DayZ standalone may be pushed to 2013 due to major engine changes

The standalone game for massively multiplayer online zombie title DayZ may be pushed back to a 2013 release due to major changes made to the game's engine, creator Dean Hall wrote on the game's official Tumblr.

"We are still working towards a target for an initial foundation before the end of the year," Hall wrote. "But we will slip this date if needed, we will not compromise the project for the short-term gain of meeting this date."

Hall said the DayZ team wants to "do things properly," and have been "very bold with our architectural changes." The game will adopt a server-client model familiar to modern MMOs, and the game will now support weapons customization.

"In many ways, once this phase is completed — one could effectively say that DayZ is running on a new version of the engine," Hall said. "While the graphics may look the same (for now), under the hood so much is being completely rewritten."

Hall confirmed that the game and all future patches would be released through Steam. Gameplay and graphics settings will be handled server-side and controls have been re-mapped "using inspiration and design lessons from games such as Minecraft."

Hall has also hired a new full-time map designer to take over where developers Ivan Butcha and Martin Pezlar left off before being arrested by Greek police in September.