THE DEAD WE KNEW Delayed to September 17 on Steam

THE DEAD WE KNEW Delayed to September 17 on Steam

THE DEAD WE KNEW: Open World Survival will now release for Windows PC through Steam on September 17, 2026.

MAY19 STUDIO had originally planned to launch the game on August 24, 2026, but the developer moved the release back by 24 days. The studio described the change as a short postponement and said the project needed additional time as development approached the finish line.

According to the studio’s delay message, the extra time will be used for final optimization, stability and overall polish before release.

What Kind of Game Is THE DEAD WE KNEW?

THE DEAD WE KNEW is a third-person open-world zombie survival game. Instead of following a strictly linear campaign, players will explore abandoned locations, search for weapons and supplies, manage limited resources and decide when it is safer to fight, hide or return to their shelter.

The shelter forms the center of the survival experience. Players can expand and reinforce their base, store resources, craft equipment and prepare food before heading back into the open world.

Survival will involve more than fighting zombies. Hunting, farming and cooking are also part of the gameplay loop, while hunger, thirst, health and stamina must be managed.

The world also contains hostile human survivors, meaning the infected will not be the only danger players face.

Solo and Four-Player Online Co-op

THE DEAD WE KNEW supports both single-player and online co-op for groups of up to four players.

Friends will be able to explore, gather resources, construct shelters and survive attacks together. However, MAY19 STUDIO has not yet explained how difficulty, progression or loot distribution will scale between solo and co-op sessions.

Weather Is Part of the Danger

One of the game’s most interesting confirmed mechanics is its fog system.

Fog is not only a visual effect. When it arrives, visibility becomes limited and the infected become more aggressive. The game also features rain, wind and a complete day-and-night cycle, allowing the weather and time of day to change the level of danger outside the shelter.

A supply run that begins under safe conditions could therefore become much more dangerous before the player returns home.

PC Requirements and Unconfirmed Details

THE DEAD WE KNEW is currently confirmed only for Windows PC through Steam. No PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S or Nintendo Switch version has been announced.

The current minimum PC requirements list 12 GB of RAM, a GTX 1070 or equivalent graphics card, DirectX 11 and 20 GB of storage. The recommended specifications increase the memory requirement to 24 GB of RAM and list an RTX 2080 or equivalent GPU.

The Steam page does not currently provide a target resolution, graphics preset or expected frame rate for these requirements.

The launch price also remains unannounced. Dedicated-server support, controller support, cross-play, mod support, a first-person camera, endgame systems and the post-launch roadmap have not been confirmed either.

GamingBroject’s Pre-Release Breakdown

The GamingBroject team reviewed the official gameplay footage, the current Steam listing and MAY19 STUDIO’s press material to create a review-style pre-release breakdown.

This is not a scored hands-on review. It is an editorial analysis of the information and footage available before release, covering what has been confirmed and the questions players should still consider before buying.

Our full video presents 15 things players should know about THE DEAD WE KNEW, including its co-op survival structure, fog system, shelter building, PC requirements and the important details that remain unanswered.

Watch the Full Video

Watch GamingBroject’s “15 Things to Know Before You Buy” video below for our complete pre-release breakdown.

Is THE DEAD WE KNEW going on your Steam wishlist, or will you wait for independent reviews and real performance tests? Tell us in the comments.

Official Steam page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4890760/THE_DEAD_WE_KNEW_Open_World_Survival/

Release-date statement:
MAY19 STUDIO Discord statement reproduced through the game’s Steam Community hub.