⚠️Disclaimer⚠️ Information shared in our development blog represents a work in progress, not the final product. The contents and features discussed are subject to change before release. We aim to provide insight and foster community engagement, but details may evolve as development continues. Thank you for joining us on this journey, and for understanding that what you see here is a glimpse into the process.
Dear Survivors, With the Frostline Expansion release on the horizon, we want to give the community a behind-the-scenes look at our development process. We've been regularly publishing Dev Blogs on our forums, and you can check them out here. This progress report serves as a summary of those Dev Blogs, and offers an extra layer of insight into our creative works, processes, and achievements.
1.26 Changes you can look forward to Before we get into the Frostline Expansion, we'd like to start with a few changes that will also impact the base game with update 1.26. Even though we're concentrating on releasing a paid DLC, that doesn't mean we aren’t implementing any changes or improvements to the base game with 1.26. Our efforts on Frostline are for the betterment of DayZ as a whole. Notably, the view distance in the game has been substantially increased, and you'll have full control over it via the settings on the client side.
We’ve also made significant efforts for us and community server owners to have more control over weather elements like wind and fog. The current fog system is tied to distance fog value and overcast, and is defined by the config, which evidently is limiting. With update 1.26, the dev team, modders, and server owners will have full dynamic control over the fog through a new script API. The fog will also affect the visibility of the sky, which is perfect for those who wish to create areas that have less visibility and a gloomier atmosphere.
More control over weather means more capabilities for us to create dynamic weather patterns and changes. Wind is one element we will have more control over. It will be a definitive factor in providing visual hints via the direction of snowfall, rain, or the direction and intensity of trees being affected by the wind. While the change in weather won’t be predetermined or occur in patterns players can predict, those who observe their surroundings and anticipate environmental challenges will have a strategic advantage. Think of the blizzards of Sakhal and the thunderstorms of Livonia.
Snow in Frostline One of the map’s main features is the snow and its integration into the environment. The snowfall particles are newly created / added to the terrain, and have been significantly improved since the last time you saw them in the official teaser. As you can see in the example below, these particles are not just white dots, but nuanced, weighted elements that enhance immersion and are even affected by light.
Moreover, the snow on the ground will gradually thaw when a fireplace is placed upon it. Cars driving over the snow, meanwhile, will leave behind distinctive tire tracks.
Thanks to the Enfusion team, we have updated super, multi, and plant shaders to allow texture projection in any defined direction. This is particularly beneficial for rocks and trees, as they no longer need to be placed or textured in a specific way. Snow will always be projected from top to bottom, ensuring a more realistic appearance. This is especially beneficial for the modding community.
Visuals of Frostline Following our successful upgrade of skyboxes for existing terrains in update 1.23, we're now focusing on creating a unique skybox tailored to Sakhal, which will enhance the map's snowy environment. This new skybox goes beyond mere compatibility; we're confident it will enrich Sakhal's atmosphere with a blend of Cirrus and Alto/Cirrocumulus clouds. Inspired by the Kamchatkan region, we conducted extensive research and utilized Google Street View for visual documentation. Additionally, we captured our own collection of winter sky photographs just outside our office, ensuring an authentic backdrop that fully immerses you in the cold, snowy world of Frostline.
Despite Sakhal being our smallest map at 83 square kilometers, we're enhancing its visual distinctiveness by introducing new objects such as roads, fences, power lines, and a variety of points of interest. Our primary goal is to ensure that every location you visit during your travels feels unique compared to other maps.
Working with essentially a blank canvas has allowed us to push the boundaries of environmental design in ways that depart from the constraints of existing maps (which had to be more consistent in general). This will ensure creative freedom and a more immersive experience. To achieve this diversity and uniqueness for Sakhal's points of interest, we've incorporated over 400 Sakhal-specific objects. These include reworked existing assets with new variants, assets ported from Arma titles (such as Arma 3 and Arma Reforger), and entirely new and unique assets created specifically for Sakhal. Here are a few examples of new residential buildings.
You may have already known that we are retexturing most of the houses to fit the region. We are also reworking a substantial number of house interiors, along with adding several intriguing hiding spots. Our goal is to imbue the houses with a sense of dilapidation and occupancy, and present interiors and decorations that have more character and history compared to previous iterations found in Livonia and Chernarus. You can see some of the house tour below.
