NOT QUITE DEAD — MAJOR UPDATE: SEASON 2, SKILL TREE, MERCENARIES & ELECTRICITY
Voidecho Studio
Hey Survivors!
A major update is coming to Not Quite Dead, bringing new gameplay systems, progression improvements, new rewards, and more ways to survive the apocalypse!
I've been working hard on several additions that will change how you progress, build your bases, and defend yourself against the dangers of the island.
Let's take a look at what's coming!
SEASON 2 — NEW REWARDS!
A new season means new rewards!
Season 2 brings a fresh set of rewards to unlock as you progress through zombie-kill milestones.
Keep fighting, clear infestations, explore dangerous areas, and work your way toward your next reward!
Whether you're playing solo or surviving with friends, there are more reasons to keep fighting.
A new season. New rewards. More zombies to kill!
SKILL TREE UPDATE — IMPROVE YOUR SURVIVOR!
Your character progression is also getting an update!
I'm making changes to the Skill Tree to improve how players develop their survivors and progress through the game.
Character progression is an important part of the survival experience, and this update is another step toward making that experience more satisfying.
Your choices and progression will continue to play an important role in how you survive.
MERCENARIES — BUILD YOUR OWN ARMY!
One of the biggest new additions is the Mercenary System!
You can now recruit armed mercenaries to follow you, fight alongside you, or defend important locations.
And the best part? There is no fixed recruitment limit!
Want a few guards protecting your base? Go for it!
Want a group of mercenaries accompanying you on your adventures? You can do that too!
Want to establish security at different locations around the island? Your mercenaries can help!
HOW TO RECRUIT A MERCENARY
- Visit a trader.
- Purchase a Mercenary Contract for $5,000 in-game cash.
- Place the contract in your hotbar.
- Select the contract in your hotbar.
- Left-click to deploy your mercenary!
Each contract costs $5,000 and allows you to deploy one mercenary.
HOW TO CONTROL YOUR MERCENARIES
Press F7 to open the Mercenary Menu.
Your mercenaries can:
- Follow You — Travel alongside you and provide support.
- Guard a Location — Position them wherever you want to protect a specific area.
To manage an individual mercenary, look directly at that mercenary and press F7 to open the menu and issue commands.
You can organize your own defensive force, protect your home, or bring reinforcements into dangerous territory.
Your survival army starts with a single contract!
ELECTRICITY — LIGHT UP YOUR BASE!
Dark nights are about to get a little brighter!
A new Electricity System is coming to Not Quite Dead, allowing you to power industrial lights around your base.
GENERATORS
Craft and place generators to supply electricity to nearby lights.
Generators require fuel to operate, so keeping a supply of gasoline will be important.
INDUSTRIAL LIGHTING
Two new types of lights are being introduced:
Industrial Wall Lights — Perfect for entrances, exterior walls, and workspaces.
Industrial Ceiling Lights — Great for illuminating rooms, hallways, and larger buildings.
AUTOMATIC POWER COVERAGE
Generators supply electricity within a defined coverage area.
When a generator is running, nearby connected lights can automatically turn on.
When it runs out of fuel or stops working, those lights turn off unless another active generator is providing electricity.
You can even use multiple generators to cover the same area!
The electrical system is being tested and polished as part of this update.
IMPORTANT — PROGRESSION WIPE WITH THIS UPDATE
This major update will also include a wipe.
Because of the changes being introduced to progression and game systems, we're preparing for a fresh start.
Please be aware that existing player progression will be affected when the update is released.
I know that wipes can be frustrating, especially when you've spent many hours building, exploring, and improving your survivor.
This isn't a decision I take lightly.
The goal is to make sure the updated systems have a clean foundation and that everyone can experience the new progression properly.
More information about exactly what will be reset will be provided before the update goes live.
Thank you for your understanding and patience!
BUG FIXES, MULTIPLAYER & IMPROVEMENTS
Alongside all these new features, I'm continuing to work on:
Gameplay balancing, bug fixes, multiplayer stability, performance optimization, and general quality-of-life improvements.
Not Quite Dead is still in Early Access, and every update is an opportunity to make the game better.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEVELOPER
As a solo developer, I've been putting a lot of time and effort into Not Quite Dead.
Seeing players explore the island, build bases, fight zombies, and share their experiences means a lot to me.
Your feedback, suggestions, and bug reports continue to help shape the game.
And this is only the beginning!
SEASON 2 REWARDS
SKILL TREE UPDATE
RECRUITABLE MERCENARIES
GENERATORS & ELECTRIC LIGHTING
A FRESH START
Thank you for being part of the Not Quite Dead community!
See you in the apocalypse, Survivors!
— Mazxz Solo Developer — Not Quite Dead
This announcement was originally published by Voidecho Studio on Steam on Nov 10, 2026.
Open the original on Steam