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Oneway Ticket Studio announced the early access launch of The Midnight Walkers for today, January 28, 2026, at 6 PM PST / 2 AM UTC on January 29 via Steam. This multiplayer zombie survival game thrusts players into the zombie-overrun Liberty Grand Center commercial complex, where scavenging for loot means facing undead hordes and rival players.
Launch Details and Global Timing
The game unlocks simultaneously for all early access players without preloading, as confirmed in the official Steam news post. West Coast US players get prime evening access at 6 PM PST, while Europeans face a post-midnight startaround 2 AM UTC or later depending on timezone. East Coast players and those further east may need to pull an all-nighter for immediate play.
Core Gameplay: Perilous Mall Survival
Far from a leisurely walk, The Midnight Walkers delivers high-stakes extraction shooter action in a derelict gigamall. Players navigate tense, perilous excursions, bludgeoning zombies and competing with others to grab junk and escape. The setting amplifies the chaos: a massive, abandoned commercial hub teeming with ravenous undead.
- Zombie-infested environments demand careful scavenging and combat.
- Multiplayer rivalries add betrayal risksplayers will kill for your loot.
- Focus on survival extraction mechanics in a confined, vertical mall layout.
Context in January's Packed PC Release Schedule
This launch coincides with a flurry of PC titles in early 2026. Just days ago, games like Pathologic 3 (Jan 9), Arknights: Endfield (Jan 22), and Underground Garage (Jan 27) hit Steam. Today also sees The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, an open-world gacha RPG based on the manga. Tomorrow brings Cairn and I Hate This Place on Jan 29, followed by Code Vein 2 on Jan 30a hotly anticipated anime soulslike sequel.
January's lineup underscores 2026's strong start for PC gamers, with over a dozen releases by month's end, from cozy sims like Cozy Caravan (Jan 8) to action-heavy entries.
Comparisons to Recent PC Survival Hits
The Midnight Walkers enters a vibrant survival genre, echoing trends like train-based builders such as Frostrail and EverRail, which emphasize resource scavenging in harsh worlds. Unlike those frozen, mobile-base games, Midnight Walkers sticks to static mall combat with multiplayer extraction twists, similar to zombie shooters but in a unique commercial ruin.
Competitors like StarRupture (Jan 6 early access) offer extraterrestrial base-building, while bigger February titlesDeus Ex Remastered, Nioh 3 (both Feb 5)bring remasters and sequels. Code Vein 2's soulslike intensity on Jan 30 positions it as a direct rival for action fans.
Why It Stands Out Amid Delays and Hype
While some 2026 titles face setbacksMIO: Memories In Orbit delayed to Jan 20 (already passed), Path of Exile 2 1.0 pushed further into the year, and Cairn to Q1Midnight Walkers hits on schedule. It joins high-profile releases like GTA 6 (consoles May 26, PC TBD) and 007 First Light (March 27), but delivers immediate early access thrills.
PC gamers watching 2026 calendars from GameSpot and PC Gamer note January's lighter but steady pace building to February's heavy hitters. This launch provides fresh zombie action right now, perfect for survival enthusiasts eyeing the year's best FPS and co-op options.