The Midnight Walkers News

[p]The Tech Test is delayed by 1 week to July (PDT: Jul 03 18:00 / EDT: Jul 03 21:00 / UTC: Jul 04 01:00) for better stability. A NA partner test will run on (PDT: Jun 28 19:00 / EDT: Jun 28 22:00 / UTC: Jun 29 02:00).[/p][p][/p][p]Hello Survivors,[/p][p][/p][p]On June 21 we ran a small, invitation-only partner-streamer play-test in Asia for 5 hours.
The goal was to surface any issues—large or small—before the upcoming Tech Test originally planned for 27 June. [/p][p]The session revealed several problems that require concrete fixes, and the development team is already on them. In addition, the results made it clear that a focused test for US Servers is necessary.[/p][p][/p][p]To secure a more stable environment, we are moving the Tech Test back by one week:[/p][p][/p][p]Global Tech Test Starting (Global Server):[/p][p]PDT (UTC-7): Jun 26 18:00 – Jun 29 18:00
EDT (UTC-4): Jun 26 21:00 – Jun 29 21:00
UTC: Jun 27 01:00 – Jun 30 01:00[/p][p]→ [/p][p]PDT: Jul 03 18:00 – Jul 06 18:00
EDT: Jul 03 21:00 – Jul 06 21:00
UTC: Jul 04 01:00 – Jul 07 01:00[/p][p][/p][p]Partner Test:[/p][p]PDT: Jun 28 19:00 – Jun 29 00:00
EDT: Jun 28 22:00 – Jun 29 03:00
UTC: Jun 29 02:00 – Jun 29 07:00[/p][p]Partner Test Servers (ample partner pool): NA West + NA East + Asia + EU[/p][p][/p][p]Our aim is to enter a public large-scale Tech Test with the previously identified issues minimized.
The new date is firm, and every effort is being made to meet—and exceed—your expectations.[/p][p]We realize another delay after multiple delays is very unfortunate, but just give us 1 more week so we can try to make this Tech Test experience the best as possible for you![/p][p]Thank you.[/p]

[p]
As you know, a microphone is a tool meant to capture voices.
Some might have confessed their love through it,
others may have offered comfort,
and someone likely sang to a crowd with it.

But on the day this world collapsed under the zombie virus,
what was the last sound that mic captured?
Screams, distress calls, shattering glass.
And finally silence.

No longer able to record any sound,
someone still picked it up.
From that moment on, the mic spoke again.
Not with words or music, but with the cracking of skulls.

Once a vessel of voice,
the microphone is now a weapon of destruction.
Its memories are sealed with wire,
its silence shattered by impact.
All that’s left is a reason to make it ring once more.
[/p]

[h3][Design Intent: Structuring for Flow and Continuity][/h3]
[p]
The Junk Wrench may look like a hastily assembled weapon,
but our goal was to ensure it sustains the rhythm of combat without interruption.

Once you start swinging, the flow shouldn’t stop.
To create that flow, we focused on three core design principles:

We minimized delays between basic attacks,
so as long as you continue your input,
the motion keeps chaining naturally.

We also allowed players to branch out into strong attacks, dodges, or sub-weapon switches
without delay even with rapid input ensuring a smooth and responsive combat feel.

Though the weapon appears heavy,
the goal is for it to start with a weighty first hit,
and then gain speed through chained inputs,
offering a tactile rhythm that players can master over time.

This structure isn’t just about enabling combos
it’s about letting survivors feel like they are creating the momentum themselves.
[/p]

[h3][Form and Materials: Chaos with Purpose][/h3]
[p]
At first glance, the Junk Wrench might look like urban debris slapped together,
but its design is carefully calculated to achieve maximum impact with minimal resources.

● Mic Head: Visual focal point of strikes; gives the weapon identity
● Steel Pipe + Bolts: Focuses the weight forward to amplify impact
● Rusty Wire: Holds the structure and adds a damaged, chaotic aesthetic
● Sports Rubber Band: Prevents slipping and provides color contrast

This is not a crude assembly by a desperate survivor,
but a purpose-built structure, crafted by someone with technical intent.
And we hoped this asymmetrical design would give players
a visceral sense of what makes the Junk Wrench unique.


[/p]

[h3][Black Market Entry Route][/h3]
[p]
The Junk Wrench is not an officially sanctioned weapon.
But its internal structure, joining techniques, and parts layout
follow the exact blueprint standards of known manufacturers.


So far, it seems the weapon is being circulated in limited numbers
via a black market route near the abandoned concert hall in southern Liberty Grand.
There are confirmed sightings of survivors actively using this weapon.

In the game world, it's still unclear
whether this weapon is an intentional design leak
or a unique modification crafted in the field.
But one thing is certain survivors may hesitate at first,
but they never want to let go once it’s in their hands.
[/p]

[h3][Behind the Design][/h3]
[p]
To finalize the Junk Wrench,
our team experimented with numerous scrap designs, starting from junk piles.
Pipe-based structures, giant wrench forms,
even weirdly mechanical combinations.


Some of them had us asking, “Who would even make this?”
Others looked too polished—like mass-produced factory tools.

In the end, our criteria were simple:
“It should look painful to get hit by,”
and
“It should feel like someone really scavenged urban remains to build it.”

That’s how we landed on this bizarre-but-believable combo
of mic head, pipe, wire, and rubber bands.

Too intimidating, and it stops feeling homemade.
Too clean, and it becomes forgettable.
We found that the right amount of strangeness was the most realistic.

