7 Days to Die: From Desert Scraps to Snowy Showdowns

7 Days to Die: From Desert Scraps to Snowy Showdowns – A Loot Goblin’s Tale

Alright, you wasteland wanderers and zombie slayers, buckle up because we’re diving deep into a recent playthrough of 7 Days to Die, and let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster of exploding bolts, lead-slinging madness, and enough loot to make a dragon blush. Forget your polite introductions, we’re jumping right into the thick of it.

So, the sun beats down on day 705. Yeah, you heard that right, seven hundred and five days. This ain’t your average Tuesday night stroll through the undead apocalypse. Our guy, let’s just call him “Glock”, has just cleaned out good ol’ Bobby, the trader. Books, throwable thingamajigs, and an Uzi because, let’s be honest, why the hell not? It’s an Uzi, it’s practically a zombie-slaying fashion statement. The shopping spree includes enough 9mm, dragon breath, and magnum rounds to make even Rambo raise an eyebrow. Why wouldn’t you snag that stuff? It’s not like the undead are going to be writing you thank you notes, are they?

Okay, base tour. Forget those flimsy twig and mud shacks. This guy’s rocking a multi-tiered fortress. Iron hatches guard the doorway leading to a ladder and a ledge, which allows for some parkour across metal bars. The steps? Demolished. Not for aesthetics, but for maximum zombie frustration. This isn’t a game of ‘hide and seek’, this is ‘hide and snipe’. The bars, anchored to both the outer walls and inner column thing, are a serious middle finger to any zombie trying to get a home-cooked meal. Then some concrete upgrading for good measure.

With a fully-kitted arsenal, there’s still time to kill. So, naturally, our hero decides to go for a scenic stroll across the road and visit a military recruitment center. Because what’s the point of surviving a zombie apocalypse if you can’t get your hands on some high-quality military-grade boomsticks? Sneaking in is clearly optional. It’s a lead-filled salad for the zombie horde – hold the dressing, because nobody needs that sugary crap. Just ammo and guns. That’s the kind of attitude that keeps you alive in the wasteland. A little dragon’s breath action on some zeds. Turns out, it does set them on fire. Who knew? It’s more of a “one-shot-and-you’re-toast” kind of deal. Murky water? Nah, they’re good. They’re rolling in the good stuff.

Up to the watchtower. And, what do you know, the main stash is unlocked. Easy peasy, like taking candy from a baby…a zombified baby. There’s magnum ammo, but who needs it? No magnum pistol. There is, however, a massive haul of 5.56, the M4, a level 5 SMG, a .45 pistol, a shotgun, exploding crossbow bolts and all the throwable toys. It’s like Christmas, except instead of presents, you get the tools to deal out some serious zombie-killing. Forget those loot goblin feelings, they’re straight up facts.

Time for some fun with the dragon’s breath, using up those five rounds. It’s fun to watch the zeds get turned into crispy critters. Then it’s magnum time. The windows get shredded by the horde. Hatch defenses? A little bit of a waste. No biggie, the bars are doing their job. They may not last forever, but they sure are holding their ground now. This ain’t some pansy base build, this is a fortress made for lead-slinging. There’s an unspoken rule. The entire horde must be wiped out before moving on to a new zone. No cowardly runs on a motorcycle. They gotta fight, in the vicinity of the POI. It’s an old-fashioned slaughterhouse, but hey, rules are rules. Big concrete POIs are the name of the game.

Then the audio gets glitchy again. Oh well, there is no time to waste. Exploding bolts get launched. Cops are prioritized, because they are the real threats to those bars. Demolishers are a secondary threat but could cause serious damage. One exploding bolt doesn’t quite make it through the bars. So, it’s time for the pistol. A few pops to the dome. One two three four and lucky number five, body parts start flying. The bars are holding the line though they are taking a beating. The zeds are attacking both the outer wall and center column, but the outer walls are bulletproof glass. So, all good. They seem to be holding up quite nicely. The whole place is looking solid, unless a horde of Demolishers decide to throw a party. Then they might need to push the big red button and clear them out. A few grenades thrown into the mix. That’s the good stuff.

