The Dead We Knew release date is September 17, 2026, according to the game's official Steam page right now. SteamDB logs the release timestamp as 10:00 UTC that day, and Metacritic lists the same date. It is the third date the game has carried — here is the full timeline, what kind of release to expect, and what is still unknown.
The Current Official Date
As of mid-August 2026, the Steam store page for THE DEAD WE KNEW: Open World Survival shows a release date of September 17, 2026. SteamDB records the precise launch time as 10:00 UTC, and Metacritic's listing matches. This is the most current official information available, and all three independent trackers agree on it.
There has been no formal announcement accompanying this date — no press release, no developer post. It simply appeared on the store page, replacing the earlier date. That is worth keeping in mind: until MAY19 STUDIO communicates directly, any date on the page can shift again.
How the Date Has Moved
The game has carried three different release windows in about a month:
| Date | What happened | | --- | --- | | July 17, 2026 | MAY19 STUDIO announces the game via Korean outlet Inven: "coming to Steam this August." Price to be announced separately. | | Early August 2026 | The Steam page shows August 24, 2026. NoobFeed reports it on August 5; GameSensor and GG.deals record the same date. | | Mid-August 2026 | The Steam page silently updates to September 17, 2026 (SteamDB: 10:00 UTC). No delay announcement is ever made. |
A quiet three-week slip like this is common for small studios and is not, by itself, a red flag — but it does mean the date should be treated as a plan, not a promise.
What We Know About the Game So Far
For context on what is launching: THE DEAD WE KNEW: Open World Survival is an open world survival game from MAY19 STUDIO, a new Korean studio self-publishing its first title. It combines scavenging, crafting, base building and survival stats (thirst, hunger, stamina, health) with zombie and hostile-survivor encounters, playable solo or in online co-op for up to four. A 24-hour day-night cycle and dynamic weather — shifting winds, sudden rain and dense fog that destroys visibility — drive the survival pressure.
The Steam page currently hosts one official gameplay trailer and twelve screenshots, with no user reviews yet since the game is unreleased. Genres listed are Action, Adventure, RPG and Simulation.
A Full Release, Not Early Access
One thing the timeline does not change: this is a standard full release. The Steam page carries no Early Access label, and no demo or playtest has ever been announced. When the game goes live on September 17, it should be the finished product — with eleven supported languages (including Simplified Chinese), online co-op for up to four players, and Family Sharing among its listed Steam features.
The studio has also said very little in general — the July announcement through Inven remains its only substantial public statement. Everything else we know comes from the store page itself.
Price: Still to Be Announced
From the very first announcement, MAY19 STUDIO has said the price will be revealed separately ("at a later date"). As of August 2026, no price appears on the Steam page, and no regional pricing has leaked. Price: TBC.
For a self-published debut title from a new studio, the price may only appear very close to launch. We will update this page when it does.
How to Hear About Changes First
The single most reliable move is wishlisting the game on Steam. Valve emails wishlist owners the moment a game releases, and store-page date changes are reflected there immediately. Given that this game has already changed its date once without any announcement, the wishlist is effectively the only notification channel the developer offers.
Beyond that: MAY19 STUDIO has no official website, no confirmed Twitter/X account and no official YouTube channel. A Discord server exists, but its invite URL is unconfirmed (TBC). The studio's support email, mayondokuz@gmail.com, is listed on Steam. All launch information is ultimately subject to the official Steam page.