7 Days to Die nears release after nearly 12 years of development

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Fans of the survival game 7 Days to Die are being rewarded for their patience, as the game is exiting Early Access and getting a full release in the months ahead.

As someone who has played 7 Days to Die since it was first released to Alpha in August 2013, I came to terms with the feeling the game might never leave its Early Access state.

Then out of nowhere, boom, developer The Fun Pimps hits us with an announcement; after nearly 12 years in development (and almost 11 in Early Access!), 7 Days to Die is finally leaving Alpha for a full release.

That means one more of the longest-running Alpha tests in gaming history ends, leaving Star Citizen alone at the top.

When does 7 Days to Die release

The full release of 7 Days to Die will occur in June instead of the previously planned Alpha 22 update. It will launch with new features, like new animals, a Challenge system, updated graphics, and multiple optimizations.

Post-launch, the first major update will see the full release come to consoles, and features discussed for the Alpha 22 build will come as the major planned updates shown in the roadmap above.

However, due to the technical differences of the released version of the game, console players will need to purchase a new version of 7 Days to Die to enjoy the full release.

If you currently own the digital release of 7 Days to Die for console, The Fun Pimps have announced that they will be offering a discount for anyone purchasing the new version of the game.

All future versions updates for 7 Days to Die Console Edition will be focused on the full release, leaving legacy players in the dust.

Is this the end of 7 Days to Die updates?

The Fun Pimps have shared a roadmap that offers updates until the end of 2025, as well as announcing that they plan to keep a large part of their team focusing on future updates.

Not only do we have a rare view of how the game is going to progress over the next year or so, but we might also see more updates come out as The Fun Pimps continue their efforts to make 7 Days to Die the final fruits of their 12-year labor.

Are you a 7 Days to Die player who has patiently waited for a full release? Maybe you gave up all hope? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

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