Of course, the argument might be made that the ridiculous arsenal is due to some mod. A certain “Izzy gun pack”. Well, maybe that’s true, but over 3,000 rounds of 9mm and a level 5 SMG means things would be pretty fine anyway. The throwables are vanilla. This whole challenge could probably be done in vanilla. It might just be harder. The sheer amount of ammo found after five days? We’re dropping more than we use. It’s a clear sign that crafting ammo is a waste of time. Time to go mining resources and building 10 workbenches to craft ammo. Nah. A couple of tier 6 infested jobs and a bit of looting, and bam, more ammo than you could ever need. Unless you want to build mega bases or something, it’s just a waste of time. Then the Demolishers start to show up. They may bring the house down. Or not. One goes down. Seems their explosions were nerfed. Demolishers now climb up the trussing, who knew. A few pipe bombs are tossed. It’s like a zombie piñata, and it’s bursting with goo. The night is almost over. No biggie.

Then the morning arrives. A quick sweep and clean of the stragglers. Then off to the snow biome. But oh no, a trip to Bobby one more time. And of course, there are loot bags everywhere. I mean who cares? They are probably full of trash anyway. Maybe some books, but who gives a crap?

Time to find the dam, it seems like a tier 5 infested job. Plastic parts. Yeah. Time to be in take everything mode, except for potato seeds. No farming. Food and water is under control. Time to get in there. A few more words about the next biome. This is about to come to an end. Five more days in the snow biome, five in the wasteland, two more hordes, and then it’s done. What to do after that? Start something new. That’s the challenge. Make it through each biome. Not too shabby.

Then it’s time for a quick buy of a magazine bundle and some antibiotics, just because. A gallery of AA Gami. The dam wasn’t on the list. Maybe after the job. Time to get this over with. Need a new base location. It needs to be able to take on an endgame horde. Because the place they live in is the place they fight. This unwritten rule is just part of life now.

Some fisty action ensues, it seems. No weapons on this guy. How the hell are we gonna fight some zombies with our bare hands? It’s a disaster. A maxed-out brawler gets his ass handed to him. This is why the fist-only challenge has never been a thing. A little bit of crafting time. Make a club, maybe?

So there you have it. A wild ride through the wasteland, with enough guns, ammo, and explosions to make Michael Bay proud. This wasn’t just some casual stroll; it was a full-blown, zombie-slaughtering extravaganza. Stay tuned for the next chapter, where we’ll see if this wasteland warrior can survive the snowy depths. But if this playthrough is any indication, I reckon the undead should be the ones who are worried.

10 Days of Undead Mayhem and Base Building Blues

Alright, buckle up, fellow wasteland wanderers, because the last ten days have been an absolute rollercoaster of zombie-smashing, base-building, and near-death experiences! We’re diving headfirst into a recap of all the glorious chaos. Forget the slow, methodical grind; we’re talking highlights, the stuff that made us question our sanity and scream at the monitor. Let’s break it down, shall we?

First off, new Knuckles! Yeah, that’s right, we’re rocking some fresh melee mayhem. These things look absolutely bonkers, all snakelike and… what the hell was that? Did the wasteland just slip some extra mushrooms into my breakfast? My dog went and bought the farm, and suddenly I’m seeing triple… snakes! What in the name of the undead is going on?! Buried supplies, though? Those were some sweet rewards for my hallucination-fueled adventures.

And then, we hit Tier 3! That means the grind for quests is done, for now at least. Time to relax, right? Hah! As if. We crafted a triple bucket mod, which… yeah, that’s a thing. But then, like a slap to the face from reality, there’s my potential hire, sporting a wooden club like it’s still the Stone Age. Seriously? You couldn’t be more useless if you tried.

But then, boom, the nail gun. $5,000 is a lot of scrap but who can resist some concrete crafting power! Except, of course, we immediately ran out of concrete mix. This isn’t a metaphor for life, is it?

Then the real curveball hits. The game goes haywire. The undead AI decided that stairs are the peak of their existence, piling up like a mosh pit rather than trying to eat me.