Stay up to date with us! We aim to provide more platform-specific rundowns every few months or so. We also publish Dev Blogs on our forum every couple of weeks. Additionally, you can follow us Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
These blog posts are meant to share our passion and document our creative journey, including the challenges and triumphs we experience along the way. As always, we owe everything to the DayZ community, whose steadfast support and creativity have been essential not just for the game's survival, but for our shared journey toward thriving.
If you liked what you’ve seen so far, make sure you hit the wishlist button, because Frostline is set to drop by the end of the fall.
We’re excited to announce the return of DayZ’s iconic Payday masks during our special PaydayZ event! While our team is working diligently on the Frostline expansion (which will deliver a winter experience to DayZ later this autumn), we wanted to give you something to celebrate at the beginning of summer.
Character cosmetics and seasonal events have been major focuses in our recent updates, and this summer event is no exception. A massive shoutout to our friends at Starbreeze Studio and the Payday team for allowing us to feature legendary masks from Payday (Dallas, Houston, and Wolf), as well as Chains, which is making its DayZ debut.
Veteran DayZ players will fondly remember when these masks were synonymous with banditry. Due to the visual progress DayZ has made over the years, and the masks provided by the Payday team, we’ve fully reworked them with brand new textures to fit our current aesthetic. The masks will be distributed across both maps, with two types on each map. You'll need to travel between the maps or obtain them from an unlucky server hopper.
The iconic star-spangled mask of Dallas, along with the masks of the original Payday crew, are returning to DayZ for a limited time on the 4th of July. The event will run until July 23rd across all platforms, and community server owners will have access to the event files even after the event is over.
So rally your squad, then suit up, mask up, and score some sweet loot!
On behalf of the DayZ team, Lynn
Check out Payday 3 and the new Boys in Blue DLC here:
Survivors! Summer has arrived, and so have the savings! Now is the perfect time to dive into the world of DayZ with our Steam Summer Sale offering a massive up to 50% off! The Livonia DLC is now included in the base game, giving you even more content to explore. Don’t miss out on the chance to experience the thrill of survival.
Grab your copy now and join the DayZ community!
Plus, stay tuned for our upcoming expansion, DayZ Frostline, which promises to bring new challenges and adventures to the game. Wishlist it now!
Time is flying for us this year and there’s tons that’s going on. Earlier this month, we announced our next big milestone: an expansion called DayZ Frostline. Today, we’re happy to announce that game update 1.25 has arrived on Steam! Today also marks the start of a new era for Livonia.
All current owners of the base game will get the DLC for free. Meanwhile, the Livonia DLC will be included with the base game from this point forward and available to all at a slightly increased price. If you’re itching to explore new places while you’re waiting for Sakhal, there’s never been a better time!
OK, back to update 1.25. What can you expect when you jump into the game?
The highlight of the update is definitely the long awaited addition of ambient music. We worked with Czech composer Dikolson to create a subtle and ambient background that increases your immersion as you walk through different areas of the game at various times of the day. There’s approximately 70 minutes of music available at the moment, with more to come in the future. We love the music so much, that we published a selection of it on Steam. If you’re interested in listening to this wonderful music outside of DayZ, you can find it on the Steam store page or within your Steam library under Soundtracks.
Note: Can take 24 hours for soundtrack to show in Library
Ambient tracks aren’t the only addition to the game’s audio. Update 1.25 also delivers the first rework of firearm sounds, including updated sounds of shotguns, the crossbow, and the grenade launcher. Our audio team has also been busy rebalancing the distance where you can still hear a player’s actions (previously, the audibility of all actions was set at 50 meters).
To prevent items disappearing from the inventory after using quick slots / certain actions, we decided to limit the use of contents in nested containers like cooking pots and protector cases through quick slots. We also reworked the way a player character’s position is synchronized with the server in order to tackle issues such as getting stuck in a doorway. Another addition in update 1.25 is a new long-range bolt-action firearm, the VS-89 with a 10-round magazine.
We’d like to highlight the fact that we’ve integrated the Enfusion crash reporter. We’d appreciate it if you’d take the time to fill in the details before sending us the full report.
That’s it for update 1.25. Our next step is update 1.26, which will be released together with DayZ Frostline later this year. Make sure to keep your eyes on our forums and socials, where more information regarding DayZ Frostline will be revealed. Exciting times are ahead, Survivors!
Get ready for May 27th, when Redux Update 1.25 brings an ambitious transformation merging DayZ with the Livonia DLC into one unified, enriched gameplay adventure.
What's Happening?
