7 Days to Die developer The Fun Pimps recently announced that the first-person zombie survival game is finally leaving Early Access to become a fully-released title. It has been almost 12 years since the game’s alpha version launched. Now, its actual launch is just around the corner with the 7 Days to Die 1.0 update. Here, we'll cover everything we know so far about 7 Days to Die 1.0.

7 Days to Die 1.0 Release Date, Features, & Roadmap for 2024 & 2025

Dubbed the Alpha Exodus (previously called the Apocalypse Edition), the official release date for the 7 Days to Die 1.0 update is now July 25th, 2024 for all platforms, which means the PC and Console versions (PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) will both launch on the same day rather than have the typical delay that players experience with updates to the console version. The game-developing company said in the announcement that the team feels satisfied with their efforts, allowing them to decide to let 7 Days to Die leave Early Access. Additionally, players can still expect experimental builds from the developer even after the game’s full release. The game’s older versions will still be accessible by players, at least for the PC version. At the time of writing, information about the additions, improvements, and changes from this upcoming update are relatively few. Still, it's safe to say that the released information for what should be the Alpha 22 update and beyond will now appear in version 1.0. Nonetheless, here’s a quick look at the new content, features, upgrades, and more in 7 Days to Die version 1.0:

• Asset overhaul for vehicles
• New animals
• New gore system for zombies
• Zombie variance
• New challenge system
• New props
• Road decals
• New crops
• New points of interest (POIs), including a new business strip and skyscraper
• Updated VFX/Graphics Upgrades
• Various optimizations
• Random gen improvements
• Updated controller support

The developer also included information about the future of 7 Days to Die via a roadmap. Players can expect the following updates for 2024 to 2025:

• Q4 2024: Storm’s Brewing – Includes weather system and biome progression overhaul. It’ll also implement a wardrobe system, crossplay, and random gen for consoles.
• Q2 2025: A New Threat – This window may include bandits, a new quest type, an event system, and a UI and main menu overhaul.
• Q4 2025: The Road Ahead – This period may include a story mode, new quest type, trader overhaul, and Steam workshop support.

Don't forget to watch the official 7 Days to Die 1.0 gameplay trailer below:

Price Changes

Players who own a copy of 7 Days to Die won’t need to purchase the Alpha Exodus update. However, those who wish to purchase the game after the release of version 1.0 must pay $44.99. This 7 Days to Die 1.0 price will remain the same across all platforms and storefronts. However, the developer will hold a "Last Chance" sale on Steam from April 22 to April 29, 2024, to let interested players purchase the game before its inevitable price increase.

About the Console Version

As mentioned earlier, the console version of the 7 Days to Die 1.0 update should be released about a month after the PC version receives the major patch. Additionally, the developer mentioned that crossplay works for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X players. However, the feature isn't available at the time of writing as The Fun Pimps is still waiting for certification approval from Microsoft and Sony. It's also worth mentioning that the developer won't continue to support the game's versions for legacy consoles. This decision comes from technical difficulties with the old and current console hardware. Additionally, 7 Days to Die will be delisted from digital storefronts once the new version launches. The game will also leave Gamepass by the end of April 2024 and won't return to the service. Players must also start a new game using a different platform with the end of support for the game’s GamePass version. Other details regarding the console version of 7 Days to Die 1.0 include the following:

• No concrete plans to release modding support for the game’s console version
• The console edition won’t have local split-screen support
• No plans to release a physical edition
• Various limitations are expected to appear on the launch of version 1.0, like the unavailability of randomly generated maps, lack of level or world editor, and peer-to-peer connection restrictions.

Check out this video for additional details about 7 Days to Die 1.0:

7 Days to Die 1.0 Dev Streams

Recently, The Fun Pimps hosted three developer streams for 7 Days to Die 1.0, which showcased some of the new content and features included in the game's full release. Here's a summary of the elements mentioned in these live streams:

Major Overhaul to the Character Creator

The 7 Days to Die Version 1.0 Dev Stream #1 started showcasing the revamped graphics by showing the new look of player character models. Before, the characters typically used older models, which resulted in the designs looking similar to melted plastic (for lack of a better word). With the game's full release, the developers smoothened the models, making them look more defined than before.

Armor Rework

Gone are the days when players had to fill different gears in nine armor slots, thanks to version 1.0. This update simplifies the armor equipment system, allowing players to equip four pieces instead of seven. Additionally, equipping all armor pieces in a specific set grants the wearer various bonuses.

Zombie Variance

In Version 1.0, players will see different zombie skins for various undead models. Note that these variants are generally cosmetic and don’t affect the zombies’ current abilities to hunt and kill survivors.

Slowed Trader Progression & Advanced Crafting

The developers in the stream also mentioned that they slowed down Trader progression. This change is to let this feature sync with progressing through Navezgane and unlocking crafting recipes. However, the developer didn’t elaborate on the specifics of this change in the stream. Nonetheless, players will be able to craft Level 6 items, which is a step above the item level cap from the game’s previous versions.

Challenge System

A new challenge system will replace the in-game journal. With it, players will be able to access more interactive and descriptive methods for achieving different in-game milestones. Moving forward, the tutorial will also be part of this mechanic.

The Burnt Forest Biome

Previously removed from the random world generator, the Burnt Forest Biome returns to 7 Days to Die in Update 1.0. Here, survivors can receive burn damage when getting too close to the burning undead. Additional burn damage can hurt players when stepping on the smoldering debris in this biome. Apart from the infrequent appearance of burning zombies, this biome is a fairly safe place to build a base. Here, hostile creatures and other dangers don't spawn as often as in other biomes in Navezgane, if at all. Still, it's important to pay attention to the area's hot temperature and prepare to prevent heat-related issues.

Revamped Trader Quests

7 Days to Die 1.0 will also include balance changes, including an overhaul to progression with Trader Quests. At the time of writing, XP gain from completing Trader Quests is twice as fast compared to the upcoming full release. Additionally, Update 1.0 will remove Level 6 gear as a reward when completing a Trader Quest. However, survivors can craft Level 6 gear using legendary materials normally found in high-level POIs. Also, this major patch will receive predictable Trader Quests. That means that players will always know the path of each quest instead of it being generated randomly. Finally, some 7 Days to Die traders have new dialogue, and some of these NPCs have new voice actors.

16 New Armor Sets

It has been known for quite some time that Update 1.0 will revamp the game's armor system. The speakers in the 7 Days to Die 1.0 Dev Stream #2 announced that the overhaul to the game's pieces of equipment includes 16 new armor sets, each with a unique set effect. However, players can't customize the armor pieces, at least for some time after the launch of Update 1.0.

Tier 5 POIs

7 Days to Die survivors can soon explore new Tier 5 POIs, including a school, theater, hotel, stadium/football field, and army base. Additionally, expect the hordes in these POIs to be more challenging than before, as Update 1.0 will have scaling zombie health depending on the number of people in an instance or dedicated 7 Days to Die server.

New Vehicle Models

The developers in the 7 Days to Die 1.0 Stream #2 also showcased the different visual overhauls for various in-game vehicles. Additionally, players will soon be able to see the mods appear on the vehicles with Update 1.0. Note: Watch the 7 Days to Die 1.0 dev streams here, here, and here.