Outbreak: Shades of Horror - Next-Gen Retro Survival Horror

Details on next patch! Winter Wonderland coming soon!
5 months ago – Fri, Nov 07, 2025 at 08:48:48 AM

Hello Survivors!

This is just a quick update about what you can expect to see coming soon to Outbreak: Shades of Horror!

Toward the end of next week (Nov 12-15), we will be deploying the next patch for the game. This will include the following:

• Performance improvements through a new video encoder for menus, the theater, and the FMVs in the game
   
• Memory reductions across the game to improve performance on lower and mid-range machines
   
• Adjustments to performance settings
   
• Minor bug fixes

Then, in December, we're going to launch our next season:  Winter Wonderland!

This season will include a new character, a new scenario, and new cosmetics to unlock via seasonal challenges!

We'll continue to update you here as we carry on with development of Outbreak: Shades of Horror!  Thank you as always for your continued support!

Halloween Arrives in Cypress Ridge! Seasonal Event on NOW!
5 months ago – Thu, Oct 30, 2025 at 10:34:37 AM

Hello Survivors!

Even in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, it's important to celebrate the holidays.  Our first seasonal event, Halloween, is live now!  Here's what you can expect to see:

Cypress Reel is even spookier!

Looks like the theater has gotten a bit of a makeover!  Enjoy a variety of Halloween-themed decorations all around our lively hub world.  There are jack-o-lanterns aplenty, and...wait, who is that?  Those eyes are scary...

What's Halloween without costumes?

By completing Seasonal Challenges, you can earn Seasonal Tickets!  Use these at the Seasonal Gotcha Machine to get all kinds of spooky cosmetics!

What sorts of creepy customizations will you earn?  Get your Survivors suited up for a night of trick or treating with unique hats and weapon skins!

Fight from dusk 'til dawn in Invasion Mode and Raid Mode! 

Can you defend a sprawling medieval castle against an unending horde of monsters? Hop into this Invasion Mode map and hold down the fort...literally.  Check out the Raid Mode variant, too; it's a long journey to the extraction point on this one!

We hope you enjoy the Halloween event!  It's the first of many coming to Outbreak: Shades of Horror.  Stay tuned for more updates on future events.

For an extra bit of spooky fun, make sure to check out the VOD of our Shades of Horror launch stream if you missed it!  We also had some pre-Halloween fun with Silent Hill 2 Remake and other games recently, too!  We typically stream on Twitch every week with the latest information and updates regarding Outbreak: Shades of Horror and other fun activities, so make sure to follow us so you don't miss a stream!

 
Finally, check out the Steam Community Hub for a variety of helpful pinned threads to get the most out of your Shades of Horror experience!  In particular, our Official User Guide is useful for first-timers!

That's all from us today.  We wish you and your families a safe and sweet Halloween!  Indulge your sweet tooth a little, and then jump into Cypress Ridge for more treats!

Outbreak: Shades of Horror Launch Steam -- Check out the VOD now!
5 months ago – Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 11:15:19 AM

Hi there, Survivors!

First off, we'd like to thank everyone who came by our Twitch channel and Steam page yesterday for our special Outbreak: Shades of Horror launch stream!  Thank you all so much!

We got to talk to a bunch of you about the game, and your words were very kind and encouraging.

Just in case you didn't get to see the stream -- we've got a VOD for you!  We spent most of last night showing off the different content in the Steam Early Access version of Shades of Horror, but we also took a little time to play through The House of the Dead 2 Remake just for a little fun!

You can see the VOD here or embedded below:

If you missed out yesterday, make sure you follow us on Twitch so you don't in the future!  We typically stream every Wednesday night at 7:15pm ET with the latest on Outbreak: Shades of Horror and some fun game playthroughs!

If you've tried out the game and enjoyed it, please consider leaving us a positive review!  It really does help us out a lot.

Until next time, keep on survivin'!

Win a PS5! Outbreak: Shades of Horror Launch Stream @ 7:15pm ET TONIGHT!
5 months ago – Fri, Oct 24, 2025 at 03:55:50 PM

Hello Survivors!

This is just a quick note to invite you to our launch stream tonight!!

We'll be going live from 7:15pm ET until 12am midnight ET with a special stream celebrating the Steam Early Access launch of Outbreak: Shades of Horror!

You can watch the stream here on Steam, or you can join us on our Twitch channel!

If you head to our Twitch and you're a US resident, you have a chance to win a PS5 Slim Digital Edition 1TB system!

We hope to see you there!

Outbreak: Shades of Horror Steam Early Access Launch is LIVE! Launch code details and MORE!
5 months ago – Fri, Oct 24, 2025 at 03:22:38 PM

Hello Survivors!

We’ve been on this wild journey with you since 2022, and now the day has come! The Early Access launch for Outbreak: Shades of Horror is upon us, and we couldn’t have made it this far without your help!  On behalf of all of Dead Drop Studios, thank you so very much for your support! Whether you backed us during our initial Kickstarter campaign, joined in via BackerKit, or if you hung out in our streams or in our Discord, we want to extend our gratitude for your help bringing us to this moment!

Backers who are entitled to the full digital game can expect a complimentary Steam code for the Early Access version today.  For those of you who have backed on console platforms, you will also receive this complimentary key.  Please keep in mind that these Steam keys are indeed complimentary – you will still receive the keys you pledged for on your preferred platforms when the game is available on those platforms.

