DayZ, the multiplayer survival game developed by Bohemia Interactive, is being review bombed in protest of the price tag for its recently released Frostline DLC. In DayZ, a mysterious illness have turned much of the population into infected, violent and zombie-like. The post-apocalyptic experience set in a fictional post-Soviet state of Chernarus pits players against these dangerous enemies, as well as other players and the environment itself.
In 2019, the game received its first paid DLC, the Livonia map expansion that gave players a new environment to explore. In May 2024, this content was merged with the base game, making the Livonia content free for those who already owned DayZ. A few months later, on October 15, another expansion called Frostline was released . Tossing players onto a snow-covered chain of volcanic islands called Sakhal, this new DLC tests their survival skills while navigating forests, ice fields, abandoned settlements, and even an old naval base. Frostline also features new animals to hunt and fish to catch, adds boats, and changes certain gameplay mechanics in the new freezing domain.
How To Start A Fire in DayZ
Fire is essential for survival in DayZ. Learn all the methods for starting a fire and staying alive in the harsh wastelands here.
In all, Frostline offers an exciting change to DayZ’s current gameplay loop, but many players are displeased with the expansion’s $26.99 price tag and have been review bombing the DLC on Steam, where it currently sits at Mostly Negative. The ire hasn’t, however, greatly affected the base game’s user review rating, which is Mostly Positive. For comparison, Frostline offers 83 square kilometers of additional terrain, as opposed to the 163 in the Livonia expansion, which originally retailed for $13.99 before it was made free.
DayZ Developer Responds to Review Bombing
Bohemia Interactive’s founder and CEO Marek Španěl responded on social media to the negative player reaction to DayZ’s Frostline expansion. He pointed out that the game has had more than 8 million users on Steam, playing an average of 188 hours and paying an average of $30. According to the developer, this amounts to a cost of only 10 cents per hour of play time. DayZ, for those wondering, retails for $49.99, but the $30 average likely comes from people enjoying free play days or buying it on sale.
In fact, DayZ hit a new peak player count just days after the release of Frostline, meaning many people didn’t flinch at the DLC’s $28 buy-in. And in addition to providing so much content for such a low overall price, Španěl reminded players that Bohemia also hosts DayZ’s online multiplayer infrastructure and has maintained it for more than 10 years. “Some users demand gimme more for less money,” said the CEO, finishing his post with a recording of The Beatles’ “Please Please Me.”
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 41 /100 Critics Rec: 20%
- Released
- December 13, 2018
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bohemia Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Bohemia Interactive
- Engine
- enfusion
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
WHERE TO PLAY
DayZ is a hardcore survival game where players must strive to endure a post-apocalyptic world populated by frenzied infected and other survivors. DayZ includes the original Chernarus terrain, and the Livonia terrain.
Chernarus – The iconic DayZ terrain, set in the post-soviet state of Chernarus and encompassing 230 km2 of hand-crafted environment based on real life locations.
Livonia – The dense 163 km2 map lets players experience the hardcore survival hit in a whole new environment. Players can put their survival skills to the test by venturing into the unfamiliar land of Livonia, and seeing just how long they can last in this deadlier-than-ever world.
