Codename CURE II Takes Zombie FPS to New Heights
Codename CURE II is bringing five-player cooperative first-person shooter game is due to make its way onto Linux and Steam Deck, via Windows. Developer Raptor Byte keeps bringing sharp ideas and fresh energy to the fight. Which is all coming to Steam soon.
Codename CURE II is coming for that old co-op shooter itch, the one that hits hardest when a squad is low on ammo and the hallway will not stop screaming. This free to play zombie FPS lands on July 24, 2026, with Linux play confirmed.
A Squad, A Plan, And A Mess
Some games do not need a long speech to make sense.
Five players. A dead world. Too many infected. One bad plan that somehow still has to work.
That is the heart of Codename CURE II, a cooperative first-person shooter from Raptor Byte and publisher indie.io. It drops an elite military squad into the wreckage of a zombie outbreak. Your job is simple on paper: wipe out the scourge before it wipes out what is left.
Of course, zombie games like making “simple” feel awful fast.
Each squad can bring up to five soldiers into mission-based runs. You fight through infected hordes, push objectives, scavenge resources, and try to keep the team moving. This is class-based co-op, so each role matters. A bad team setup can hurt. A sloppy push can cost you.
That is the good stuff.
Codename CURE II Has A Demo Now
The full launch is free to play on July 24, 2026. Players who want to test the feel early can already grab the Steam demo.
That matters more than usual here.
A co-op shooter lives or dies by feel. You want to know how weapons kick and how the horde reacts. You also want to know if the mission flow keeps people talking, shouting, and saving each other at the worst possible time.
The demo gives players a way to judge the core mechanics now. No guessing. No blind hype. Just boot it, squad up, and see how it lands.
For players, the launch detail is also clear. Codename CURE II is coming with support. That is not the same thing as a native build, and it should not be treated like one.
Still, for many Steam users, Proton is the bridge that makes modern PC gaming possible on Linux and SteamOS.
Linux Players Should Get Ready For This
The source confirms Linux play through Proton. It does not confirm a native version. It is also Steam Deck verified, according to the Twitter reply.
There isn't a native linux client build planned, but from our internal testing Proton vs native performed pretty much identically (which is a credit the incredible work being done on proton recently). It is also Steam Deck verified!
No one needs made-up benchmarks or fake “runs great on Deck” claims before launch. What matters right now is that the demo is live, Proton is the stated Linux path, and players can see how the game behaves on their hardware.
Codename CURE II could be an interesting cooperative first-person shooter for Steam Deck players since it is free to play, and supports offline play with bots. That gives people a low-risk way to test compatibility on their own setup.
A frame-rate counter holding steady during a hallway swarm would be lovely. But until players test it, that part remains unknown.
The Horde Is Not Just Set Dressing
Codename CURE II leans hard into replayable missions.
The missions are objective-based and dynamic. The source describes procedurally generated scenarios, so runs should change from mission to mission. That means teams cannot just memorize every corner and coast.
You will need to adapt.
The gameplay also uses a dynamic gore system that reacts during combat. That sounds messy in the way zombie shooters should be messy. Not just bodies falling over, but fights that feel physical and nasty.
Then there is the AI.
The infected do not only rush you in a straight line, at least based on the source. Enemy AI adapts to the gear your squad has unlocked. That could make progression more tense, since stronger tools may bring stronger pressure.
That idea has teeth.
Codename CURE II | Release Date Announcement Trailer
Classes, Supplies, And Loadouts
This is not just “grab gun, shoot zombie, repeat.”
Codename CURE II has five player classes. Each one brings its own abilities and tactical value. The source does not list every class in detail, but the goal is clear. Teams are meant to work together, not wander off like heroes in a bad horror movie.
Resource scavenging also plays a key role.
Players search missions for supplies, then use them to customize and upgrade weapons. That should add a nice layer between fights. You are not just surviving the current wave. You are feeding the next loadout.
That loop can be dangerous in the best way.
Do you push deeper for more supplies? Maybe play safe and finish the objective? Do you trust your squad to cover you while you dig through the world for the parts you need?
Cooperative first-person shooter games are at their best when small choices become loud problems.
Solo Players Are Not Left Outside
Online co-op is the main event, but solo players also get attention.
Codename CURE II supports offline play with AI bots. That means you can play the full campaign without a live team. For Steam Deck users, that detail is easy to like, even without verified support.
Think about it.
A late-night Deck session. A dim screen. Bots filling the squad. A mission going sideways while the room stays quiet around you.
Again, Steam Deck support has not been confirmed. But offline bot play is still a strong feature for anyone who values flexible PC gaming.
Which also includes adjustable difficulty settings and custom volume controls. Those are not flashy bullet points, but they matter. More players can tune the experience to fit their needs.
That is smart design.
The Combat Specialist Pack Lands Day One
The base game is free to play, but there is launch DLC that you can buy.
The Combat Specialist Pack arrives alongside Codename CURE II for $9.99 USD / £9.09 / 10,25€. It will also have a 20% discount at launch. The pack adds new firearms, tactical attachments, and military-style cosmetic gear for every class.
That sounds aimed at players who want more loadout flavour from day one.
The key point is that the main game itself launches free. The DLC is extra gear and cosmetics, based on the source details. Players can try the demo now, then decide later if that pack feels worth it.
That is the right order.
A Sequel With Real Steam History
Codename CURE II follows the original Codename CURE, which reached over two million players on Steam.
That number gives the sequel some weight. This is not a brand-new idea appearing out of nowhere. It is a rebuild of a known co-op formula, now with modern tools and expanded systems.
The focus still sounds familiar: mission-driven action, co-op pressure, replayable runs, and infected swarms.
That is a solid lane to drive in.
The PC space has room for more tight squad shooters, especially when they are easy to try. Players have even more reason to pay attention when Proton support is part of the launch plan.
Codename CURE II Could Be A Smart July Test
Codename CURE II cooperative first-person shooter launches free-to-play on Steam on July 24, 2026. It supports Linux through the Windows build using Proton, and the demo is already live.
That is the clean takeaway.
No native Linux version has been confirmed. Steam Deck verification has not been confirmed.
