Bodycam no longer leaves its zombie survival experience with an expiration date. Reissad Studio has released The Dead & Damned, update 0.9, available since November 13, 2026. Alongside permanent PvE content, the update introduces new reasons to return to competitive multiplayer.
Developed with Unreal Engine 5, Bodycam stands out for its realistic body-camera perspective. It has been available in Early Access through Steam on PC since June 7, 2024.
Bodycam makes zombie survival a permanent part of its identity
Early September marked a disappointing moment for players who preferred fighting zombies over facing human opponents. Following the arrival of Locked & Loaded, Reissad Studio temporarily removed its Zombies mode.
At that point, the developers lacked sufficient resources to test and polish the experience properly. Furthermore, their initial intention was to offer Zombies for just three months.
However, community requests encouraged the studio to reconsider that decision. According to its official announcement on Steam, Zombies is now a permanent game mode.
This decision carries particular importance because Zombies represents the shooter’s only true PvE experience. Consequently, Bodycam players have an alternative to competitive firefights without sacrificing its distinctive visual style.
Reissad Studio would also like to develop a more ambitious zombie experience with a dedicated team. Nevertheless, specific details remain undisclosed.
Bodycam challenges four players to survive ten minutes in the trenches
Instead of simply restoring familiar scenarios, The Dead & Damned introduces an entirely new cooperative challenge. Zombie Trenches supports up to four players, with survival as their primary objective.
Squads must withstand ten minutes of attacks from a dedicated selection of undead enemies, including zombies wearing gas masks. Meanwhile, heavy rain, lightning and dense fog create an oppressive battlefield.
A radio announcer provides updates on the remaining time. As a result, players can follow their progress while concentrating on surviving each encounter.
Unlike the broader survival systems planned for State of Decay 3, Zombie Trenches concentrates its pressure into short cooperative sessions. Communication and awareness could therefore become particularly valuable when visibility deteriorates.
Other shooters, including Once Human and its Dissonant Resonance update, are also exploring different approaches to cooperative encounters. Here, however, the challenge revolves around enduring a hostile environment against the clock.
The Dead & Damned introduces changes beyond zombie combat
Version 0.9 also addresses existing multiplayer content, expands weapon selection and introduces additional lobby activities. Consequently, returning players have several additions to explore regardless of their preferred game mode.
These are the main new features included in the update:
- Permanent Zombies mode: PvE content returns without its previous time restriction.
- Zombie Trenches: A ten-minute cooperative survival challenge for up to four players.
- Village and Asylum: Returning zombie maps with improved visuals, audio and enemy behavior.
- Easy Anti-Cheat: The first step in a broader strategy against cheating.
- Public Pool: A complete visual overhaul of the previously least-played map.
- Drone and RC car room: Racing activities featuring lap timing and leaderboards.
- TK-9: The first machine pistol available as a secondary weapon.
- Crossbow: A previously secret weapon joins the regular loadout selection.
- Reissad Points: Players can now earn points through Zombies matches.
Moreover, the crossbow was previously obtainable only after completing the Village secret. Its arrival in regular loadouts makes it accessible beyond that particular challenge.
Returning zombie maps offer more reasons to experiment with weapons
Village and Asylum return with revised lighting, materials and audio. Additionally, Reissad Studio has addressed problems involving zombie spawning and enemy behavior.
Village introduces a special wave composed exclusively of sprinters. During this encounter, the church bell rings continuously, while volumetric fog adds further atmosphere to the map.
Meanwhile, Asylum now introduces its special wave every five waves.
Equipment also receives some interesting adjustments. Standard weapon boxes now provide firearms with randomized attachments, encouraging players to experiment with different configurations.
Alternatively, a new Loadout box grants access to both equipped primary and secondary weapons. This offers a more predictable equipment option alongside randomized discoveries.
Combined with the introduction of Reissad Points, these changes give cooperative sessions more relevance beyond simply surviving another wave.
Reissad Studio lays the groundwork for future multiplayer improvements
Competitive players receive an important addition through the implementation of Easy Anti-Cheat. However, Reissad Studio acknowledges that this system alone will not eliminate every cheater.
Instead, its introduction establishes a foundation for further protective measures. Public Pool has also received a complete visual redesign after becoming the least-played map.
Outside combat, the lobby now features a dedicated drone and RC car room. Its drone racing course was designed in collaboration with TRYP FPV.
Additionally, native FPV radio controller support allows players to use compatible equipment. An RC car dirt track provides another racing alternative, with both activities featuring lap timing and leaderboards.
Unfortunately, the anticipated party system is not included in version 0.9. Meanwhile, developers are entering a planning phase for versions 0.10 and 1.0.
The studio expects to share its plans and a development roadmap in early 2027.
Ultimately, Bodycam is becoming more than a competitive tactical shooter. Permanent zombie content offers another way to enjoy its realism, while anti-cheat improvements address an important multiplayer concern. The next roadmap could reveal how far Reissad Studio intends to develop both experiences.
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