Zombie Co-Op Killing Floor 3's Full Release Delayed After Beta Receives Heavy and Harsh Criticism

After a beta that received heavy criticism from its players, Killing Floor 3, the next title in the post-apocalyptic gory co-op shoot-em-up, has been delayed to “an undecided date later in 2025.” 

The official announcement of this delay, made on the forums and elsewhere on the game’s social media, acknowledges the feedback and that the team and game “missed the mark.” 

“Our goal isn’t just to make Killing Floor 3 an ambitious step forward for the franchise, but also to maintain the core experience that you’ve come to know and love,” the Tripwire Interactive team said. 

“With the full support of our parent company Embracer Group, we’re working together on a timeline to address many of the common issues players had during the beta, including performance/stability, UI/UX, lighting, and weapon feel.” They also state that players will be able to select perks and characters independently from each other after launch. 

Some of the heaviest critiques indeed seemed to be about the weapon designs and animation, with many pointing out not only are the designs middling, but the actual use and execution of the weapons don’t “feel” weighty and satisfying as they should be.

“The guns are all warhammer in size, but rainbow 6 in caliber,” one Reddit user wrote in agreement with another user critiquing the weapons.  

 Many were upset at the missing original over-the-top carnage and excitement that came with old Killing Floor games, including several players—and one meme—pointing out the lifelessness of the maps, as well as the fact that perks, and characters were tied together. There are also performance issues, though that’s an issue common in betas and often met with grumbling pragmatism about full releases. 

Killing Floor itself is a well-regarded series that lets players team up to lay down some heavy destruction on zombies. It first started as a 2004 mod for Unreal Tournament before its creators pushed forth to make it a full game in 2009, with its sequel arriving in 2016 to good acclaim.