Dev Note: Bringing Back Classic Wave Survival in v1.6.1
Hi everyone,
Since launching v1.6.0, we’ve received a lot of thoughtful feedback — especially from those of you who’ve been playing since v1.5. Many of you felt that the game shifted too far toward an extraction shooter, making the helicopter feel mandatory rather than optional.
We hear you, and we’re truly sorry for the confusion! Our goal was never to replace the classic horde survival you love. The way the UI and end screens were presented made it feel like you "lost" if you didn't extract, and the random power outages only added unnecessary pressure.
In the upcoming v1.6.1 update, we’re making our vision crystal clear and returning the game to its wave survival roots:
1. The Helicopter is Purely an Optional SOS
You never have to call the helicopter if you don't want to. If you love building up your arsenal and pushing endless waves just like in v1.5, go right ahead!
- The helicopter is now just an SOS Beacon for players who want to wrap up early and cash out.
- Extracting via helicopter gives you a +10% SOS Coin Bonus.
- Beating the final wave will no longer call the chopper automatically. The radio will let you know you've cleared the program, leaving you free to keep pushing deeper into Endless Mode.
2. Dying in Combat is a "Heroic Last Stand"
Going down fighting isn't a failure — it’s the whole point of horde survival!
- The red "Defeat" screen and the 50% coin penalty are gone.
- If you go down in combat, you’ll see Heroic Last Stand, keep 100% of your coins and loot, and your high wave record will always be saved to Steam.
- If you choose to Give Up (Retreat), you’ll keep 75% of your earnings (-25% penalty).
3. Power Outages & Fog Zones Moved to Hard Mode
- Normal / Easy: Electricity never breaks down, and the Zombie Circle Horde Zone is completely disabled. You can freely kite and blast zombie swarms across the entire map, stress-free.
- Hard Mode: Electricity and Zombie Circle Horde Zone remain active for players who want that extra tactical challenge.
We hope v1.6.1 makes Around Us feel like home again for our wave-hunting veterans, while keeping the SOS mechanic as a fun extra option.
Thank you so much for sticking with us, being honest with your feedback, and helping us make the game better with every patch. Look out for v1.6.1 very soon!
— SCF Team