I think the biggest challenge is figuring out how much you can actually change before it stops being Day of Defeat.

The original formula is obviously replayable - people have been playing essentially the same maps, classes, weapons, and objectives for 20+ years, but at the same time, simply rebuilding DoD:S with prettier graphics might not be enough to keep a new game alive long-term.

Personally, I’d keep the core almost untouched: small/medium infantry-focused maps, fast respawns, high lethality, simple classes, capture points, and that constant back-and-forth push over territory. I would NOT try to turn it into Hell Let Loose, Squad 44, Battlefield, etc. The smaller scale and arcade-style pacing are a huge part of what makes DoD feel like DoD.

Where I would expand it is around that core.

More factions, maps, weapons, and historically appropriate class variations would be great. Light destruction, better penetration, suppression, modern movement/animations, vastly improved sound, and more environmental interaction could make the combat feel modern without slowing it down.

I’d also love slightly more dynamic objectives. Keep the flags, but maybe certain maps let you destroy an MG position, breach a wall to create another route, knock out a gun emplacement, or capture something that changes how the next section of the map plays.

I think classes should stay recognizable rather than becoming fully customizable loadouts. Rifleman, Assault, Support, MG, Sniper, Rocket, etc. can be expanded, but the moment everyone is building their own universal soldier, some of the DoD identity disappears.

Basically:

Modernize the battlefield, not the formula.

Give us modern graphics, audio, destruction, animations, maps, factions and some new mechanics- but keep that simple "spawn, push the flag, die, respawn, counterattack" gameplay loop at the center.

If you can make it feel like the DoD we remember while making the battlefield itself feel like a game made in 2026, I think that would be the sweet spot.

@Panther That was awesome thank you.

if possible use the csgo/cs2 hitbox

the source1 hitbox used in dod source is terrible

More destruction and tnt objectives like on dod_caen, maybe parachute drops, fun stuff like that

Honestly i'd love to have the brits/commonwealth back, Urss maybe too? And class like old dod1.. /randomize or just let the host choose between the different factions.
I'd love to see France or Italy but i think it's going too far.
So my humble opinion is to get closer to DOD1 and Source at the same time while (already being said) keeping stuff we loved such as: Classes, Unique sound effect (not like all ww2 dull sound we have now), unique objective mod added - like another guy said having objective like destroying mg post can contribute to how Source was going to be before and allows better cooperative modes).
to recapitulate my ideas one by one:

- I'd love an addition of a mortar (1) by camp on bigger maps.
- More Normandy maps and German Rhine, maybe Market-Garden locations.
- Having british airborne and Infantry, maybe canadians or scottish (maybe french since they used to also invade south with american equipment and north with commonwealth attire).
- Having URSS if it's maybe too long (cause it expand maybe too much the map creation and time for this faction to emerge... And it'll dispach german design from an early war winter uniform).
- Same DOD1/2 classes but with few more such as fg42 (supressing), G42/43 semi-auto support, Engineers, M3 grease gun for US, Radio class (like verdun or Over the top if i remember in which officer gave order to artillery strike or Smoke)
- Bigger maps and smaller maps (a mix for flag capture mode or other modes)
- Close Sound design to DOD:S on Voices/weapons.
- Maybe a tankish-like game mode with 1 tank by team + 1 support vehicle. Might enhance team-fight a bit and give opportunity to really think how to bypass it and to take objectives/hold them with anti-tank, etc.
- Ragdolls: Honestly i love DOD:S ones. It's janky sometime but it feels so fun and keeps a really good feeling since many years.
- Ambiant sounds might stay similar, any the foot sounds of source 1, like wood/metal etc they give you that arcadey feeling that we all love i suppose (fast-paced and sometimes not, it is for me a good way to stay on details).
- Servers that allows maybe the double of what dod S had, or some servers might stay to the same number of players, but let the host cap it to 64 for example or more.
- More cover system for the mg, being behind cover while having deployed the mg (it can allow better defense, by just putting the camera on the sky so that others can't shoot you without a grenade or surrounding you).
- More Weapons goes with the new classes if integrated (M3, Johnson, Lee Enfield Mk1/3, FG42, Luger, Panzerfaust, Lebel/Mas 36, Bren, Sten Mk2/3, Mauser Gewehr 41/43, Mg 34, Mp 41/38, Springfield rifle without scope, Antitank grenades for engineers, Mortars (1 by side), bayonet fixing possibility for melee.
- Different biomes/environment adaptation for example : Normandy late Heer/Waffen SS and Fallshirmjäegers, Panzergrenadiers (summer camo or sleeves etc).
Same for USA, UK with their different Infantry divisions, paratroopers classes, support teams or commandos.
- Winter Attire/clothes for Eastern or Colmar/ardennes theater for all sides.

