Dayz
News, coverage and analysis tracking Dayz across the outlets.
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The MOP Up: Take a stroll through the sunsetted MMORPG necropolis
A fan-made virtual 'Necropolis' has been created to memorialize over 367 sunsetted MMORPGs and always-online games. The project allows visitors to explore the city and read details about each game's history and demise. The article also rounds up other smaller MMO news, including updates for V Rising, Palworld, Helldivers II, and EVE Online.
"Our industry is rotting" and AI "pushed things over the edge," so the creator of DayZ wants to change how games are made with some of the smartest devs in the industry
DayZ creator Dean Hall believes the game industry is fundamentally flawed and that AI development has exacerbated these issues. To combat this, Hall and his studio RocketWerkz have released "Brutal," an open-source C# framework intended to offer an alternative to mainstream engines like Unity and Unreal Engine, empowering developers with more control and independence.
DayZ Nasdara interactive map - Shackmaps
Shackmaps has released an interactive map for the new DayZ Nasdara map, detailing weapon and gear locations, points of interest, and dynamic events. The map is free to use, with an option to create an account for progress tracking and access to other maps. Shacknews staff manually update the map for accuracy and welcome user suggestions.
DayZ creator Dean Hall releases open-source game development framework Brutal
Industry veteran Dean Hall, known for DayZ, has launched Brutal, a free, open-source C# game development framework developed by his companies Ahwoo and RocketWerkz. Hall criticizes major engines like Unity and Unreal for failing to be accountable to developers and potentially exploiting them through restrictive licensing as agentic workflows emerge. Brutal aims to offer developers more control and options, with several projects already utilizing it.
DayZ creator Dean Hall says "our industry is rotting from its core" because of big-company "greed", aiming shots at Epic's Unreal and Unity
DayZ creator Dean Hall has strongly criticized the current state of the game industry, citing
ShackStream: There's so much more to Nasdara in DayZ Badlands
The ShackStream covers the DayZ Badlands playtest as players Jan and Dusty explore the Nasdara province, encountering environmental changes and military installations. The article highlights the challenges of water scarcity and the upcoming official release of the DLC.
ShackStream: We won't let DayZ Badlands beat us
Shacknews staff will be streaming the DayZ Badlands playtest, aiming to make progress and get geared up. The stream will focus on meeting up with other players and exploring new areas, with the game's launch date approaching on October 15th.
ShackStream: Exploring the DayZ Badlands Playtest
Shacknews is providing coverage of the DayZ Badlands DLC playtest, featuring streamer Jan and his friends exploring the new Nasdara map. The article highlights the upcoming release date and encourages viewers to tune into the stream.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Oct. 2: Steam Autumn Sale and friends
The annual Steam Autumn Sale has begun, offering discounts on a wide range of PC games, including recent releases and older titles. Several other digital storefronts like GOG.com, Epic Games Store, and Fanatical are also hosting their own autumn sales, providing various deals and free games.
The social interactions in Wardogs are truly something special
Wardogs stands out among shooters for fostering positive social interactions through its emphasis on proximity chat and long, engaging rounds. The game's design encourages teamwork and allows players to fulfill various niche roles, leading to more meaningful connections and friendships than typically found in the genre.
'All roads lead back to Arma'
The Arma series, developed by Bohemia Interactive, has profoundly influenced the PC gaming landscape, serving as the foundation for numerous popular genres and games. Its open-platform approach has fostered innovation, leading to the creation of mods that evolved into standalone titles like DayZ, the entire battle royale genre pioneered by PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and even influencing Grand Theft Auto 5 roleplaying communities.
Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts – September 6, 2026 – Orbitals takes down Elden Ring
The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for September 6, 2026, show Orbitals taking the top spot, dethroning Elden Ring. New releases like Onimusha: Way of the Sword and NBA 2K27 also entered the top rankings.
'It Ended My Old Life' — DayZ Felt Like Dying, Says Creator
Dean Hall, creator of the zombie survival game DayZ and founder of RocketWerkz, expressed a complex and somewhat negative relationship with his most famous creation. He described the experience of DayZ's early development as feeling like 'dying,' indicating a difficult personal connection to the game.
14 years on, the creator of DayZ is still searching for a solution to survival gaming's biggest problem: 'I think I am going to die without having solved it'
Dean Hall, the creator of the influential survival game DayZ, reflects on the genre's persistent problem of endgame boredom. Despite the success of DayZ and his studio RocketWerkz, Hall admits he may never find a solution to this challenge, which he believes requires more than just brute-forcing content. His studio has faced financial struggles with games like Stationeers and Icarus, but is now focusing on community-driven models and a new DayZ/ArmA-style project.
Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts – August 30, 2026 – Elden Ring and Metal Gear Solid battle for first
The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for the week of August 30, 2026, show Elden Ring retaining the top spot, driven by its recent launch and higher price point. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 debuted at second place, with other new releases like Orbitals and Onimusha: Way of the Sword also appearing on the revenue-based charts.
Xbox Gamescom 2026 Day Two: 19 Games and Announcements You Need to Know About | Invision Game Community
Xbox's second Gamescom 2026 showcase highlighted a diverse range of upcoming games, emphasizing discovery over blockbuster reveals. The presentation featured new titles like Rogue Fortune, PUBG: DED.NET, Cassette Beasts 2002, and Militsioner, alongside updates for established franchises such as Dune: Awakening, Planet Zoo 2, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Many of these titles will be available on Xbox Game Pass, showcasing the breadth of experiences coming to the Xbox ecosystem.
DayZ Badlands expansion gets October 2026 release date on PC & Xbox
Bohemia Interactive has announced that the DayZ Badlands expansion will be released on October 15, 2026, for PC and Xbox platforms. The expansion introduces the new Nasdara map, featuring new weapons, items, challenges, and constructible utility buildings like wells, with a desert theme.
DayZ: Badlands Gets New Trailer Showcasing Survival, Loot, and The Rebuilding System
Bohemia Interactive has released a new trailer for the upcoming DayZ: Badlands expansion, confirming its release date of October 15th. The expansion introduces new survival mechanics like dehydration and scarce water, regional clothing, and enhanced personal radios for decoding loot locations. It also features a rebuilding system allowing players to fortify dilapidated structures. DayZ: Badlands will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
The MOP Up: Profane puts out a new rolling roadmap
Several MMOs have shared updates and roadmaps, including Profane's new development plan focusing on two-month highlights, and Odin: Valhalla Rising's roadmap for the latter half of 2026. Subnautica 2 launched a new beta branch for testing, Palia's Insect-a-Palooza event returned, and EVE Online banned over 10,000 accounts for dark web links. Additionally, Grand Theft Auto VI leak participants were cautioned against, BitCraft is closing its Uncharted Regions, and AdventureQuest 3D released new moon-themed mounts.
Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts – August 23, 2026 – Elden Ring already on top before launch
The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for the week of August 23, 2026, show Elden Ring topping the list due to pre-loads, despite its upcoming launch. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 also ranks high with pre-orders, while new releases like DayZ and Starsand Island appear on the charts.
