Days Gone - January 28th 2018 update

Days Gone is likely no more than six months away from release, if the original 'first half of 2018' window outlined by Sony is to be believed.

But ahead of the game's release, developer Bend Studio is looking for testers for the title.

The developer is looking for people that happen to be local to the studio (in Oregon, USA) to come and try out the game, offering feedback on the title.

If you agree, you'll be some of the first people in the world to get your hands on the title. 

According to the studio’s website, it’s looking for “passionate video game players” to joing the playtest, and all you have to do to be in with a shot at playing the game is send the firm an email, listing some of your favourite games.

Entering this stage of production means the game is likely nearly ready to ship - we're sure we'll hear more about the status of the PS4 exclusive soon.

Days Gone: At a glance

Release Date: "Early 2018"
Developer: SIE Bend Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4, PS4 Pro
Genre: Action-adventure, Survival Horror

Days Gone - What is it?

Days Gone is an action-adventure survival horror game developed by SIE Bend Studio.

It'll be the studio's first newly created IP since Syphon Filter in 1999 and the first home console game developed by the studio since 2010's Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow.

The game will run on the Unreal Engine 4 and entered full production in January 2015 - meaning it'll have had at least three year's full production work by the time of release.

Days Gone - Release Date

Days Gone is targeting a 2018 release date - Sony has stated the game is looking to  release within the first half of the year.

Days Gone - What we already know

Days Gone was one of the surprise reveals at Sony's E3 2016 press conference, with not one but two announcements.

First in the form of a reveal trailer and secondly with some excellent looking gameplay footage that resembled World War Z.

But ever since that announcement, developers at Sony SIE Bend have remained incredibly tight-lipped on the game and really all we know is that the zombie looking, creatures, are called "Freakers".

However, recently actor Sam Witwer who plays the lead character in the game teased fans with some new information ahead of a potential return at the Sony E3 2017 press conference.

In an interview on Twitch, Sam Witwer confirmed that not only will Sony SIE Bend appear at the gaming convention but that Days Gone will be there in a “big way” during the PlayStation showcase.

Unfortunately, Witwer stopped short of sharing any further details about the game, but given his tease, we're expecting that the developers are going to share quite a bit Intel.

For instance, we’re still in the dark with regards to how that motorbike will fit into the gameplay of this open world or how survival elements will work.

Likewise, we're hoping for a bit more info on the game's storyline and fingers crossed a rough release date for when the game is coming to PS4 and PS4 Pro.

Days Gone - Story

Days Gone focuses on main character Deacon St John, and will be an 'incredibly story-focused game'.

A representative from Bend explained to me in a behind-closed-doors session at E3 2017 that Deacon has 'lost an awful lot' between our meeting him and the pandemic that swept across the world two years prior to the game's setting.

According to the developer, he is 'heartbroken and angry' and 'he lost everything' and Bend really wants to explore how that affects his actions.

“We haven’t said too much about the story yet, but it is a very big part of the game,” Bend's studio representative explained to me.

“We start the game with Deacon, and he’s gone through a lot of hardship, he’s lost an awful lot, he’s a heart-broken, angry person. And the story is going to be about exploring him and how he changes as he moves through the world.”