In a milestone moment for gaming, the veteran zombie survival game “7 Days to Die” has officially released out of Early Access after an impressive 11.5 years on Steam. Launched back when Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” topped the charts and Barack Obama was the U.S. President, the game has now reached its “finished” status with a plethora of new features and improvements.
The latest update brings high-definition character models, a revamped system for player armor and clothing, new animal models, and a fresh challenge system that replaces traditional tutorials and quests. Additionally, players can enjoy new models for vehicles, significant enhancements to randomly generated worlds, over 75 new points of interest to explore, diverse zombie model variants, refined character progression, a lighting update, and numerous optimizations to the game code.
However, the release has been met with mixed reactions from the community. While some players appreciate the new gear system, others have expressed dissatisfaction, finding it less intuitive and more cumbersome than before. Issues with creating new worlds have also been reported, with users encountering unexpected problems that hamper their gameplay experience. Furthermore, the overhaul of the quest system has sparked considerable backlash, with many long-time players upset about the perceived degradation of a core game feature.
“7 Days to Die,” a first-person zombie survival crafting game set in a sandbox world, was designed to be destructible and seamless, allowing players to build anywhere. These core concepts, once groundbreaking at its initial release in December 2013, may now seem familiar, but they remain central to the game’s enduring appeal. Recent Steam reviews reflect this, with fans giving it an 83% positive rating.
The journey of “7 Days to Die” through Early Access spanned approximately 11 years, 7 months, and 13 days, a period marked by continuous development and updates. Among the early access megahits still actively developed, perhaps only “Project Zomboid” remains alongside it.
Despite the significant updates, some veteran players feel the changes are underwhelming. Many see the latest update as akin to an alpha release rather than a full-fledged final version, leading to a sentiment that the game’s evolution hasn’t lived up to expectations. Consequently, numerous former players have opted not to return, feeling that the changes do not justify re-engagement.
The game’s prolonged development saw it initially released by the now-defunct publisher Telltale Games on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. In a commendable move, the developers have offered legacy owners on these consoles a discount to purchase the game on the current generation platforms, ensuring their dedication and loyalty are rewarded.
As “7 Days to Die” transitions out of Early Access, its extensive updates and loyal fan base suggest a bright future for this beloved zombie survival game, despite the mixed reactions and challenges faced by its community.
