Steam has a long road ahead of it. Things seem pretty buttoned-up over at Valve when it comes to their marketplace, which has stood the test of time, even amid high-profile competitors like GOG and Epic Games. It’s feasible that Steam could exist for another 20 years, barring a merger/acquisition mishap.
It’s also a veritable smorgasbord when it comes to post-apocalyptic games. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl arrived in 2024, and Metro 2039 is due out later this year, just to name a few. You can also bet that Fallout 5 will likely be available on the platform, assuming all of Microsoft’s plans for the XBOX brand pan out in the next few years.
For now, though, you can play a game that’s a mix of Stalker and Fallout on Steam. The best part is that it’s free.
Over on Steam, the developers behind Stalcraft: X, a free extraction shooter set in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, have announced a name change to Stalzone. Despite it being released in 2022, the new Stalzone name change comes with a complete revamp of the game.Here’s the premise: “You are invited to explore the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone twisted by anomalies and divided between rival factions whose territories shape the danger around you. Choose your side and over time you’ll learn where it’s safer to travel and also where every route can become a gamble. Experience nail-biting tension without the frustration of loss: keep your gear and long-term progress but the loot you find is at risk until you bring it back alive. Upgrade your weapons and refine your build. No one can take it away from you.”
Stalzone is a massive rework of the entire operation, including dynamic weather changes, more engaging NPCs, a brand-new summer-season storyline, a better early-game experience, a visual overhaul, and more community features.
According to some fans in the Steam user review section, the update can’t come soon enough: “New updates generally just make the game grindier and rarely add meaningful content.” Other fans are happy that it’s a more relaxed post-apoc game, which isn’t always the norm in the genre.
There is no shortage of post-apocalyptic fare if you’re a gaming fan. It’s present in just about all media, especially when it comes to zombie films and TV shows, but gaming is no slouch in that department either.
Whether you’re in the mood for a story-driven experience or a multiplayer affair where everyone is surviving together, there’s a lot out there to discover on Steam.
- Brand
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Valve
- Original Release Date
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September 12, 2003