Turns out, my initial horde base was a freaking disaster. The runway was too long. The main staircase was too far away from the base. Basically, I built a zombie daycare, not a death trap. So, what’s a survivor to do?

Time to get down to brass tacks! We’re talking bullet crafting materials, mining for steel, and unlocking that freaking steel pickaxe. You know, the essentials.

Oh, and we crafted a few submachine gun expertise books and a couple of knuckle books. Time to buff up our arsenal, baby!

We’re back in the living dead business! Only to find out that my base design is still a festering pile of garbage, and we have a long way to go before it’s a proper zombie shredder. The main problem was where the stairs began was too far away from the actual pod of the horde base so instead of doing a full redesign, the base is shortened to actually allow the zombies to path to the right area.

Then, out of nowhere, a wandering horde. Because apparently, the universe decided I wasn’t stressed enough. So, what do we do? We fight those suckers off with our bare knuckles, obviously. I mean what else were you going to do? You going to run?

After that chaos, I knew the horde base needed a major overhaul. But my brain was all, “Let’s go back to the desert and run some fun POIs!” So, that’s what we did. Brilliant decision, right?

I’m seriously a mess. I have more problems than a math textbook. Then, what? A trader pops up and is selling freakin turrets?! That’s a game changer, but no cash? The struggle is real. And an augur? That’s just rubbing salt in the wound.

Of course, we didn’t leave the desert empty-handed. We grabbed some oil shale, because gasoline is basically the lifeblood of this apocalypse. But, predictably, our desert party got cut short when we ran out of gas. So, we head back home, gas up, and return to the sandy graveyard.

Back in the desert, we stumble upon what looks interesting, a military base, with landmines, of course. Nothing is ever easy.

It’s a four-and-a-half skull location, which means it’s time to pull up the big boy pants. Military bases are typically ammo goldmines if you can survive it. Turns out this one was filled to the brim.

My MP5 decided to tap out halfway through. So, it was me, a pair of knuckles, and a prayer. And by some miracle, we survived and got out with a mountain of ammo. Score!

Okay, maybe not score. It was a close call, and I nearly got turned into zombie chow. But, hey, at least we snagged a pistol to avoid the knuckles only route. The commando armor was a nice touch too, we were starting to look like a rag tag soldier.

After the military base victory, I thought I was some sort of unstoppable god-like hero. Then, vanity tower happened. It was a hard task. A freakin boss with a death’s whisper and it was in the parking garage of all places.

After dealing with the boss, I make my way into the vanity tower and get absolutely wrecked. How the hell did I make it out of there alive? I’m seriously losing my mind here.

The fact that those undead bastards can open doors is making my blood boil. Remember that, because it’s about to become important.

Then, as if the tower wasn’t stressful enough, a whole chorus of screamers decided to make an appearance. Screw this, I’m out.

I retreat back to base, because apparently, running a POI is just a death wish with no reward for a good time.

It’s day 49 and I have one more level up in my melee and one for sub machine gun expertise and a bit of crafting. It’s crunch time. I have to make this hord base work, I spent too much time in the desert getting my face smashed to not have the hord base sorted.

So, I came up with a plan. I’m testing a new base design. The problem? Zombies were still not pathing correctly towards me. It was runway was too damn long, again. You know what they say, 3rd times the charm? Not today, but at least I found my problem.

With only a few hours until horde night, I make some radical changes. Shorten the runway, add some weird pole squares, and test again. Fail. So, I shorten the runway even more and what do you know, it works! Okay, it kind of works. They are now using the stairs.

Horde night is upon us. The zombie count is higher than ever, and I’m seriously questioning my life choices. And then the worst happens. They start opening hatches.

Remember how I said those undead bastards opening doors was making my blood boil? Well, now it’s the hatches too. I’m surrounded by zombies that can open doors and freaking hatches. That’s not okay.

So, the entire horde night was run on foot, a good old fashion punch fest. Thankfully there were no deaths.

The solution? Remove the hatches. I know, it’s genius. With around 100 undead souls now resting in pieces, I’m out of ammo. So, it’s time for Molotov cocktails and a fist fight.

