/p]
  5. [p]Close the window. Steam will automatically begin downloading the playtest branch.[/p]
[p]Once the download is finished, you’ll be running the public playtest version.[/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p]Recap for those late to the party[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]
Patch Notes:
  • [p]Fixed Attack prioritization sometimes failing under certain base layouts[/p]
  • [p]Fixed CERC units failing to target/focus enemies sometimes after leaving a helicopter garrison. It would force units to oddly stare at weird directions and overall break combat[/p]
  • [p]Fixed a client crash when swapping maps[/p]
What’s Coming Next
[p]Immediate priorities are:[/p]
  • [p]Balancing the new Builder Drone and Juggernaut AI[/p]
  • [p]Wrapping helicopter polish (directed landings, pads, operator features, desync fixes)[/p]
  • [p]Fixing AI issues with enemy prioritization and tactical decisions[/p]
  • [p]Frequent bug fixes as we get reports[/p]
  • [p]Chelsey’s AI[/p]
  • [p]Juggernauts are undergoing testing at the moment[/p]
  • [p]Population Meter re-implemented at the bottom-left of the UI for tracking infection strength[/p]
[p]Once helicopters and AI stability are locked in, focus will shift to Custom Game Options so players can tune pacing and difficulty. Vehicle driving AI and pathfinding are next in line, but we may hold off depending on the volume and severity of bug reports.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]October Goals[/h3][p]We are aiming to flip the rebuild into the default experience by the Halloween Sale, with older versions still available as an opt-in. The exact timing will be based on stability, bug reports, and community feedback — our goal is to get as many people as possible playing on the rebuild once it’s ready.[/p][p]October priorities include:[/p]
  • [p]Implement the AJAX(HUMVEE) as a test bed for vehicle driving. Work with the community to establish a good "core" vehicle driving. After its "done" we start porting over all the wheeled vehicles and follow up with the Abrams and co.[/p]
  • [p]Extensive Bug hunts / Performance tweaks[/p]
  • [p]A save/load system for Pandemic[/p]
  • [p]Bay Area map updates: Treasure Island and Angel Island are under renovation, with rollout expected around Halloween. Stay tuned! We will aim to release this map in segments going into XMAS. Starting in stages[/p]
    1. [p]Treasure Island->[/p]
    2. [p]Angel & Alcatraz Island ->[/p]
    3. [p]San Francisco North[/p]
    [p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p]
[p]On top of these big-ticket items, there are many smaller details and fine-tuning tasks underway — some not listed here but discussed in recent CERC HQ broadcasts. October will be a mix of large features and constant iteration as we refine the fundamentals.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]Community[/h3][p]We had a great nine-player session on Discord right after the latest podcast, with everyone yelling, planning, and strategizing together. These sessions highlight how fun the rebuild already is — but they also expose glaring issues that we’re working hard to fix. We’re confident we’ll keep tackling them throughout October.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]
🎧 Last Time on CERC HQ…
[p]🎙️ Episode Summary: This week’s deep dive delivers a massive progress update on the overhaul of the Pandemic mode, featuring an all-out push to bring full replayability back online. Robert and Michael walk through newly added helicopters—including the Apache, Merlin, and Osprey—complete with functional weapons, revised helipad mechanics, and incoming fixes to air-to-ground UI and landing validation. The team shows off early AI behaviors, pathfinding improvements, and newly implemented features like the activity and build logs to combat co-op chaos and resource confusion.[/p][p]Combat takes center stage with the first public test of the revamped Juggernaut, now capable of throwing cars and pulling off AOE slams with increasing aggression. A new “Builder” infected enemy joins the battlefield, adding strategic depth as it constructs pods and gas towers. The episode also teases Chelsea’s major rework, aiming to elevate her from a static boss into a dynamic, phase-based threat with self-preservation instincts and map-traversing AI.[/p][p]Footstep systems are back, voice barks are live for better immersion, and the team is fine-tuning threat evaluation and helicopter pathfinding. Michael breaks down evolving unit balance, while the devs give a brutally honest look at the game’s current difficulty and why this weekend’s builds are not for the faint of heart.[/p][carousel][/carousel][p]As the team gears up for adding ground vehicles and save/load systems, they're clear: bugs are expected in the build they released today, feedback is welcome, and no, this is not final balance—yet. Its all a work in progress as we work to build all the systems back in.[/p][p]🔥 Highlights:[/p]
  • [p]New helicopters fully integrated with weapons, sounds, and visuals[/p]
  • [p]Juggernaut overhaul: car throws, ground slams, and rage phases[/p]
  • [p]Activity & build logs help curb co-op trolling[/p]
  • [p]First glimpse at the infected “Builder” unit[/p]
  • [p]Early talk on Chelsea’s rework: roaming, evolving boss AI[/p]
  • [p]Helicopter landing logic, visual bugs, and upcoming UI fixes[/p]
  • [p]Operator camera work, 2D/3D ability barks, and immersion tweaks[/p]
  • [p]Honest dev commentary on crunch, bugs, and upcoming patches[/p]
  • [p]Teased features: doctrines, save/load system, custom game rules[/p]
[p]🛠️ Patch Preview:
Expect increased helicopter counters, juggernaut fixes, and additional tuning in the next 48 hours. Playtesters: watch for bugs, share feedback, and prepare for a fight—Pandemic just got meaner.[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]
🎙️ Next CERC HQ – Livestream Details
[p]🕔 When: Weekly Saturdays – 3 PM EST (New Time!)[/p][p]📺 Where to Watch:[/p][h3]💬 Topics We'll Cover:[/h3]
  • [p]Co-op Progress[/p]
  • [p]Total Revamp based on Community Feedback[/p]
  • [p]Level Design Updates[/p]
[p]🎤 Don’t miss our Live Q&A! We’ll be answering questions from the community during the stream.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]📺 Missed a Stream? No Worries![/h2]