To say that the DayZ Early Access stage has been going on for some time would be an understatement. With Bohemia Interactive working on the title since 2012, and it being available through a pre-alpha testing phase since the following year, fans continue to wonder when the official launch will happen. Thanks to a rather lengthy blog post recently released by the publisher and developer, it looks like that question may finally have an answer.

In a recent status report on the game’s website, it is mentioned that the DayZ Early Access phase will be coming to an end in 2018. That is when version 1.0 will go live and the game will likely be coming to Xbox One. Of course, this all depends if they are able to stay on task. Originally, the title was set to be released in 2016, but that never happened. This year arrived with the game still in alpha, but next year looks to be the big one. Bohemia certainly understands that their timeline has been a long one, but they just want to make the best game they can. Here’s what was said regarding the release:

As soon as the PC BETA is headed in a way we like, we’re still committed to bringing DayZ to Xbox, where we have a large community of gamers patiently (very patiently!) waiting for a truly hardcore online survival game. All of that will (and must) happen next year – meaning we’re just about to start what could possibly be the most exciting year for DayZ so far. In short: DayZ will be out of Early Access next year, and we’ll also finally deliver it to console players in 2018.

Make no mistake: this commitment is done taking all of our previous scheduling mistakes into the account. We’re serious about it.”

That being said, it looks like the highly-anticipated 0.63 update won’t be arriving before 2017 ends. Despite designating the team to ensuring the development and release of the update, it seems that what they would be able to launch “does not represent a full DayZ experience.” The update is expected to contain a plethora of features including vehicles, vaulting, swimming, and more, so when it does finally arrive, players are sure to have some serious fun.

DayZ is currently available on Steam through Early Access, and version 1.0 is expected to go live in 2018 along with a launch for Xbox One. Check out the full post right here. Keep it tuned to Don’t Feed the Gamers as this story develops, and for other gaming news, check out the following:

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What say you, gamers? Do you believe 2018 will actually be the year that the DayZ Early Access phase finally comes to an end? Disappointed that no major updates will arrive before 2017 ends? Have you been with this title since the beginning, or are you waiting for the full game to launch? Sound off in the comments section below, and be sure to follow DFTG on Twitter for live gaming and entertainment news 24/7!