Cepheus Protocol

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Dev Update

Dev Update – Rethinking the Roadmap (We Want Your Input)

We’ve been having a lot of internal discussions this past week about how to deliver the features you care about and how to get them into your hands sooner.

We’ve heard the feedback: while Horde Mode is fun, it starts to feel repetitive after a few sessions. So we’re thinking about shifting our development priorities and we’d love your thoughts before locking anything in.

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If you’ve got friends who play Cepheus Protocol, make sure to share this poll with them too. The more voices we hear, the better we can shape the direction of the game together. Every vote counts!

Proposed Roadmap Changes

Instead of moving straight into Doctrines, we’re proposing the following shift:

Old Plan: https://steamcommunity.com/app/979640/discussions/0/598519514348396118/?snr=2___

Regarding new horde map (Finalizing Half Moon Bay)

Our original plan was to create 2–3 smaller Horde maps to extend replayability and buy time during the development of Phase 2: Doctrines. We figured it would help keep things fresh while the larger systems were being built.

However, with the roadmap shifting and Pandemic Mode becoming the new priority, we’ve decided to pause Horde map development temporarily after Half Moon Bay. Once the rebuild is complete, we’ll revisit the idea of adding more Horde maps based on where the community’s interest lies.

We won’t be moving forward with the other two planned maps at this time. Instead, our full focus is now on open world systems and converting legacy Pandemic maps in preparation for its return. This pivot reflects the feedback many of you have shared — and we believe it’s the right direction moving forward.

1. Helicopters Come First

  • Little Bird + Weapon packages

  • Blackhawk + Weapon packages

  • VTOL + Weapon packages

  • Chinook

  • Scout Drone

Next, we’d roll out all helicopters, including the VTOL and experimental weapons. This gives players a fast, tactical way to get around — and a bunch of new toys to play with.

2. Pandemic Mode Moves up

Once helicopters are in, we shift focus to Pandemic Mode:

  • Custom game options (Customize the mode to how you want Pandemic to play)

  • Alternate start scenarios

  • Chelsey and her Lieutenants (Improve AI)

  • SAM Turret added

  • Juggernaut/Levi and Bird enemies

  • Civilian evacuation mechanics (Address long standing concerns for them)

  • Ambient and dynamic civilian groups

Three Initial offers of maps

  • Treasure Island + Angel (Legacy Maps updated)

  • Calypso (Legacy Maps updated)

  • Half Moon Bay (New Map that was built for horde mode converted to support Pandemic)

  • Open World (After the above maps are working we’ll shift to the main course)

This will form the core of Phase 2.

3. Vehicles Come After Pandemic (Phase 3)

Traditional ground vehicles like the Abrams, Bradley, and others will arrive after Pandemic Mode is in a solid state. While these vehicles are already implemented in the experimental build, they still need to be ported and properly integrated into the co-op rebuild.

Why not do vehicles before Pandemic?
We believe that doing vehicles right — from pathfinding, formation coordination, and combat AI, to the newly planned Direct Operator Control (allowing players to directly control turrets or drive vehicles themselves) — will require at least one full month of focused development.

Rather than rushing them or layering them on top of other major systems, we’ve chosen to develop them in isolation. This will ensure they launch fully functional, stable, and meaningful to gameplay — not half-baked or forced in.

Vehicles are a major piece of the puzzle, and we want them to feel powerful, responsive, and worthy of the roles they’ll play in both RTS and Operator gameplay.

4. Doctrines Follow Later (Phase 3)

Doctrines would become Phase 3, with progression systems fully integrated and polished based on feedback from Pandemic.

We Want Your Feedback

This new path lets us deliver Pandemic Mode sooner — but without ground vehicles at first. Helicopters would handle mobility early on.

What do you think?

Let us know in the comments:

  • Are you okay with Pandemic launching earlier with just helicopters?

  • Would a few new Horde maps keep things fresh while we work on bigger systems?

  • What part of Pandemic Mode are you most excited for?

Or Click here to Vote

Thanks again for sticking with us — your feedback continues to shape this game every step of the way.

– The Cepheus Protocol Dev Team