The wasteland is finally complete. After an extensive Early Access journey shaped by community feedback, The Dead Await officially launches into Version 1.0 today on Steam and the indie.io Store for $12.99.
Developed by Shotx Studio and published by indie.io, The Dead Await blends open-world survival, caravan management, and strategic deck-building combat in a brutal zombie apocalypse where every decision can cost lives. Players lead a group of survivors across a collapsing world filled with abandoned cities, desperate factions, hidden bunkers, and relentless undead threats, scavenging for resources while trying to hold their fragile caravan together.
Survival in The Dead Await is about far more than fighting zombies. Every expedition becomes a risk-reward calculation as players balance hunger, dwindling supplies, sanity, injuries, and the constant threat of losing survivors permanently. Carefully constructed decks shape combat encounters and playstyles, allowing players to experiment with powerful builds, weapon combinations, perks, and tactical synergies while adapting to the dangers of the wasteland.
Version 1.0 dramatically expands the game with the arrival of Act III, introducing new settlements, underground facilities, elite enemies, random events, bosses, quests, and explorable regions across the world. From the dangerous streets of Hope to the mysterious depths of Hell-0 and Zone 99, the final act pushes players deeper into the apocalypse than ever before.
The 1.0 launch update also introduces major new progression systems designed to reward long-term survival. Players can now unlock character skins, complete Z-Tasks for permanent rewards, spend Z-Coins in the newly added Z-Shop, and store valuable gear inside the Vault Safe system shared across save files. Meanwhile, the new Arena mode in Last Haven challenges players to survive increasingly deadly encounters in exchange for rare rewards and bragging rights.
As survivors grow stronger, so does the world around them. The level cap has increased, allowing players to unlock powerful new builds, weapon mods, equipment, and expanded progression opportunities. New bosses, elite enemies, quests, recipes, loot drops, and faction rewards further expand the late-game experience and create even more ways for players to shape their journey through the apocalypse.
