Veteran zombie survival game 7 Days to Die has finally emerged from Early Access on Steam after more than 11.5 years. This milestone release comes from a time when Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" dominated the charts and Barack Obama held the presidency.
New Features and Enhancements
The "finished" version of the game introduces a host of new features, including:
- High definition character models
- A revamped player armor and clothing system
- Updated animal models
- A new challenge system
- Enhanced vehicle models
- Improvements to randomly generated worlds
- Over 75 new points of interest
- New zombie variants
- Character progression tweaks
- A lighting update
- Numerous optimizations to the game code
7 Days to Die is a first-person zombie survival crafting game set in a destructible sandbox world that allows players to build anywhere. While its core concepts may seem familiar now, they were groundbreaking when the game first launched in 2013.
Positive Reception and Player Benefits
Reception to the game remains positive, with recent Steam reviews rating it at around 83% approval. Players who already own the game on previous console generations may be eligible for a discount to repurchase it on the current platforms.
The Evolution of Early Access
Early access has transformed significantly since its inception, providing developers like those behind 7 Days to Die with the opportunity for long-term open development and continued support. This model has allowed the game to evolve and grow, giving it a development timeline comparable to some of the most established MMOs in the industry.
