An alternate history 1980s Sweden where giant robots have taken over the countryside is, frankly, the last place I’d expect a survival FPS game to be set. And yet, Generation Zero has been home to just that since 2019. With so many survival games coming and going in recent years, Generation Zero has firmly planted itself as one of the best and most-supported entries in the genre. Sadly, however, the game’s last update is about to drop. But there’s a blessing disguised in that news, because this last patch makes some great changes, all to the tune of an 80% off sale.
Back in November, developer Systemic Reaction announced that the Generation Zero Showdown update would be the game’s last. The team said it felt “now is the right time to finalize our vision for our beloved game and give it the sendoff it deserves,” and the Showdown update is certainly stuffed to the gills with brand-new content. If you’ve never played it, now’s the time to try Generation Zero.
To start, you’ve got some brand-new story missions to undertake in the co-op and survival FPS game. You need to be level 25 and have completed the main story (which ends on the mission Behind the Curtain) to unlock it, but then you simply start a level three base assault and enter the secret hatch. Systemic Reaction adds that it didn’t have as many resources as when it made the Alpine Unrest DLC, but says it still wanted to make this final bit of story content “fresh and engaging.”
The team has also overhauled the endgame activity of base defense, making it more variable. You can now repair your base for free after each defense, and each control point location will allow you to build one new type of building. Each of these three builds can offer a new “special material” for high-end crafting, so they are perfect for those endgame goals you might have.
You’ll be able to build a drill, chemical lab, or furnace at each control point, with each doing something different for you. The drill produces phosphorus for fire-resistant clothing, flares, grenades, augmentation blueprints, and even base buildings. The chemical lab outputs ethanol, which you can use for jump boost and visibility reduction clothing, new stealth companion armor, and even healing items. Lastly, the furnace can turn low-level crafting items into materials like refined aluminium, tungsten, and uranium.
After many community requests, Systemic Reaction has also uncapped the number of skill points you can earn, meaning you can unlock every part of the skill tree. If you’ve been playing Generation Zero for a while and already leveled up past 31, don’t worry, because any skill points earned after that level are going to be granted retroactively.
Systemic Reaction has also overhauled the encumbrance system in an effort to make holding more than your max carry weight much less punishing. As of the Showdown update, you’ll be able to fast travel when over-encumbered, and picking up much more than your max carry weight will no longer stop you from moving, instead, it will just mean that moving costs stamina.
There are two new companion armors in the themes of threat and stealth, giving your little robot friend even more versatility. Threat draws enemy attention away from you and to your companion, while stealth makes enemy machines less likely to attack them instead. Your companion also has 14 new skins, so they can look better than ever.
Furthermore, Systemic Reaction has implemented some economy rebalancing, updated the N16 weapon’s model, and added nine new dance emotes. You can learn about everything in the Showdown update here.
The Generation Zero Showdown update, which will be the game’s last, officially arrives on Thursday December 12. You can also buy it at 80% off until Monday December 16, so expect to pay $4.99 / £4.29 until then. The Steam page is right here.
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