Killing Floor 3 – Everything You Need to Know

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If you’re hankering for more cooperative shooter games with zombies or a blend of both, Tripwire Interactive’s Killing Floor 3 might just be what you need. It’ll be out on July 24th for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 at a price of $39.99. The game promises upgrades over its predecessor, offering new settings, weapons, and additional features. Despite an initially promising closed beta earlier this year, the developer chose to delay the release in order to make improvements based on player feedback.

After several tests, including recent stress tests, have taken place, so far, the results appear promising (or at least improved compared to earlier times). However, it’s yet to be determined if it will overtake Killing Floor 2. In the meantime, here are fifteen essential points to consider before purchasing Killing Floor 3.

Futuristic Setting

The major change in Killing Floor 3 is its setting in the future – specifically, the year 2091, seven decades after the second game. The world has been devastated by the Zeds created by Horzine, leaving it in ruins. As part of the resistance group Nightfall, your task is to put a stop to them, completing missions and eliminating Zeds across various locations.

Maps

At the initial release, there will be eight distinct spots to explore, such as the Radar Station and the newly unveiled Sewers. Based on player feedback from the initial closed beta, Tripwire has significantly improved the visuals by enhancing the lighting effects and making the environments appear more grimy. Consequently, the game’s futuristic atmosphere will seem less polished at launch, with characters and weapons also adopting a grittier appearance.

Difficulty Levels

Absolutely, each mission offers various challenge levels ranging from the relatively manageable Normal to an extreme level that feels like Armageddon itself. As you advance to tougher difficulties, expect an influx of enemies inflicting damage and showing incredible tenacity. Additionally, keep in mind that zombie health will increase, while the amount of Dosh earned per wave will decrease. Given recent feedback suggesting Normal difficulty Zeds are too resilient, it’ll be intriguing to observe how Tripwire adjusts them prior to release.

Enemy Types

In Killing Floor 3, some classic Zed types reappear but with modifications to match their biomechanical structures. The Scrake retains its chainsaw arm yet can grapple players from a distance with the other. The Siren’s neck elongates and its head expands when emitting sonic bursts, making it crucial to act swiftly in defeating it. Post-closed beta, Tripwire has fine-tuned how certain enemies respond. For instance, the Bloat now deflects headshots and even launches new melee attacks if you approach too closely.

Bosses

After defeating all the waves of Zeds, it’s time to confront the main enemy. So far, we’ve encountered three types – the Queen Crawler, which summons smaller Crawlers to attack; the Impaler, a muscular creature with robotic arms and a blade on its head; and the Chimera, a hybrid of Zeds that changes as you damage it. Keep in mind there might be other bosses yet to be revealed, so prepare for even more nightmares.

Weapons

In case you’ve experienced the earlier versions, the weapon selection in Killing Floor 3 might seem familiar, boasting a variety of options such as submachine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, and so forth. Unique weapons like bows, flamethrowers, grenade launchers, among others, are also part of the mix. Although all Specialists can use any weapon, certain skills make some weapons more effective than others (details coming up). In response to feedback about recoil during the beta testing, Tripwire has reworked and adjusted every weapon, even the different firing modes, aiming for a more consistent feel with previous games.

Crafting Mods

In the updated version, modifications (mods) will greatly alter the functioning of weapons, covering aspects such as damage type, addition of components like silencers, larger magazines, switching firing modes, and more. Previously, you’d find the mod blueprint as a random reward in missions, then craft it using assorted resources. However, after the recent stress test, all mods can now be crafted directly without needing the blueprint; you’ll just need the appropriate materials instead.

Zed Time

In a game like “Killing Floor,” Zed Time is indispensable. It’s similar to Bullet Time, where everything slows down, but what sets it apart is its emphasis on highlighting the Zeds. A blend of aesthetics and utility, it can be particularly useful for hitting weak spots with your shots. If you found it less than appealing during the beta, don’t fret, as it’s currently being adjusted to align more closely with earlier versions in the series.

Specialists

In simpler terms, specialists are distinct characters you can pick, each having special abilities and advantages tailored for various gaming approaches. If you prefer causing destruction by igniting things, choose The Firebug. Their tools usually benefit from their skills, and they all have unique personalities with witty dialogues (which can be silenced during combat).

Skills

For each Specialist, there are three skill categories: Passives, Throwables, and Gadgets. These skills require Proficiency Points to unlock and enhance. You’ll encounter situations where you need to choose among several skills within the same level tier, though a single skill can be upgraded up to three times. The choices vary from enhancing ammo supply and armor durability to the possibility of causing explosions when destroying enemy heads with Ballistic damage. Although you can’t currently select any Skill for any Specialist, Tripwire plans to introduce this feature after the initial launch.

Supply Pass

In the style of Helldivers 2’s Warbonds, the Supply Pass in Killing Floor 3 is sectioned into pages filled with rewards. There are a total of 100 items, all cosmetic additions such as outfits, trinkets, and weapon skins. A Supply Pass costs $10, and what’s great is that it doesn’t have an expiration date, allowing you to claim rewards according to your pace. Plus, a free track is also included.

PC Requirements

Players using PCs will require approximately 20 GB of space (preferably on a Solid State Drive). The game’s basic requirements include Windows 10, an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i7-4790 processor, 16 GB of memory, and either a GeForce GTX 1060 or a Radeon RX 480 graphics card. For an optimal experience, it is suggested to use Windows 11, a Ryzen 7 7700X or Core i9-700k processor, 16 GB of RAM, and either a Radeon RX 6750 XT or GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. It’s worth noting that the minimum specifications will deliver a scaled up 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second on low settings with traditional lighting, while recommended specifications will offer a scaled up 1440p resolution at 60 FPS on medium to high settings with Lumen GI and reflections.

Console Resolutions and Frame Rates

Gamers using PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles can anticipate a resolution target of 1440p, enhanced with Temporal Super Resolution, running at 60 frames per second with HDR support. In comparison, Series S players will experience 1080p/60 FPS under the same conditions. For PS5 Pro users, there’s an upscaled resolution of 1800p in store. It is important to note that these resolutions are adaptive, with the primary goal of maintaining a consistent 60 frames per second.

Crossplay

On the first day of release, Killing Floor 3 allows cross-platform gaming, but you also have the option to disable this feature. Cross-progression hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, as Tripwire Interactive mentioned that stat transfer between platforms isn’t possible at this time. It remains uncertain if cross-progression will be implemented later on. Despite the availability of cooperative play, single-player and offline modes are still accessible.

Post-Launch Support

Given the length of time Killing Floor 2 was maintained, it’s not surprising that Tripwire plans to adopt a similar strategy for Killing Floor 3. They’ve confirmed that after launch, they will provide free updates including new Specialists, perk archetypes, weapons, maps, and gameplay tweaks. Additionally, seasons will be introduced, offering new missions (with rewards) and furthering the fight against Horzine, particularly in the Nightfall scenario.

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2025-07-23 20:12