Update 1.25: This update is a pivotal moment for DayZ, combining the base game and Livonia DLC. Effective immediately, Livonia will no longer be offered as a separate purchase. Instead, all current owners of the DayZ base game will seamlessly receive the Livonia DLC without additional costs.
Last Chance Sale: In anticipation of DayZ Redux update 1.25, we're giving newcomers a special opportunity to join our growing community. From May 22nd to May 26th, take advantage of DayZ at its discounted original price. This is your last chance to seize DayZ and On May 27th Livonia DLC for Free!
Price Adjustment Notified: Note that with the introduction of Redux Update 1.25 on May 27th, the price will be adjusted. This increase, however, brings value by combining the base game and DLC into one survival experience.
Update Reminder: Don't forget to update your game on May 27th to unlock Livonia. From the densest woods to the most serene landscapes, Livonia is a testament to the unknown adventures that await.
Soundtrack Gift: Appreciation for our players knows no bounds. As a special bonus, all who already own DayZ and Livonia before the update will receive the official soundtrack. Let the immersive tunes of survival escort your journey.
⚠️Note: it can take up to 24 hours for the soundtrack to appear in Steam library
Your Action Plan:
Mark the dates: May 22nd to May 26th for the Last Chance Sale, then gear up for the Redux Update 1.25 on May 27th.
Stay Updated: Ensure your game is refreshed on May 27th to welcome Livonia into the fold of your survival escapades.
Dear Survivors, Exciting news—DayZ is set to embrace fire and ice with the upcoming DayZ Frostline Expansion! Get ready to embark on an adventure in a brand new location: the Sakhal archipelago. This expansion introduces a whole new survival challenges, spread over 83km² of volcanic land, icy seas, and treacherous terrains. We hope that your anticipation is high for this fall's release, and you can now wishlist Frostline on Steam.
The centerpiece of the expansion is the Sakhal terrain, inviting you to explore its rugged and desolate reaches. Unlike previous locations, you'll play as a survivor seeking refuge in the rumored safe haven of Sakhal, only to face an unforgiving environment frozen both in time and climate. Despite its brutality, Sakhal promises beauty at every perilous turn, with frozen lakes, snow-draped forests, and frosty peaks.
The proximity to volcanic regions amplifies the hazards, doubling the threats you'll face. Although the terrain may be more compact compared to previous ones, each new challenge in the expansion will deliberately decelerate your progress, compelling you to recalibrate your playstyles.
To survive, you'll need to adapt like the new region-specific wildlife species acclimated to the cold, equipping winter-themed cosmetics to brave the elements and uncover Sakhal's intriguing structures and points of interest.
Preparation is key to survival, and as the frost sets in, only those with ice in their veins and fire in their hearts will endure. DayZ Frostline is coming, heralding a chilling new chapter in the ultimate fight for survival.
Greetings, Survivors! Experimental branches of update 1.25 are now live on Steam!
Before we get to that, however, we’d like to announce a significant change. DayZ's base game, along with the Livonia DLC, will merge into a single product once update 1.25 is released on stable branches. The goal is to streamline our portfolio and simplify our offerings in anticipation of future developments. Simultaneously, we aim to elevate the player experience by enhancing accessibility to Livonia, thereby integrating the communities of both the base game and the DLC across every platform. While there will be a modest increase in price due to the new product’s expanded value, the pricing will be more economical than the current DayZ Livonia Bundle.
To clarify: the Livonia DLC will no longer be sold separately once update 1.25 is released on stable branches. Existing DayZ base game owners without Livonia will receive the DLC free of charge as a token of our appreciation. A comprehensive press release and FAQ detailing these changes will be issued on May 20th. Stay tuned for more details! Now, let’s dive into what you should be keeping your eyes and ears on while trying out the experimental version of update 1.25.
The highlight of this update is definitely the introduction of ambient music. We’re thrilled that we were able to make this long-requested feature a reality, thanks to our cooperation with Czech composer Filip Míšek. The update features around 100 minutes of music, which plays during different times of day, as well as when you travel through various locations. We hope you’ll enjoy the music and become more immersed in your adventures. Keep in mind that the ambient music won’t be available until the second experimental build due to scheduling reasons.
Our audio team has also reworked the firearm sounds for all shotguns, as well as the sounds for the grenade launcher and crossbow. Additionally, the team has been very busy rebalancing the distance where you can still hear a player’s actions (previously, the audibility of all actions was set at 50 meters). This change doesn’t cover weapons or footsteps yet, but that is also on the team’s radar for the future.