And then, I one-tapped a doctor zombie. I’m just going to let that sit there. Things were actually going okay, most were just running past, until I was faced with a beef cake zombie. No ammo, and just my fists. So, I did the logical thing and ran away screaming.

Then, a wandering horde decided to join the party. I was overwhelmed, outgunned, and out of options. So, what’s the solution? Demolition derby time, of course! Except, my car broke down. So, we were on foot again.

We ended up having to run away back to the trader for another car repair kit. When I returned, all the zombies were gone. The apocalypse giveth and the apocalypse taketh away.

To cap off day 50, we crafted some running stamina regen mods and a better barter mod. Because, you know, we gotta be fast and good at haggling in this zombie-infested world.

So, there you have it, a chaotic 10-day recap. We rebuilt bases, fought hordes, got lost in the desert, found some sweet loot, got our butts handed to us on a silver platter, and lived to tell the tale. There’s a lot of work to be done but at least the base is functional… kind of. What a mess this has been! I managed to get the horde base working without watching a single video or reading a guide!

Day 50 to 60 is going to be wild, so stay tuned for that. Get those notifications turned on and those subscribes locked in and I’ll see you in the next one. I love you all, now go have a good one!

Surviving the Digital Wild: A Deep Dive into Survival Gaming Mayhem

Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we’re diving deep into the digital trenches of survival gaming. Forget your fluffy unicorns and rainbows; we’re talking grit, strategy, and enough close calls to make your hair stand on end. This ain’t your grandma’s tea party; this is the wild west of pixels and polygons, where only the cunning survive. So, let’s get down and dirty, shall we?

The Genesis of Chaos:

The initial moments in any survival game are always a wild card. You’re dropped into a world that’s either breathtakingly beautiful or horrifyingly desolate – sometimes both! It’s like being tossed into a mosh pit with no earplugs, the only rule is ‘don’t die,’ which, let’s be honest, is easier said than done. You’re scrambling for resources, desperately trying to make sense of your surroundings and wondering why the hell you decided to play in the first place. The learning curve is less of a curve and more of a cliff face. Expect to stumble, fall, and generally make a fool of yourself. But hey, that’s half the fun, right? Right?

The Art of the Scavenge:

Ah, scavenging – the bread and butter of every survivalist. It’s like a digital version of dumpster diving, but with higher stakes. You’re not just looking for a moldy sandwich; you’re searching for the lifeblood of your existence: wood, stone, metal, anything to craft that next crucial tool or build a ramshackle base that’ll hopefully keep the creepy crawlies at bay. Every nook and cranny becomes a potential goldmine, and the thrill of finding that rare resource is like hitting the digital jackpot. Just remember, you’re not the only one out there looking for shiny things. Keep your eyes peeled and your trigger finger ready; paranoia is your best friend in these digital wilds.

Building Your Digital Fortress:

Okay, so you’ve managed to gather enough sticks and stones to make a halfway decent pile. It’s time to slap together a base, or at least something that resembles one. This is where your inner architect gets to shine… or, more likely, flounder miserably. Walls that don’t quite line up, roofs that leak like a sieve – it’s a beautiful mess. But it’s your beautiful mess, and it’s your sanctuary in a world trying to kill you. Every hammer swing and every brick placed is an act of defiance against the digital chaos. Plus, let’s be real, it’s fun to create your own virtual McMansion, even if it’s built out of scrap and dreams.

The Dance of Danger:

Let’s talk about the things that want you dead. Whether it’s snarling monstrosities, mutated creatures, or other players with a nasty glint in their eyes, danger lurks around every corner. Combat in survival games is a brutal ballet of timing, strategy, and the occasional lucky shot. It’s not about button-mashing your way to victory; it’s about knowing when to strike, when to retreat, and when to just run for your digital life. Every encounter is a pulse-pounding test of your wits and reflexes, and even if you survive, there’s a good chance you’ll be sporting a few virtual bruises. But that’s why it’s thrilling, right?

