The developers of a recent Walking Dead game have announced the cessation of development and the impending removal of the game from Steam early next week. Other Ocean Interactive and Skybound Games, the developer and publisher of The Walking Dead: Betrayal, made this decision just three months after the game’s initial release in early access, much to the disappointment of both fans and the development team.
The social deduction game relies on asymmetrical multiplayer dynamics, involving the collaboration of five to eight players working towards objectives, with one player acting as a traitor attempting to sabotage their progress without detection. The game introduces an additional layer of tension by incorporating lingering walkers from The Walking Dead game as additional adversaries. Unfortunately, player engagement dwindled significantly after the initial surge following the release, placing the game and its player community in a challenging position. With a peak of 21 players in the last month and an average daily player count lingering in the single digits, sustaining this online multiplayer title has become nearly impossible.
The New Walking Dead Game is Being Shut Down
Other Ocean Interactive, in collaboration with their publisher Skybound Games, has declared the discontinuation of development for The Walking Dead: Betrayal. The removal process from Steam is scheduled to commence on December 11th, with a complete shutdown anticipated on December 15th. All players are set to receive a full refund, accessible through Steam or the respective retailer. Detailed instructions regarding obtaining refunds and the game’s shutdown procedures will be accessible on both the official Discord server and Steam.
Following the success of Project Winter, Other Ocean Interactive’s previous social strategy game, The Walking Dead: Betrayal encountered unfortunate setbacks. Skybound Games acknowledged in their announcement, “Despite the dedicated effort invested in the game, we were unable to establish the vibrant community of backstabbers we initially envisioned.” While the community size may not have been sufficient to sustain gameplay, some fans express disappointment over the game’s removal, with collectors advocating for its retention in their libraries.
For those familiar with Project Winter, The Walking Dead: Betrayal shares a comparable gameplay concept, enhanced by the inclusion of zombies, post-death play opportunities, and collaboration with The Walking Dead franchise. Despite these additional features, it remains unclear why The Walking Dead game did not garner a community of similar size. Regrettably, online multiplayer experiences necessitate the dedicated fanbase anticipated by the developers. After careful reflection, ceasing development was deemed the most suitable course of action. Skybound Games expressed gratitude to fans for their playtime and feedback, expressing a commitment to providing new experiences for supporters and The Walking Dead game enthusiasts in the future.
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