New survival game on Steam offers chance to befriend bears and breed elite soldiers
On April 14, DMZ: Nuclear Survival – a new open-world survival game – made its debut on Steam, accompanied by its first announcement trailer on YouTube. The project comes from Wilddog, a two-person indie studio based in Japan. The game features a unique blend of base building, PvE and PvP combat, and procedurally generated environments, with the added twist of befriending bears and other animals.
Nuclear Survival drops players into a post-apocalyptic future shaped by nuclear war. In this reimagined world, tectonic plates have fused into a single supercontinent, suddenly bringing landmarks like the pyramids, terracotta warriors and Roman temples closer together. You can explore this vast new land solo or alongside more than 100 players on dedicated servers, with both PvE and PvP gameplay available. The announcement trailer offers an early look at what’s to come:
The developers are aiming for a highly flexible sandbox experience. The world is procedurally generated, featuring diverse biomes like forests, deserts and snow-covered regions. Players can reshape the environment using tools like shovels, dynamite or even mini-nukes, creating everything from underground bunkers to sprawling bases. You’ll also be able to harness both animals and humans for labor, set up resource chains and manage your own economy – all within a dynamic and ever-changing world.
Breed warriors and tame bears
DMZ also introduces a fresh take on combat. Players command a squad of up to three soldiers, each with customizable classes, abilities and perks. New units aren't just recruited – they’re created by capturing and “reprogramming” NPCs or through genetic reanimation. Over time, you can breed everything from Roman legionnaires and martial arts fighters to genetically enhanced elite troops. Adding to the game's quirky charm, animal companions like tameable bears, wolves or even ostriches will lend a hand in both combat and base construction.
Soon available in Early Access, community still skeptical
There’s no official release date for DMZ: Nuclear Survival yet, but according to its Steam page, the game is expected to enter Early Access soon. If you're curious, you can already add it to your wishlist. Still, the community remains cautious. As seen in the trailer’s comment section, many players are skeptical – some of the game’s ambitious promises seem almost too good to be true. After disappointments like The Day Before, there's understandable doubt about whether DMZ can live up to the hype. In the end, only time will tell.