Social Survival:

Here’s where things get interesting. Survival games often throw you into a world with other players, and that’s when the real mind games begin. Do you team up with those randoms and try to build a thriving community? Or do you go rogue, becoming a lone wolf, picking off anyone who dares to cross your path? The choice is yours, and the consequences can be either glorious or hilariously disastrous. Alliances can crumble faster than a poorly built foundation, and betrayals can cut deeper than any digital sword. Just remember, in the world of survival, trust is a rare commodity, so keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

The Never-Ending Grind:

Survival games are not for the faint of heart; they’re a marathon, not a sprint. The grind is real, the hours are long, and the rewards are often hard-earned. You’ll spend hours farming resources, building bases, and fighting off hordes, but it’s all part of the process. Each setback is a lesson learned, and each victory is a reminder that you’re still alive – at least in the virtual world. It’s a testament to your stubbornness, your resilience, and your ability to keep pushing forward even when the odds are stacked against you. And honestly, that’s pretty damn satisfying.

The Glitches and Giggles:

Let’s be real, no game is perfect. Survival games are notorious for their glitches, bugs, and hilarious physics mishaps. You might clip through a wall, launch yourself into the sky, or find yourself inexplicably stuck in a rock. These moments can be frustrating, but they can also be downright hilarious. Sometimes, the best experiences in survival games are the ones that weren’t supposed to happen. They become the stories you tell your fellow gamers over and over again, the digital equivalent of war stories, but with more laughs and fewer actual casualties.

The Psychological Rollercoaster:

Survival games aren’t just about pixels and polygons; they’re a psychological rollercoaster. One moment you’re feeling like a boss, wiping out hordes of enemies, the next you’re hiding behind a bush, scared of a virtual squirrel. These games push your limits, test your patience, and sometimes make you question your sanity. But it’s all part of the experience. You learn about your strengths and weaknesses, your ability to adapt, and how to keep calm under pressure, even if it’s just a game. It’s like therapy, but with more explosions and less couch time.

The Sense of Achievement:

But you know what? Despite all the chaos, the frustration, and the virtual deaths, there’s an incredible sense of achievement that comes with surviving. When you’ve built a thriving base, conquered challenging bosses, and outsmarted other players, you feel like you’ve actually accomplished something. It’s a small victory in a virtual world, but it’s still a victory. And that feeling is why we keep coming back for more, despite all the bumps, bruises, and near-death experiences. So, here’s to the survivalists, the builders, the fighters, and the grinders. Keep pushing, keep surviving, and keep exploring those digital frontiers. After all, what’s life without a little digital chaos?

Okay, so that was a wild ride through the survival gaming landscape. We’ve talked about the brutal beginnings, the art of scavenging, building your fortress, the ever-present danger, and the complex social dynamics. But let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, the actual heart-pounding moments that keep us hooked on these games.

Let’s dig into the specifics, those tiny, seemingly insignificant decisions that can mean the difference between pixelated life and death. It’s these details that make all the difference.

The Inventory Nightmare:

First up, let’s talk inventory management. It sounds mundane, right? Wrong. In a survival game, your inventory is your life. You’re constantly juggling resources, crafting items, and trying to figure out what to keep and what to discard. It’s like playing Tetris, but instead of blocks, you’re dealing with wood, stone, bandages, and weapons. A poorly managed inventory can lead to missed opportunities, wasted resources, and, more often than not, death. Learning to prioritize and organize your inventory is a skill that every survival gamer must master. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. It’s the unsung hero of the virtual battlefield.

Crafting Conundrums:

Crafting is the lifeblood of survival games. It’s how you turn raw materials into the tools, weapons, and fortifications you need to survive. But crafting isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes you need to find rare resources, combine them in the right way, and hope that you don’t end up with a pile of digital garbage. The crafting system is often a puzzle, one that you must solve in order to progress. It’s a constant process of learning, experimenting, and tweaking. And when you finally craft that one item you’ve been grinding for, the sense of satisfaction is palpable.

The Map is Your Friend (or Foe):

Navigating the world of a survival game can be a challenge. You’re often dropped into unfamiliar territory with limited knowledge of the terrain. The map is your guide, your lifeline. But sometimes, the map is also your enemy. It might be incomplete, inaccurate, or just plain confusing. Learning to read the map, identify key landmarks, and plan your route is crucial for survival. It’s like being a virtual explorer, charting new territory and uncovering its secrets. And there are always secrets, just waiting to be found by the intrepid gamer.

