In a surprise announcement, Starbreeze Studios has revealed that PayDay 2 developers Overkill Software are developing a new game set in The Walking Dead universe, titled Overkill’s The Walking Dead. Set for release in 2016, “the platforms Overkill’s The Walking Dead will be released on are to be announced at a later date,” but they did say that it will “be powered by Starbreeze’s Diesel engine updated for the next generation.”
A co-op experience that will explore new characters and storylines, Overkill’s The Walking Dead was discussed by Starebreeze CEO Bo Andersson Klint:
The collaboration between Starbreeze Studios and our partner Skybound Interactive will deliver something uniquely exciting for our millions of fans. We’re two independents joining forces to create the ultimate survival horror game. With Robert on the team, we will bring The Walking Dead into the world of first-person shooter co-op games. It will be gameplay focused, ferocious and bring chaos to the traditional industry model – from us developers straight to you. This time it’s big – don’t walk alone.
Robert Kirkman, CEO of Skybound Entertainment and creator of The Walking Dead, added:
From day one on this project it’s been clear to me that this is the Walking Dead co-op action game fans have been waiting for. I can’t wait for people to learn just what Overkill has been cooking up for this game. Skybound is always about breaking new ground and trying to find something unexpected in all endeavors and this game continues that tradition in grand style.
Over in a Steam Q&A following the announcement, Overkill discussed exactly what Overkill’s The Walking Dead is:
Overkill’s The Walking Dead is a co-op first person shooter with elements of action, role-playing, survival horror and stealth, that invites players to explore the hugely popular The Walking Dead universe, where they will play the role of survivors fending for themselves in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by flesh-eating walkers. In 2016 Washington will fall – what will you do?
Revealing that the game will be “for mature audiences only” and they are “staying true to the original, gruesome storytelling that Robert is famous for and that we know that the fans of The Walking Dead love,” Overkill explained why they consider Overkill’s The Walking Dead an indie game:
For the first time ever, Starbreeze Studios, one of Europe’s oldest independent developers, is both developer and publisher of a game. Starbreeze Studios is a relatively small developer studio consisting of 45 Starbreeze and Overkill game developers. Thanks to our success with the PayDay franchise along with our partnership with Skybound Interactive – the owners of The Walking Dead – we are able to cut out the middleman and have a direct relationship to our community, focusing on making the best game we possibly can together.
If Overkill’s The Walking Dead is ever announced for release on PlayStation, we’ll let you know.
