A collage of new features offered in the ZSGO early access beta.
by Dev Gibby and Dev Ear in
Dev

It’s finally here! The moment we’ve all been waiting for. ZSGO’s Early Access Beta is close, with the launch date set for November 17th.

As we gear up for this momentous occasion, we want to give you a glimpse of the groundbreaking updates that are set to revolutionize your survival experience.

In just a few days, you’ll step into a more immersive, balanced, and thrilling world where every decision counts. Get ready to build, loot, and survive like never before.

ZSGO’s Early Access Beta

There are many different features offered in this free zombie survival game. From simply looting around the island to in-depth crafting systems.

Whether you are a base builder or a PvP Chad, you will surely find what you need in ZSGO. Here is a brief overview of what is offered!

Massive Trader Changes

The 4 good traders who are currently in ZSGOs early access beta.
The 4 bad traders currently in ZSGO.

The trading system in ZSGO has been thoroughly revamped, offering you a richer and more integrated survival experience.

New Traders

Eight new traders are stepping into the fray, split between the benevolent ‘Good Trader Camp’ and the more sinister ‘Bad Trader Camp’.

These traders are not just vendors; they’re characters with their own stories and quests that provide a glimpse into the larger narrative of ZSGO.

Many New Missions

Missions have been reimagined to offer more than just objectives; they’re immersive stories that draw you into the lore and demand you explore.

Here’s what’s new:

  • Traders will now send you on missions that are key to your survival.
  • Rewards from these missions are vital for thriving in the harsh world of ZSGO.
  • Expect a focus on exploration, encouraging you to venture into the unknown.
A shovel that is in a pile of dirt that is marked with an "X".

Buy & Sell Prices

We’re implementing a more robust economy with this update. Quick loot and easy money are out. Instead:

  • You’ll find a more balanced economy, rewarding dedication, and survival skills.
  • Rare items are more fulfilling to discover and provide a real sense of achievement.
  • Item rarity and value have been adjusted to offer a better trading experience.

These enhancements to our trading system are just the beginning of the improvements we’re bringing to ZSGO. With a revitalized economy, engaging quests, and a world teeming with stories, your strategies for survival must evolve.

As you adapt to these changes, we’ve also made sure that your experience is as smooth as silk. Stay tuned as we dive into the next big update in the following section: <strong>Heavily Optimized Performance</strong>, where we’ll discuss how we’re maximizing efficiency and gameplay fluidity for survivors everywhere.

Heavily Optimized Performance

Our latest update introduces targeted optimizations to enhance game performance. These are carefully engineered improvements, reflecting our commitment to providing a smoother experience for a broad range of systems.

The hotels in Cherno that show off the new lumen lighting changes.

Lumen Lighting Disabled

We’ve evaluated the performance impact of Lumen lighting and decided to disable it, significantly lowering the initial performance cost. This adjustment has led to performance gains that, while varying based on individual setups, contribute to a more fluid gameplay for many of our players.

Technical Rendering Changes

The behind-the-scenes work continues with Mesh Material Cleanup, optimizing our game’s rendering process without compromising visual quality.

This is most evident in dense urban areas and item-rich locations, where players should notice improved frame rates and smoothness.

Completely OVERHAULED LOOT TABLES

Get ready for a loot overhaul that spices up every scavenger’s journey across ZSGO’s treacherous island.

New Weapons Hidden Throughout the Island

2 new civilian weapons that were added to the ZSGO early access beta.
  • Expanded arsenal: from basic to mid-tier weapons.
  • Geographic discoveries: better weapons the further north you venture.
  • Future quests: will lead to powerful weaponry.
  • Early-game boost: a significant increase in initial weaponry options.

Added New Items

  • Quest-specific items: unique to trader missions.
  • New crafting benches: unlock a multitude of craftable items.
  • Survival gear: such as the ‘Radiation Shower’ for rad removal.
  • Navigation aid: ‘Map’ item for better island traversal.

These fresh inclusions will dynamically shift the economy and market value of items, enhancing survival tactics and trading interactions.

Dedicated Servers Are Live!

ZSGO’s immersive world just got even better with the launch of dedicated servers, enhancing your survival adventure with seamless progress saving and a more dynamic player environment.

Regions

The main menu of ZSGO, showing the dedicated server check-box on the server list. This option will be available in the early access beta.

Survivors can now enjoy a constantly evolving world, with progress that is automatically saved and more fellow survivors to interact with on the island. Check out the server regions:

  • North America (NA)
  • Europe (EU)
  • Asia / Australia (AS)

Players have the freedom to roam across regions and servers, though be mindful that inventory does not travel with you, and ping times can vary based on your location. Despite these considerations, the transition has been smooth, paving the way for a truly immersive gameplay experience.

Dedicated servers mean your actions, your base’s growth, and the alliances you forge persist in a living, breathing world — your world in ZSGO just got a lot more real.

How to Play ZSGO’s Early Access Beta

Of course, this is only the quick & fancy highlights coming with the early access beta.

We can’t wait for y’all to see what’s in store!

If you are looking to play a free zombie survival game and think that the ZSGO demo is right for you, be sure to click the “Download the Demo” button! This will take you to the Steam page where you can then download it by pushing the gigantic green button!

Ever since I built my first PC to play custom zombie maps on 'Call of Duty: World at War,' I knew PC gaming would be a huge part of my life. My passion for zombies didn't just stop there—I grew up playing iconic games on my PlayStation 2 and 3, like 'Resident Evil 5,' 'Dead Rising,' 'The Walking Dead,' 'Fallout,' 'Bioshock,' and the 'Sly' series. However, once I switched to PC, there was no looking back; my PlayStations found their way into storage, and my heart stayed with PC gaming.

My love for survival games deepened with 'Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead’s DayZ' mod, where fate had me meet Dev Ear and Dev SuperPoggers atop the triple yellow in Cherno. A simple meetup on TeamSpeak turned into a lifelong friendship. We've traveled across states—from California to Florida—bonding over countless survival games like 'Rust Legacy' and 'WarZ.' Our adventures led us to run our own Rust servers and Minecraft communities, even tinkering with game development tools like Unity and Unreal Engine.

Our shared dreams and dedication have culminated in the creation of ZSGO, our ultimate zombie survival game. Bringing our collective expertise and creativity to the table, we're committed to crafting an unforgettable gaming experience that stands out in the survival genre.

Howdy survivors!
I'm Dev Ear and I mainly handle the gameplay loop, web development, and Discord! I have also been surviving online FPS games for 10+ years. I have probably briefly touched every survival fps game you can think of.
The current survival fps drought means that it’s time for our team to step in and create what everyone has been waiting for!
Besides game development, I like making music and every now and then touching some grass. Since release, it's been nothing but ZSGO however. Can't wait to see what the game evolves into!
See you all in ZSGO!

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