Resource Management – The True Test

It’s not enough just to gather resources. You also need to manage them effectively. You need to know when to use them, when to save them, and when to go back out and gather more. Resource management is like the game within the game. You need to balance your immediate needs with your long-term goals, and if you screw it up, you might end up starving, freezing, or defenseless. It’s a constant tightrope walk, and mastering it is the key to long-term survival. It also makes you appreciate the small things.

Environmental Awareness – It’s a Jungle Out There

The environment in a survival game isn’t just a pretty backdrop; it’s an active participant. The weather can change suddenly, natural disasters can strike, and the wildlife can be unpredictable. Learning to understand the environment and adapt to its changes is essential for survival. You need to know where to find shelter, how to protect yourself from the elements, and how to use the environment to your advantage. It’s not just about surviving the monsters; it’s about surviving the world itself. Nature is a cruel mistress, but you can learn to respect her and use that knowledge to gain an advantage.

Combat Mastery – Hit, Run, Repeat

Combat is a central element of almost every survival game. Whether you’re fighting monstrous creatures, hostile NPCs, or other players, you need to be proficient in combat. But combat isn’t just about button-mashing. It’s about timing, positioning, and knowing your strengths and weaknesses. You need to learn the attack patterns of your enemies, master different weapons, and develop strategies that work for you. Combat is a skill that takes time and practice to master, and every fight is a learning experience. You’ll never stop perfecting your skills.

The Art of Stealth – Sneaky, Sneaky

Sometimes the best way to survive is to avoid combat altogether. Stealth can be your greatest ally in a survival game. By sneaking around, avoiding detection, and striking when your enemies least expect it, you can conserve resources, avoid unnecessary damage, and get the drop on your opponents. It’s not always about going in guns blazing; sometimes patience and a bit of strategy can be just as effective. It’s the sneaky way to get ahead.

The Power of Preparation – Always Be Ready

Preparation is the key to survival in almost any situation, and survival games are no exception. Before heading out on a dangerous expedition, you need to make sure you’re well-equipped. You need to gather enough resources, craft the right gear, and pack plenty of healing items. Preparation is the difference between success and disaster. It’s like packing for a trip; you don’t want to find yourself stranded without the necessary tools to get you through. It may be virtual, but it’s the same principle.

Adaptability – The True Survivor

In the ever-changing world of survival games, adaptability is the ultimate skill. You need to be able to adjust to new situations, learn from your mistakes, and find new ways to overcome challenges. If your plans fall apart, you need to be able to improvise and find a new solution. Adaptability is the key to long-term survival. It’s like the gaming version of natural selection. The ones that adapt, they survive.

The Unwritten Rules:

Survival games also have unwritten rules – unspoken codes of conduct. When you team up with randoms, you quickly learn the etiquette of sharing resources, cooperating on tasks, and avoiding betrayals. The social dynamics of survival games can be just as complex as the gameplay itself. You learn to read people, figure out their motives, and decide whether they are trustworthy or a backstabbing maniac. It’s like a high stakes poker game, but with virtual lives on the line.

It’s Never Over:

In a survival game, you’re never truly “done”. There’s always something else to do, another challenge to overcome, another world to explore. The game keeps going, and you have to keep going with it. It’s like a digital treadmill that you never want to get off of. The learning curve never really flattens out. There’s always something new to master and something new to discover. And if you’re a true survival gamer, then you wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re always chasing the next thrill, the next big fight, the next adventure. It is, after all, what we live for. Or… you know, virtually live for.

So there you have it, the wild, untamed world of survival gaming, in all of its pixelated glory. From the first frantic moments of gathering sticks and stones to the intricate strategies of resource management and combat, this is a genre that never fails to test our limits and keep us coming back for more. It’s a chaotic, sometimes frustrating, but always exhilarating ride. So, go forth, gather your resources, build your fortresses, and keep fighting the good fight. And who knows, maybe you’ll be the one to conquer the digital wilderness. Or at the very least, you’ll have some incredible war stories to tell, riddled with bugs and the odd bit of player toxicity. Either way, it’s bound to be a blast.

