‘Zombie Panic! Source’ v3.0 Update Release Date, Improved Features Announced

In-depth details about the v3.0 update for “Zombie Panic! Source” have come to light over the weekend. Aside from the release date of the update, all other information about the improved features and changes have been revealed.

The developers who are working on the upcoming update took the time this past Sunday to write a lengthy post about what’s coming to the survival-horror “Half Life 2” first-person shooter modification this holiday season. In the post published on Mod DB, the developers happily announced that v3.0 is scheduled for release this December. The team claims this update will provide players something to enjoy during the season when the air is cold and the days are short.

The team also tackled the challenges they faced while creating the update and set the record straight on why they were reluctant to give a specific release date before. “Understandably, many of you have been eager to know when the update will release. Many of you have also been disappointed in our refrain from giving a decisive release date. We've done this to allow ourselves to focus as much as possible on ensuring a top quality update, without having to worry too much about the large string of problems that occur and delay development.”

According to the team, they encountered several hiccups while working on the update. For example, they originally intended to use the old code for the base of the new update. However, they found out that it was impossible for them to use the old code from v2.4 for it was “incredibly broken and nearly impossible to work with on the new engine.” A big delay became inevitable since their lead programmer and second programmer had to completely reconstruct the code for the game.

Another challenge they experienced has to do with the overall hype for the update. “As we continued work on the update, expectations grew. Former players, server owners and content creators kept expressing their excitement and hopes of this update bringing the game back to life … At times, this led us to develop new content which was not exactly part of the original plan for the update, but that we felt needed to be in the update to make it a success, even if it slowed development down at times.”

Speaking of the update’s features, the team admitted that what they mostly did was apply changes and enhance certain aspects of “Zombie Panic! Source.” They decided to update the levels instead of completely remaking them. The team admitted that they were unable to polish every level up to the standard they wanted to, but they promise to make more improvements in the future based on what works for most players and based on the feedback they’ll be receiving once v3.0 is released.

When it comes to gameplay changes, the developers indicated that zombies will no longer feel like bullet sponges. Headshots will cause almost the same regular damage of zps and zpo. Meanwhile, bodyshots will still be as futile as before. Survivors will also be given the capacity to hold out an area from the buffed undead. The team said these changes will make the game mode more hardcore than the regular version.

Other major changes that players can expect from the v3.0 update include new soundtrack and sound effects, an updated user interface with a unique design, animated menu backgrounds and improved and new textures in many parts of the game. The developers also teased that they have included a number of easter eggs that would make the narrative of the game more cohesive than before.

Early this year, the “Zombie Panic! Source” development team wrote in a post published on Steam Community that they were planning to release v3.0 this summer or fall. In their latest update, the team says fans can expect the new update to arrive on Dec. 8.