Killing Floor 3 Release Date Postponed Further into 2025 After Closed Beta Disappoints

Fans of the survival horror zombie co-op FPS, Killing Floor 3, have received disappointing news just three weeks before its anticipated release. The game's developer, Tripwire Interactive, has announced a delay to later in 2025 following an underwhelming closed beta phase. Here's what you need to know about this significant update.

Killing Floor 3 Delayed For Later 2025 Release

Cites Disastrous Beta Test Phase

On March 7th, 2025, Tripwire Interactive took to Killing Floor 3's official Bluesky account to share the unexpected news. The developer revealed that the game, initially set to launch on March 25th, will now be released at an unspecified date later in 2025. This decision follows a closed beta test that did not meet the expectations of both the developers and the community.

"We’ve made the decision to postpone Killing Floor 3’s launch to an undecided date later in 2025. After taking the time to gather and discuss feedback from our recent closed beta, we’ve realized that we missed the mark. Our goal isn’t just to make Killing Floor 3 an ambitious step forward for the franchise, but also to maintain the core experience that you’ve come to know and love," Tripwire stated in their Bluesky post. The team is now focused on addressing critical issues identified during the beta, including performance and stability, UI/UX, lighting, and weapon feel.

The community's reaction on social media was swift and vocal, with many players expressing frustration over the beta's numerous shortcomings. Descriptions ranged from "insanely clunky and clumsy" to an "unpolished, glitch-ridden, vomit-inducing wreck." On the game's subreddit, user Captain_Pugman criticized the developers for straying from the essence of the series, stating, "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 complaints focused on the game's shift towards a futuristic sci-fi theme, which seemed to overshadow the horror elements that have defined the franchise. Furthermore, the beta's restriction on character and class selection, where classes were locked to specific characters, was a significant point of contention among players.

Despite the setback, Tripwire remains optimistic about the future of Killing Floor 3. "We look forward to another opportunity to show you a more polished version of Killing Floor 3, and when we’re ready to share more details, you will be the first to know. Until then, we thank you for your continued patience and overwhelming support," the developer concluded.

Pre-Orders Will Be Refunded Automatically Except For Steam

In response to the delay, Senior Community Manager Yoshiro provided details on the Tripwire Interactive Killing Floor 3 forums regarding pre-orders. Once the delay is updated across all platforms, the refund and cancellation processes will commence.

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 their pre-order for a refund or keep it for the new release date. If no action is taken within a specified timeframe, the pre-order will default to cancellation and refund.

Steam users, however, will need to manually initiate a refund by canceling their order and submitting a refund request through Steam's support system. Those who pre-ordered through third-party platforms or vendors not mentioned above will need to coordinate directly with those services, adhering to their respective refund policies.