The much-anticipated survival horror co-op FPS, Killing Floor 3, has faced a significant setback with its release date now pushed back to later in 2025. This decision comes just three weeks before the game's original launch date, following a closed beta that left fans and players unsatisfied. Dive deeper into the details of this unexpected delay.
Killing Floor 3 Delayed For Later 2025 Release
Cites Disastrous Beta Test Phase
On March 7th, 2025, Tripwire Interactive, the developers behind Killing Floor 3 (KF3), took to the game's official Bluesky account to announce the delay. The team cited the closed beta as a critical factor in this decision, which was intended to launch on March 25th.
"We’ve made the difficult decision to postpone Killing Floor 3’s launch to a yet-to-be-determined date later in 2025," stated Tripwire. "After carefully reviewing feedback from our recent closed beta, we recognize that we fell short of expectations. Our aim is not only to push the franchise forward but to stay true to the core experience that our fans cherish." The developers are now focusing on rectifying issues identified during the beta, including performance and stability, UI/UX, lighting, and the feel of the weapons.
The gaming community has been vocal on social media platforms, expressing their disappointment with the beta. Players described it as "insanely clunky and clumsy," and an "unpolished, glitch-ridden, vomit-inducing wreck." On Reddit, a user named Captain_Pugman voiced a common sentiment: "At what point did you forget what made Killing Floor special? Because right now, Killing Floor 3 looks like it’s trying to be everything except the one thing it should be: a Killing Floor game." Additional criticisms focused on the shift away from the series' traditional horror elements towards a more futuristic sci-fi theme, and the beta's restriction on freely choosing characters and classes.
Tripwire ended their announcement on a hopeful note, promising a more refined version of Killing Floor 3 in the future. "We look forward to another opportunity to showcase a more polished version of Killing Floor 3. When we’re ready to share more, you'll be the first to know. We appreciate your patience and continued support."
Pre-Orders Will Be Refunded Automatically Except For Steam
In response to the delay, Senior Community Manager Yoshiro posted on the Tripwire Interactive Killing Floor 3 forums about the fate of digital pre-orders. Once the delay is updated across all platforms, automatic refunds and cancellations will be initiated.
For users on PlayStation, Xbox, and the Epic Game Store, pre-orders will be automatically canceled and refunded without any action required from the user. However, U.S. PlayStation users will have the option to either cancel and receive a refund or maintain their pre-order for the new release date. If no action is taken within a specified timeframe, the pre-order will automatically be canceled and refunded.
Steam users, on the other hand, will need to manually initiate a refund by canceling their order and submitting a request through the Steam support system. Those who pre-ordered through other third-party platforms and vendors will need to follow the refund policies of those specific services.
