"Killing Floor 3 Release Delayed to Late 2025 Following Closed Beta Feedback"

The release of the eagerly awaited survival horror co-op FPS, Killing Floor 3, has been pushed back to later in 2025. This decision comes just three weeks before its planned launch on March 25th, prompted by feedback from a disappointing closed beta phase. Dive deeper to learn more about this significant announcement.

Killing Floor 3 Delayed For Later 2025 Release

Cites Disastrous Beta Test Phase

Image from Killing Floor 3’s official Bluesky account

On March 7th, 2025, Tripwire Interactive, the developer behind Killing Floor 3 (KF3), took to the game's official Bluesky account to announce the delay. The team cited a need for additional time to refine the game after a less than satisfactory beta test. This move underscores their commitment to delivering a product that not only advances the franchise but also honors the core elements fans cherish.

"We’ve made the decision to postpone Killing Floor 3’s launch to an undecided date later in 2025. After taking the time to gather and discuss feedback from our recent closed beta, we’ve realized that we missed the mark. Our goal isn’t just to make Killing Floor 3 an ambitious step forward for the franchise, but also to maintain the core experience that you’ve come to know and love," Tripwire stated in their Bluesky post. They've identified key areas for improvement, including performance/stability, UI/UX, lighting, and weapon feel, and are actively working on these issues.

Community feedback on social media was overwhelmingly critical of the beta build. Players described it as "insanely clunky and clumsy," and an "unpolished, glitch-ridden, vomit-inducing wreck." On the game's subreddit, a user named Captain_Pugman expressed a sentiment felt by many, stating, "At what point did you forget what made Killing Floor special? Because right now, Killing Floor 3 looks like it’s trying to be everything except the one thing it should be: a Killing Floor game." Other criticisms highlighted the shift towards a futuristic sci-fi theme at the expense of the horror elements that define the series, as well as the lack of ability to freely choose characters and classes, which were locked during the beta.

In their closing remarks, Tripwire expressed optimism for the future, noting, "We look forward to another opportunity to show you a more polished version of Killing Floor 3, and when we’re ready to share more details, you will be the first to know. Until then, we thank you for your continued patience and overwhelming support."

Pre-Orders Will Be Refunded Automatically Except For Steam

In response to the delay, Senior Community Manager Yoshiro from Tripwire Interactive detailed the pre-order refund process on the official forums. Once the delay is updated across all platforms, the refund and cancellation process will commence.

For users on PlayStation, Xbox, and the Epic Game Store, pre-orders will be automatically canceled and refunded without any action required from the user. However, PlayStation users in the United States will have the option to either cancel their pre-order for a refund or keep it for the new release date. If no action is taken within a specified timeframe, the pre-order will automatically be canceled and refunded.

For those who pre-ordered on Steam, a manual process is required. Users will need to cancel their order and initiate a refund request through Steam's support system. Customers who pre-ordered through other third-party platforms or vendors will need to coordinate directly with those services, subject to their respective refund policies.