7 Days to Die: Update 1.2 – Crossplay, Performance, and a Stormy Future!

7 Days to Die: Update 1.2 is HERE – Crossplay, Performance Boosts, and a Glimpse into the Stormy Future!

Alright, wasteland wanderers, listen up! The Fun Pimps have dropped the stable release of 7 Days to Die’s 1.2 update, and it’s a meaty one. Now, I know you’re probably thinking, \”Another update? What’s the big deal?\” But trust me, this one is a game-changer, especially if you’ve been itching to team up with your console-dwelling buddies. Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into the nitty-gritty of what this update brings to the table.

Crossplay: The Walls Are Crumbling!

Let’s get to the real juicy bit, shall we? Crossplay is FINALLY here, baby! That’s right, PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 players can now join forces (or brutally betray each other, you do you) regardless of their platform. No more sad, lonely solo runs while your friends are having a blast on their consoles. This is huge, a real tectonic shift in the 7 Days landscape. It’s a glorious day for unity, or at least, for more chaotic multiplayer mayhem.

But before you all jump in headfirst, there are a few caveats to keep in mind. Currently, crossplay is limited to peer-to-peer sessions, meaning there are no dedicated servers to host cross-platform games. So, you’ll need to pick one friend to be the designated server host. The Fun Pimps have stated that dedicated crossplay servers are on their way with the 2.0 \”Storms Brewing\” update, slated for around March 2025. So, until then, choose your host wisely, or risk laggy zombie hordes and painful disconnects.

Important Crossplay Notes:

• Platforms: PC (Windows, Mac, Linux), PS5, and Xbox Series consoles.
• Hosting: Peer-to-peer only for now. PC, PS5 and Xbox can host.
• Dedicated Servers: Coming in the 2.0 \”Storms Brewing\” update.
• Console World Size: Console players can generate random worlds up to 8K but can join larger worlds hosted by PC players. Having at least one PC player in your group will be beneficial for now.
• Crossplay Enable: You MUST enable crossplay in the game settings before starting your first game.
• EAC: PC players must have Easy Anti-Cheat enabled for crossplay games.
• Mods: NO MODS ALLOWED in crossplay games, PC players need to run their game in an unmodified state with EAC on.

No Mods, No Glory – For Now!

Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room. Mods. We all love ’em. They’re the spices of the gaming world, adding that extra flavour, and making the game truly your own. But sadly, for crossplay games, mods are out of the question. PC players need to run their client completely vanilla, with EAC enabled, for crossplay to function. This might sting a bit for the modding aficionados, but it’s a necessary sacrifice for the greater good of cross-platform play. This will likely change with the release of dedicated servers so don’t go throwing your mod folders away just yet. If you’re having issues getting crossplay to work, the release notes have a handy FAQ that may just save you from pulling your hair out.

Performance Boosts: Smooth Operator

Alright, enough about crossplay, let’s talk about the other juicy bits of the 1.2 update. You know that feeling when your game starts chugging like an old steam train? Well, the Fun Pimps have been working hard on optimizing rendering performance. They’ve reduced overhead by tweaking how multiple cameras are rendered in first-person view, which is a massive win for smoother gameplay. This means fewer frame drops, less stuttering, and more time enjoying the zombie-slaying action. Any performance gains are welcome in this gritty world. This fix should address a range of issues, and means a lot for us, the average gamer.

But that’s not all, the player avatar is now influenced by environmental shadows and reflections, which is just a fancy way of saying the game looks better. Console players can also take advantage of new performance and quality graphics presets, meaning you can prioritize higher frame rates or better render resolution. Basically, the game should now run smoother and look cleaner on consoles, a double win for console users. This change is an attempt to make the game look even more crisp and clean for our console brethren.

A Menagerie of Changes: From Cute to Creepy

Okay, let’s dive into the more visual changes of this update. The animal models have had a makeover, and the vultures, rabbits, and chickens look more like their real-life counterparts. The new zombie vulture model is particularly gruesome, which is a perfect fit in this post apocalyptic wasteland.

