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Deep Silver Is Shutting Down Its Early Access MOBA, Dead Island: Epidemic
Another Steam Early Access game is about to die on the vine. Earlier this month, Undead Labs pulled the plug on the Pokemon-like RPG, Moonrise. Yesterday, Deep Silver announced its zombie-flavored MOBA, Dead Island: Epidemic only has a month left to live.
The announcement was made on the game’s Steam page. “Over the past weeks and months we’ve been evaluating how to proceed with Dead Island: Epidemic and looking towards the future for the game,” the publisher writes. “We’re sad to announce today that we’ve come to the conclusion to cease further development.”
For those still playing, there’s going to be a hefty discount on characters and other items before the game shuts off for good on October 15. Like other free-to-play games offered via Steam’s Early Access program, players were asked to buy a starter pack to get into the testing.
The $39.99 “Deadicated” pack also included items to delivered at the game’s launch. Given that won’t ever come to pass, players are out their two additional characters, two weeks of premium membership, and two week booster.
We’ve reached out to Deep Silver to inquire if it will be refunding those that purchased that bundle. We’ll update should we receive a response.
Deep Silver recently re-revealed Homefront: The Revolution, which suffered a delay due to problems at former developer Crytek. That upheaval left Deep Silver with the license and a new studio, Dambuster, that is handling Homefront development now.
The publisher also had to delay Dead Island 2 and then parted ways with Yager, which was responsible for development. No new studio has been named for the first-person zombie game.
[Source: Steam]
Our Take
Deep Silver seems to be having a rough spell lately. Homefront is looking to be back on track, but Dead Island 2’s delay and the absence of a new Saints Row game leaves a hole in the publishers lineup. The company seemed to be on the rise after its THQ acquisitions, but it needs to start making some more good news.
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