Here’s what you can expect to see in the Early Access launch version today:

Modern Survival Horror:  Find and manage resources, engage in modern gunplay and melee combat, build contraptions and defenses, and much more as you do battle with the scourge of the night.  Quickly switch between third and first-person views at the push of a button to hunt the undead the way you please!  All of the game’s content is available both offline in single-player and in online co-op over the network.  Password-locked lobbies and in-game text chat are both supported in online co-op play.

Cypress Reel:  This expansive hub world serves as a gateway to the content of Outbreak: Shades of Horror. Join a lobby, switch between available Survivors, get acclimated to the game’s controls and weapons, redeem and customize clothing and cosmetics, and access core game modes in both offline in single-player and in online co-op over the network.

Raid Mode:  Save civilians and make it to the extraction point in this action-packed gauntlet. Defeat enemies to find important weapons, ammo, and items, but don’t take too long; as you spend more time in one of many maps, enemies become stronger and deadlier.

Invasion Mode:  The undead are closing in on your position, and you need to defend the innocent denizens of Cypress Ridge!  Fortify your defenses with buildable traps, turrets, and stations before hordes of zombies come to ruin your day.  Make sure you protect your Furos generators, or else you’ll find yourself without the resources to stay alive as the action ramps up.  Enjoy unique modifiers that keep the experience fresh every round!

Mini-Games:  In between matches, hang out at the Cypress Reel Arcade to enjoy a host of frenetic mini-games!  Can you survive the Boss Rush gauntlet? Will you be able to skip a creepy rural town in Looming Dread?  Test your reflexes as you escape a flooding subway tunnel in Collapse!  Experience a taste of the chaos plaguing Cypress Ridge in Main Street Retro.  While short and sweet, these mini-games will put your skills through drills!  Plus – with adjustable difficulties, there are always new challenges to face.

Chromatic Split: Enhanced Edition:  Enjoy the classic three act prequel to the main game, now enhanced with new weapons, items, and mechanics. Can Lydia get essential information from her contact in the Cypress Ridge underground before it’s too late?

Trials of Hank:  While Lydia is traversing the underground in Chromatic Split, fan-favorite Hank hits the rooftops in this over-the-top side campaign where the answers to all of life’s problems are lead, explosions, and more lead!  Will Hank complete his mission, or will the monsters that haunt the Cypress Ridge skyline be too much for him to handle?

Photo Mode:  Access a rich set of tools and controls to take frighteningly beautiful snapshots of your adventures at any time. Offline, the action will pause so you can stage detailed scenes and scout your surroundings, whereas online the action will continue so your co-op partners don’t suddenly find themselves unable to play.  Film at your own risk!

Twelve Unique Playable Characters:  Choose between a diverse cast of playable Survivors with different classes, abilities, stats, and loadouts.  When playing as any character in any mode, your progress levels up that character and also helps complete challenges. You’ll earn XP, Ferret Tickets, new items and weapons, and other surprises as you play more and more!

Plenty of Unlockable Content:  As players progress and level up their characters, they’ll find ways to unlock all kinds of customizations: earn shirts, glasses, hats, weapon skins, and even whole outfits.  Once unlocked, any cosmetic can be used with any playable character in any combination; the possibilities are endless!

Challenges and Events:  Seasonal and game-crossover events begin immediately with a Halloween celebration and DINOBREAK-themed content and cosmetics. Players can enjoy fun decorations in the theater, thrilling seasonal maps, special challenges to complete, and unique rewards to earn.  In addition, test your mettle with Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Lifetime challenges.

That’s already a fleshy feast of content!  As you may know, we are still working on Story Mode, and we will be sharing updates about this very critical piece of Outbreak: Shades of Horror when we have them.  As we continue development, we will enter correspondence with those of you who backed items such as playable characters, names on tomb stones, etc. Other future updates will add more content to all modes on top of new seasonal events and game-crossovers.

On top of everything listed above, we have a pair of small surprises for all of you.  In addition to your Early Access game key, you will also receive two bonus DLC keys today at no extra charge.

DINOBREAK Crossover Character Pack DLC:  Mary and F.S.G. join your playable character roster ready to chew up the zombie plague.  Play as, customize, and level up these two fan-favorite characters who originally appeared in Outbreak: Contagious Memories and DINOBREAK.

Pure Gold Weapon Skin DLC:  Next to diamonds, gold is a girl’s best friend.  Equip each of your weapons with this dazzling gold weapon skin to SLAY the undead in style.

As previously announced, delivery of physical rewards is now tied to the release timing for the physical PS5 version of Outbreak: Shades of Horror.  We are working to confirm the timeframe for this launch.

Those of you who are receiving the game today will also be receiving a special DLC code for a set of Backer-exclusive cosmetics in the future.  This is a separate set of cosmetics from those included in the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game. We will share the included contents and release timing as we get closer to the distribution period.

After you get your codes and start to play, let us know what you think about the game so far!  We want to hear all of your thoughts and feedback so we can make Outbreak: Shades of Horror the best game it can possibly be!  Please consider joining our Discord, or you can let your thoughts be known here or on the game’s Steam community forums!  You’ll find convenient links to those places in-game, too!

Once again, on behalf of all of us at Dead Drop Studios, thank you so much for your overwhelming generosity and support.  We will continue to share updates on the future of Outbreak: Shades of Horror as we have them.

Enjoy fighting off legions of zombies in the battle to escape Cypress Ridge, and keep on survivin’!