When is the Killing Floor 3 release date? It’s been nearly seven years since Killing Floor 2 was released, bringing Horzine Biotech’s Zeds to a more single-player friendly format following the 6-player co-op experience of the first game. If you thought the series was dead after the less popular VR game of 2017, we’ve got news for you.
We like to think we willed Killing Floor 3 into existence with our hot take when Behaviour Interactive acquired Killing Floor co-creators Antimatter Games. Whether you have us to thank for manifesting the game or not, a sneak peek during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023 confirmed that the survival game is in development. Here’s what we know about the Killing Floor 3 release date, gameplay, and more.
Killing Floor 3 release date
The Killing Floor 3 release date is Tuesday, March 25, 2025. It will be available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The exact release date was confirmed by Tripwire Interactive alongside a closed beta test announcement trailer. Eligible participants will be invited to the beta period that runs from Thursday, February 20 to Monday, February 24, 2025, and you can sign up to take part.
We already knew Killing Floor 3 was due for release in March 2025 thanks to a PC Gaming Show trailer released last year, which included a minute of in-game footage. This followed its initial tease at Gamescom 2024.
Killing Floor 3 trailers
The first Killing Floor 3 trailer starts with a large humanoid creature strapped to an operating table, revealed to have been created for this sole purpose. Its chest is ripped apart using a large wheel saw, and a glowing core is fitted into the gaping chasm of flesh. Once the transformation ends, the scene reveals hundreds of terrifying Fleshpounds, one of the most brutal enemies in the Killing Floor series.
From there, it looks as though plenty of familiar Zed specimens return in Killing Floor 3, including the Husk, while a boss that seems to be a more brutal upgrade of King Fleshpound can also be seen toward the end of the trailer.
The more recent Killing Floor trailer shows a range of destructive weapons that don’t just kill the mutants but rather decimate them. Revolver shotguns punch through like a piston through steel, flamethrowers cook them to a crisp, and even the humble pistol bursts their skulls in a shower of blood.
We also see several gadgets, like an electric mine that keeps the smaller specimens in place, a drone that blasts at enemies while you’re reloading, and what is either a zipline or a jetpack (through all the gunfire and snarls, it’s hard to tell which). Toward the end of the trailer, we see more elaborate monsters, including the Fleshpound with flails for hands and a brand new hulking boss specimen with a retractable blade on its head.
Killing Floor 3 gameplay
From what we know so far, the gameplay of Killing Floor 3 appears to be consistent with the previous two main games. According to the announcement trailer’s description on the official Tripwire Interactive YouTube channel, you join forces “with up to five teammates to battle waves of Zeds, earn dosh, unlock skills, and build the ultimate arsenal.”
The game takes place in 2091, and you play as a member of the Nightfall rebel group in trying to take down the destructive Horzine corporation. In the 70 years since Killing Floor 2, Horzine has developed a massive army of Zeds, and as a Nightfall representative, it’s up to you to try and bring them down.
To celebrate the Killing Floor’s 15th anniversary, a video was posted on the TripWire Interactive YouTube channel that runs through the series’ history. In it, we also see some concept art of the monsters and early development footage, with everything untextured.
Confirmed Killing Floor 3 specimens
Below are the confirmed Killing Floor 3 specimens, with links to their reveal trailers where possible:
Tripwire’s release date and beta announcement was also accompanied by an official reveal of the Siren’s new look in Killing Floor 3. The 15th-anniversary video also features an untextured version of the Siren from previous entries in the series, but this brief trailer shows it in all its screaming, long-necked glory.
That is what we know about Killing Floor 3 so far, but we’ll keep adding to this guide the more Tripwire Interactive updates us, so if you’re excited, chuck a bookmark on it. While you wait, you could always replay the other Killing Floor games, or try one of our other favorite horror games right now. Alternatively, there are plenty of non-horror FPS games around, too, if you’re looking for something a little less gory.
