Daybreak Game Company, the maker of the zombie apocalypse-themed online survival game H1Z1 has announced today that the game, which is currently in Steam Early Access, will be split into two independent games: H1Z1: King of the Hill, and H1z1: Just Survive.
H1z1: King of the Hill is described as a large-scale, high-intensity multiplayer shooter made up of a variety of fight-to-the-death modes, including the ever popular Battle Royale. The game will come out of early access and launch in the summer across console platforms and the PC.
The regular version of H1Z1 will, in turn, be called H1Z1: Just Survive, and focus on the game’s survival aspects. It’s set to deliver a persistent, post-apocalyptic open-world zombie experience with an emphasis on scavenging, base-building, and crafting.
Both games will be available on the PC through Steam Early Access at a price of $19.99 each. Anyone who orders the current game, H1Z1 on or before February 16 will get both games.
“Since its release last year on Steam Early Access, we’ve had more than 2.5 million downloads of H1Z1 and rank as the number four top selling game on Steam of 2015 releases,” said Laura Naviaux, Chief Publishing Officer of Daybreak Games. “We launched H1Z1 as an Early Access title to allow the player community to help shape our development. Over the course of development, we discovered it had evolved into two unique gaming experiences, appealing to two distinct communities. Fostering lasting communities is the bedrock of our organization, and by allowing these worlds to exist independently and grow in their own distinguished ways, we can better deliver on a consistent vision and clear roadmap for each game toward official release and beyond.”
“H1z1: King of the Hill is all about the spectacle,” said Jens Andersen, Executive Creative Director of Daybreak Games. “All of the game modes will feature unique gameplay elements that invite prowess, chaos, glory, and a little bit of ridiculousness all into one fight. The next game mode we introduce will make vehicles an important part of the exhibition, adding another layer of energy and turbulence to the mix as players have to move rapidly to different areas of the map in order to stay alive.”
Andersen added, “H1Z1: Just Survive development will remain focused on creating an open-world survival experience. We are working on creating a world that’s immersive, that captures the mindset of the last remaining humans trying to survive a post-apocalyptic zombie-filled wasteland – what does it feel like to be forced to scavenge for resources, to have to construct shelters to live, to aid or hinder the last remnants of human civilization? It’s a richer gameplay experience and we want to make sure we do it justice.”
