Steam News2 July 20264d ago

Demo Combat Update: Better Hit Feedback

Combat Update — Better Hit Feedback Highlights Melee combat got a full feedback overhaul: every hit now looks and feels like it lands.

In this update6

Full notes

Full Inferno Protocol update

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What changed

0 fixes0 additions5 changes1 removal

Gameplay
Server
Balance

changedMelee Combat FeelImpact camera punch — landing a melee hit now gives a quick FOV kick; heavy attacks hit noticeably harder than light ones.

changedMelee Combat FeelHitstop — your swing and the enemy you strike both freeze for a split second on impact, giving every hit real weight. Works seamlessly in multiplayer.

changedZombie Hit ReactionsLocational damage reactions — zombies now respond to where you hit them: headshots and body shots each play their own reaction animations.

changedZombie Hit ReactionsReactions are synced in multiplayer — everyone in the session sees the same flinch at the same moment.

removedStaggering AttacksInterrupting a zombie now actually saves you — if your hit staggers a zombie mid-swing, its attack is cancelled and deals no damage. What you see is what you get: a flinching zombie can no longer hit you through its own stagger animation.

changedDeathsDirectional death animations — zombies now fall according to the direction of the killing blow: struck from the front they collapse backwards, struck from behind they fall forwards. Big thanks to everyone who's been sending us feedback since Next Fest — a lot of what's in this update came straight from you. Keep it coming, we're listening! ❤️

Inferno Protocol changes

changedImpact camera punch — landing a melee hit now gives a quick FOV kick; heavy attacks hit noticeably harder than light ones.

changedHitstop — your swing and the enemy you strike both freeze for a split second on impact, giving every hit real weight. Works seamlessly in multiplayer.

changedLocational damage reactions — zombies now respond to where you hit them: headshots and body shots each play their own reaction animations.

changedReactions are synced in multiplayer — everyone in the session sees the same flinch at the same moment.

removedInterrupting a zombie now actually saves you — if your hit staggers a zombie mid-swing, its attack is cancelled and deals no damage. What you see is what you get: a flinching zombie can no longer hit you through its own stagger animation.

Combat Update — Better Hit Feedback

Highlights

Melee combat got a full feedback overhaul: every hit now looks and feels like it lands. Zombies react to where you hit them, flinch when you interrupt them, and fall in the direction of your killing blow.

Gameplay Changes

Melee Combat Feel

Impact camera punch — landing a melee hit now gives a quick FOV kick; heavy attacks hit noticeably harder than light ones.
Hitstop — your swing and the enemy you strike both freeze for a split second on impact, giving every hit real weight. Works seamlessly in multiplayer.
Swing trail effect — melee weapons now leave a slash effect through the air as you swing.
Impact shockwave — striking flesh with certain weapons triggers a shockwave burst at the point of impact.

Zombie Hit Reactions

Locational damage reactions — zombies now respond to where you hit them: headshots and body shots each play their own reaction animations.
Directional reactions — zombies react differently depending on whether you strike them from the front or from behind.
Reactions are synced in multiplayer — everyone in the session sees the same flinch at the same moment.

Staggering Attacks

Interrupting a zombie now actually saves you — if your hit staggers a zombie mid-swing, its attack is cancelled and deals no damage. What you see is what you get: a flinching zombie can no longer hit you through its own stagger animation.

Deaths

Directional death animations — zombies now fall according to the direction of the killing blow: struck from the front they collapse backwards, struck from behind they fall forwards. Big thanks to everyone who's been sending us feedback since Next Fest — a lot of what's in this update came straight from you. Keep it coming, we're listening! ❤️

Source

Steam News / 2 July 2026

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