Another thing we’ve improved is the way a player’s position is corrected between the client and the server. This only affects the character you’re playing and should prevent issues like getting stuck in a doorway.
We’ve also addressed an inventory inconsistency that was causing items in nested cargo containers to be moved around or even dropped without any notice. This has been happening since update 1.23, and forced us to limit the manipulation in such a way that you will no longer be able to assign items that are stored inside a nested cargo container to quick slots. Some of the things affected by this change include cooking pots and protector cases, as well as special actions like firearm reloads. Ammo and magazines that are stored in nested cargo containers will be ignored by the reload action.
Last but not least, we are introducing an automated game client and server crash collection system in DayZ. This will help us finally get a better idea about the overall stability of our game (particularly on PC). If you receive a prompt after your game has crashed, please provide details explaining what happened, then click “Send”.
Some of you may be wondering whether there’s anything more to this update. Well, there isn't. This is mostly due to the fact that update 1.25 was built on top of 1.24. That’s because we are currently extremely busy with a very important milestone which is slated for delivery later this year. We are super excited to tell you more about it soon!
We are excited to share some fantastic news from our fellow survivors and outlanders at Bohemia Interactive. After much anticipation and numerous requests from its dedicated fanbase, Vigor is making its leap to PC! This marks a significant moment as the game opens up the gritty and engrossing world of the Outlands to a broader audience, now with the precision of mouse and keyboard gameplay.
Set to launch in May as an Early Access title on Steam, Vigor's move to PC is a strategic step similar to its successful releases on the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Game Preview. This early access formula has proven effective, allowing the developers to incorporate community feedback and refine the game experience continually.
Dear Survivors, As the warmth of spring envelops us, let us kindle the spirit of the season with the bonfires of Walpurgis. Staying true to our commitment in supporting in-game events this year, we're happy to announce the return of the annual Walpurgis event. While seasoned veterans are likely well acquainted with this event, newcomers to the game may benefit from a quick overview.
The Night of the Witches (known as Čarodejnice in Czech) is a celebration spanning April 30th and May 1st. Originating from ancient pagan rites, Walpurgis Night originally symbolized the renewal of nature with the onset of spring. Over time, it evolved into a Christianized festival honoring Saint Walpurga, renowned for her protection against supernatural forces, including witchcraft. In modern times, bonfires illuminate the night skies in some parts of Germany as people joyously dance around Maypoles, while Finland and Sweden embrace the outdoors with picnics and lively gatherings. Echoing its real-world counterpart, the DayZ Walpurgis Night event promises an atmospheric experience, with bonfires being lit up across the maps. These fiery beacons may serve as both sanctuaries, offering warmth and respite, or potential traps, leaving you exposed to the watchful eyes of other unfriendly survivors. Following the elaborate mechanics of previous events like the healing bolts during Valentine's, we've opted to keep this simple. Here's the list of items you can find at the bonfires:
Cauldron
Witch Hat
Witch Hood
Birch Broom
Crooked Nose
The infected witch and the infected firefighters
So, arm yourself once more with pitchforks, fire-spewing brooms, and the iconic witch hoods as you venture into both Chernarus and Livonia. The event will start on the 16th of April and end on the 5th of May across all platforms and official servers. Stay warm, survivors. Best regards, Lynn
The season of tactical engagements and heart-pounding action is upon us with the Steam FPS Sale! Embrace the adrenaline rush with electrifying discounts on DayZ and its enthralling DLC, Livonia. Dive headfirst into this dynamic deal to experience the thrilling world of DayZ like never before!
Gear up for an expedition where danger and opportunity collide! DayZ, the ultimate open-world survival game, is igniting a frenzy of excitement with a deal designed to fuel your adventurous fire. Now's your chance to navigate the harrowing expanses of DayZ, where survival hangs by a thread, and every decision can mean the difference between life and doom.
Challenge the wilderness, tighten your grip, and prevail against all odds! Seize this perfect moment to secure DayZ at a compelling up to 40% off.
FPS Sale opportunity is bursting through the door—don't miss your shot. Leap into DayZ and embark on your surviving today!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/221100/DayZ/ DayZ base game - 40% off The post-soviet country of Chernarus is struck by an unknown virus, turning the majority population into frenzied infected. Fighting over resources has bred a hostile mentality among survivors, driving what’s left of humanity to collapse. You are one of the few immune to the virus - how far will you go to survive?