Sorry if it's maybe confusing or too long but that's how i see it myself. Glad if it can be helpful

The more feedback we get here the better!

Originally posted by Panther:

I think the biggest challenge is figuring out how much you can actually change before it stops being Day of Defeat.

The original formula is obviously replayable - people have been playing essentially the same maps, classes, weapons, and objectives for 20+ years, but at the same time, simply rebuilding DoD:S with prettier graphics might not be enough to keep a new game alive long-term.

Personally, I’d keep the core almost untouched: small/medium infantry-focused maps, fast respawns, high lethality, simple classes, capture points, and that constant back-and-forth push over territory. I would NOT try to turn it into Hell Let Loose, Squad 44, Battlefield, etc. The smaller scale and arcade-style pacing are a huge part of what makes DoD feel like DoD.

Where I would expand it is around that core.

More factions, maps, weapons, and historically appropriate class variations would be great. Light destruction, better penetration, suppression, modern movement/animations, vastly improved sound, and more environmental interaction could make the combat feel modern without slowing it down.

I’d also love slightly more dynamic objectives. Keep the flags, but maybe certain maps let you destroy an MG position, breach a wall to create another route, knock out a gun emplacement, or capture something that changes how the next section of the map plays.

I think classes should stay recognizable rather than becoming fully customizable loadouts. Rifleman, Assault, Support, MG, Sniper, Rocket, etc. can be expanded, but the moment everyone is building their own universal soldier, some of the DoD identity disappears.

Basically:

Modernize the battlefield, not the formula.

Give us modern graphics, audio, destruction, animations, maps, factions and some new mechanics- but keep that simple "spawn, push the flag, die, respawn, counterattack" gameplay loop at the center.

If you can make it feel like the DoD we remember while making the battlefield itself feel like a game made in 2026, I think that would be the sweet spot.

I think this is it right here. Dynamism applied to the expected formula. Don't stray far from what makes DoD what is is, but flesh it out with the depth and capabilities available with the new engine.

I think it would be cool if the game brought back all the content from both the original Day of Defeat (like the british faction ) as well as Day of Defeat Source with graphics on par to Counter Strike 2. Minimal changes to gameplay. Bot support. And if it was possible, matchmaking. I hope this project eventually becomes a reality.

Just make it feel as good as CS2 does.

pretty much panther summed up the "essentials" what makes DoD as DoD.

keeping the fast paced "run and gun" gameplay with the usual capture points, maybe explanding with new game modes like destroy X amout of targets (tanks, flak guns, etc..).

i think people would be intersted in new content as well, what i mean under content is adding new(old) factions like britain, soviet, japan, maybe even smaller nations as well, and ofcourse the maps for them.

but all of this are meaningles if you cant get enough atention for your project, and i am not talking about the current DoD community... nah this community is dead as it gets.

Good post.
Right now, im just thinking about native voices messages enabled (to learn german, or any other language)

Ragdolls stay a lot longer (and options available for it in the servers)

Destroyable enviroment.
Have all the objects with interaction and movement (we all love those barricades with pianos and sofas) but making them easier to move, a little bit faster, and faster when there are more people engaged on moving the objects.

Variety of face skins...
And pretty much, that´s it.

DOD_SOURCE it´s a a brute diamond, so i wouldnt add many things.
WELL, a SCREENSHOT MOD in spectator mod, would be awesome.

Also the MEDIC role, like in the realism servers (love that role in HLL and in REALISM servers)

And not much more in my head right now!

Thanks for the post anyway fellas.