Because that’s what junk is.
[/p]

[h3][In Closing][/h3]
[p]
What kind of weapon do you want to swing?
We're always open to your weapon ideas and feedback on Discord.
Our dev team wants to create weapons born from the combinations you imagine.
Join The Midnight Walkers Official Discord
[/p]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2795540/The_Midnight_Walkers/

Hello Survivors,
Keep the “LOOT” tag in your nickname on the official The Midnight Walkers Discord during the event period and get a chance to win the $20 Steam Gift Card!

[h2]■ How to Participate[/h2]
- Set and maintain the “LOOT” tag throughout the event. You’re automatically entered.
- How to attach the server tag: Click the [gear] icon in the bottom-left corner → In the left menu, click [Profiles] → In the middle of the [Profiles] page, [Server Tags] and select “LOOT”.

[h2]■ Event Period & Winner Selection[/h2]
- Event Period: Thu, 15 May 2025 08:00 ~ Sat, 31 May 2025 08:00
– Winners: chosen by random draw at several checkpoints during the period
– Prize delivery: DM on Discord after each public announcement

[h2]■ Rewards & Winner Count[/h2]
- $20 Steam Gift Card (one per winner)
- The card is delivered in the KRW equivalent; the final amount may vary by region and account settings.
- 6 total winners

Keep the tag active the whole time to maximize your chances. Good luck!
Click → Join the official The Midnight Walkers Discord

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2795540/The_Midnight_Walkers/

Hello Survivors,
Here’s an update on our upcoming playtest and future plans for The Midnight Walkers.

[h2][Next Playtest Schedule][/h2]
- Duration: 4 days starting from Fri, 27 Jun 2025 01:00(UTC)
- The end date may be extended depending on internal conditions.
- Main focus: Improvements to server stability, the most common feedback from the last test
This test build is focused on improving server stability and network performance, rather than adding or updating content.
We’ve prepared extensively so that you can play in a much more stable environment.
Even a short session from you will provide us with extremely valuable test data.
We sincerely hope you’ll take part in this playtest.

[h2][Gamescom 2025 Participation][/h2]
The Midnight Walkers will be at Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany!
You’ll be able to play the demo version at our booth,
and we’re also preparing a range of goods for visitors.
If you’re attending, be sure to stop by,
play the game, and pick up some goods.
Above all, this is a unique opportunity for gamers to demo the latest version of The Midnight Walkers,
collect official limited merch, and win prizes through a special in-person event at our booth.
We’ll share more details as soon as they’re ready.
We can’t wait to see you at Gamescom!

[h2][Upcoming Server Tag Event][/h2]
We’re preparing a Discord event for Survivors who have set a Server Tag (a badge that shows on your Discord profile).
The event will be held through a random draw, and while the exact giveaways haven't been finalized yet, but we're planning to prepare useful giveaways.
We’ll share more details as soon as possible.
You can set your Server Tag at any time, so if you haven’t yet, now’s the perfect time!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2795540/The_Midnight_Walkers/

[h2]Junk Sledgehammer – The Weight That Demands Respect[/h2]


The weapon we’re introducing this time is the Junk Sledgehammer.
At first glance, it may seem like nothing more than a chunk of iron,
but behind its crude form lies a great deal of careful thought.
With this weapon, we wanted to ask a question beyond raw strength
“How do you handle this kind of weight?”

[h3]Answering the question: "Why did we make this?"[/h3]

Blunt weapons are notoriously difficult to handle in games.
They’re slow, heavy, and require precise timing.
But that’s exactly why we chose to make this hammer.
We wanted to create a weapon that could turn the tide of battle with one strike,
and a weapon where the weight itself defines how you play.

[h3]It’s heavy but not thrown together[/h3]


The head is based on steel structures used in actual railroads.
Both ends can be used for striking, and the forward-heavy balance delivers serious impact with each swing.

Instead of simple welding, we reinforced the core with bolts and nuts
a functional solution we implemented after test builds revealed shaking and instability.

The handle is wrapped in duct tape, electrical tape, and a greasy rag.
These aren’t just for looks—they’re based on real survival tools for grip and shock absorption.

[h3]In-game role: A strike you can trust[/h3]


The Junk Sledgehammer is one of the heaviest two-handed weapons in the game.
It’s slow to swing, but one hit can turn the tide.
Horizontal attacks push multiple enemies away and cause stagger—perfect for crowd control.
Vertical strikes are effective against armored zombies and tanky enemies, dealing massive stagger or knockback, sometimes even fatal blows.

This weapon shines when:

Enemies rush you in tight interiors

You need silent but powerful impact

You're down to one last shot—and it needs to count

[h3]Design Intent: Strategic weight players can feel[/h3]

The Junk Sledgehammer wasn’t created just to add another powerful weapon.
We wanted to give players the following experiences:

1. A weapon that shifts combat rhythm
Unlike fast-striking weapons, this hammer makes every hit a decision.
You wait, read your opponent, and commit. We wanted every swing to feel like a moment.

2. Control and spacing through impact
More than just damage, it’s a tool to reset combat flow using knockback and stagger
letting players regain initiative and space.

3. A last resort you can truly count on
Even when resources run out,
we wanted this weapon to offer the confidence that you still have a way to survive.
This isn't just a blunt object. It's a statement.

[h3]Comment[/h3]

The Junk Sledgehammer isn’t flashy,
but it changes how you fight.

It’s not easy to swing,
but landing the hit feels better than almost anything else.

If you’ve tried it out and have thoughts good or bad
come let us know on Discord.
Your feedback is the compass that guides us forward.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2795540/The_Midnight_Walkers/