Tjena, Survivors!
Well, we made it. Active development on Generation Zero is done, we've wrapped it up. GZ has been such an amazing project, an incredible world, and an absolute blast of a game that we're profoundly proud to be a part of. We’re so thankful to our team that dedicated themselves to build Östertörn, FNIX, and its deadly machines. This unique setting, story, and experience were brought to life thanks to a strong creative vision and unwavering efforts.
Over nearly six years since launch, the game has continued to grow, and we're in awe of the shape it's taken. Not only did the story of GZ, FNIX, and Östertörn unfold, evolve, and finally end in such an epic conclusion, but so did the world, the machines, and the gameplay.
However, GZ still retains much of its mystery. Questions surrounding the future of the machine network, the fate of Bolshakov, and the significance of Geneva and Boston remain unanswered. For now, we're hoping elements like the Rivals, Tyrants, Base Assaults and Defenses, Bikes, Companions, and Experimental Weapons keep you in the fight. If that’s not enough, there are still many hidden secrets across Östertorn to discover with your friends, and we’ve even heard rumors of something called the “Swedish Space Program” for those brave enough.
The development journey started back in the spring of 2016 during the last stretch of theHunter: Call of the Wild. Amid a regular play session, crawling around the digital fields of our in-game hunting reserve, there was an undeniable feeling of nostalgia. It echoed back to childhood days playing "krig" (war) with make-believe weapons and hearts full of adventure.
Though the 80s Cold War Sweden might have been worrying for adults, we remember it as magical. Our society was built around a collectivist spirit, and from Military to Civil Defense, there was a consistent presence and reminder that everyone had a part to play if the shit hit the fan. At the same time we were open to - and eagerly consumed - American movies, TV, and comics, absorbing one power fantasy after another. This dichotomy resulted in a sense of responsibility and invulnerability, not unlike the young characters and player avatars of Generation Zero. This nostalgia became the cornerstone of Östertörn and beyond, perfectly balancing reality with imagination.
We’ve poured our hearts into this world, and now we’ve reached the end of one of its stories. We're thrilled by the stories, mysteries, tributes, easter eggs, and more we’ve been given the chance to create with you - the players - by our side.
Because none of it would mean anything if it wasn’t for all of you. We’ve been blown away by your engagement, ingenuity, and passion from the first closed playtest to the final Showdown. A heartfelt thanks to all of you, and we hope you’ll keep finding excitement in the game for a long time still! We also hope that we see you again in the future. There are more Generation Zero stories to tell.
We know you may have some questions about what comes next - both for us and for you. With that in mind we’ve put together the following FAQ:
What does no more active development mean?
We are not planning to develop any new content, and the development team is moving on to other projects within Avalanche. This also means that we are no longer supporting the game with patches and updates.
Will the game disappear from stores then?
No, you will still be able to buy and play the game as normal.
What about the multiplayer functionality?
No changes will be made, multiplayer will work as it does now.
Will there still be in-game events?
Yes. Procedural Missions and Daily Assignments/FMTEL Missions will still refresh as they do now. We will also have some special events go live from time to time.
Where can I find information and support going forward?
For customer support related questions, please visit our Support Page
For general questions and tips etc, we suggest reaching out to other players in our Discord, Forum, or on Steam.
What happens to the community channels now?
For our main social media channels (Facebook, X, and Instagram) the only change will be a substantial decrease in posts. We will still keep them up and running for official news.
For the Forum we are investigating how to save all the fantastic information the community has gathered there, with the aim to one day compile all of that and close the forum. Until we are confident we have a good solution, the forum will stay open. However, we will no longer collect bug reports directly from forum posts. Any issues or bugs should be reported through the Support Page.
The Discord server is here to stay, but most moderation and server management will be handed over to the community. We will also still be here, but can’t be around as often.
Our TikTok channel will no longer have new content, but will stay up. This also applies to the Systemic Reaction YouTube and Twitch channels.
What games are you working on next?
We don’t have any upcoming titles that are ready to be announced, but if you would like to be a part of our game development we encourage you to join our Frontrunners program. This is our super secret playtesting community that is part of our prototyping phase very early in development. If you would like to try some of our prototypes from time to time and give feedback on your experience, join the Frontrunners Discord!
Vi ses,
The Generation Zero Team