The Day Before: Release Date, Gameplay, Platforms & Everything We Know So Far

The Day Before is an upcoming online survival game set in the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world that has been ravaged by zombies. It received traction when it was first announced due to its stunning visuals. Showcasing a unique mixture of The Division and The Last of Us, players were immediately interested.

Multiple trailers have been released since the initial reveal, along with more information about the game. This has understandably got the gaming community excited about its arrival but leaves many unanswered questions on the table. We’re hoping to put some of those queries to rest, listing everything you need to know about The Day Before.

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The Day Before Release Date

This is where things get tricky, and has actually led to some people believing The Day Before doesn’t even exist. 

Originally, the game was set to launch in March. However, weeks before its release, it was delayed until November 10, 2023. In normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be too much of a concern but the lack of promotional content ahead of its March release date was cause for concern.

In a statement addressed to fans, developer FNTASTIC claimed the game was blocked on Steam due to a copyright dispute - something that was first found out by the team on January 19th. In order to bypass this legality, the game was pushed back to the latter half of 2023.

This raised a few eyebrows, especially considering how close The Day Before was to launch and how little players had seen of the game. The main question on everyone’s minds is how the game was announced before securing the trademark and why it took until now to become an issue.

Previously, FNTASTIC delayed the game from 2022 to 2023 in order to move The Day Before to Unreal Engine 5. Since then, the developer has referred to its employees as “volunteers”, which again, has raised eyebrows in gaming circles.

The Day Before Gameplay

After the initial announcement trailer - which delivered heavy The Last of Us vibes - more gameplay was delivered since its initial unveiling. 

In 2021, a 13-minute-long gameplay demonstration of the game was dropped. Starting off with some off-road driving outside of the city, it slowly descends into chaos as the players come across infected. Elements such as looting and gunplay were showcased, alongside the exploration of the world.

The last trailer players were treated to was back in October 2021. It revealed more of the locales players will be visiting, including a giant shopping mall that evoked Dead Rising vibes. Other elements the trailer also dived into were weapon modification and co-op gameplay. 

Since then, no new gameplay has been shown outside of a short sizzle reel for NVIDIA CES 2023, which demonstrated the game's RTX features.

Outside of trailers, the team has also shared more details on The Day Before. It’s said to heavily lean into its multiplayer elements, offering players safe areas to communicate before venturing off into the open world. It’s here you can find quests, trade, and hang out with the community.

Vehicle management is also a key factor, with the maintenance of your car being an important part of The Day Before. Players must keep it up to scratch and use it smartly in the world, as situations such as driving on the road may attract hordes of infected.

The Day Before Platforms

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Due to the alleged graphical fidelity of The Day Before, it’s been confirmed it will only be arriving on the following systems:

• PC
• PS5
• Xbox Series X
• Xbox Series S

Outside of the RTX trailer that was dropped earlier this year, it’s unclear what other graphical options will be available to players.

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