Other changes include the CRT TV emergency broadcast sound now has a light source, additional flame prefabs have been added to burning zombies, and a sound effect will indicate when you activate the extra crafting skill point perk while wearing the nerd outfit, and missing spark textures for mines have been added. Some nice additions for sure.

Tweaks, Fixes, and Zombie Shenanigans

The 1.2 update brings more than just visual tweaks, it also addresses some important under-the-hood mechanics. The zombie spawning systems have been tweaked to work correctly, which should fix issues with quests failing due to zombies not spawning in. A very welcome change for anyone like me who has ever failed a quest due to this annoying bug.

Here’s a breakdown of the significant tweaks and fixes:

• Video Brightness: Lowering your brightness below 50% now makes interiors and nights look much more realistic. I actually found setting my brightness to zero and running around at night to be quite an experience. If you’re looking for some authentic horror, try it!
• Helmet Light: The range of the helmet light mod has been reduced. This means you won’t be able to see as far into the darkness. This change, along with the new brightness settings should make for a more intense atmosphere.
• Scream Sounds: The scream sounds have been updated.
• Solar Cells: Solar cells can no longer be scrapped, thank god, for all of us who have accidentally scrapped expensive items.
• Grace: Grace is no longer zombie food, not that it really mattered for anyone, but it is a change.
• Forest Biome Zombies: The lack of zombie spawns in the forest biome has been fixed. The devs tracked this bug down, and now the forest will be as dangerous as it should be.
• Torch Audio: The multiple audio player for player-placed torches has been fixed, which is music to the ears of anyone who has ever had multiple torches around their base. Thank God!
• Loot Abundance: Decreasing loot abundance below 100% now decreases loot by the desired amount. No more crazy loot drops or lack thereof.
• Tactical Assault Rifle: The tactical assault rifle’s reflex sight model has been fixed. It will now appear on the weapon.
• Drone Healing Mod: The healing mod for the drone has been fixed. It will now heal the player more than once, and heal the player while in a vehicle. Good news for all of you drone users, it is actually useful now!

A Sneak Peek into the Stormy Future (Update 2.0)

Now, let’s talk about the future, and the much-anticipated 2.0 \”Storms Brewing\” update. The Fun Pimps have admitted that the original release date was a bit ambitious, so it has been pushed back to late Q1 of 2025 (around March, hopefully). This update is shaping up to be a big one, with the following features:

• Full New Weather Survival System: Expect environmental damage types, unique remedies, and challenges based on the biome you are in. Weather systems can be cool in concept, but we will have to wait and see how good this is.
• Crossplay on Dedicated Servers: YES! Finally, proper crossplay servers!
• Advanced New Radiated Game Staged Zombie Enemies: This is super interesting, hopefully they are more creative than just a colour swap, but we will see.
• Updated Trees for Performance: More performance optimisations.
• New Biome Looks: New scenery is always welcome.
• Updated Handheld Drinks and Food Items with Meshes: Finally! The days of consuming air with a drinking sound are over.
• New Subtitle System: For all of you playing without audio.
• New Belt Message Priority System: For all of you who pay attention to that kind of thing.
• New Zombie Spawning Tool: Optimization for high tier POIs.
• New Player Wardrobe System: You can now keep your outfit protection, but change your outfit appearance. Finally, I can look cool while being protected from the zombie hordes.
• New Player DLC Outfits: I expect these are the armour variants we were supposed to get but were strangely missing in the previous releases.
• Switch Drops: More loot!
• Tons of Bug Fixes, Balance Optimizations, and Quality of Life Features: The kind of stuff that makes the game run even better.

The food and drink models are a long-awaited addition and the new advanced radiated zombies sound interesting, but they have the potential to be very lazy, if done poorly. I’m less hyped about the weather system, which was already in the game in Alpha 21 and the DLC outfits, which should have been in the game for a while.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, a deep dive into the 1.2 update, and a glimpse into the 2.0 \”Storms Brewing\” update. This update is a game changer, especially for cross-platform play. I’m always excited for a new 7 Days update, and I am excited to see the future. The amount of changes makes this game feel more complete, and I am excited to see where it goes. Let me know your thoughts on the update in the comments below!