Shacknews Streams DayZ Badlands Playtest as DayZ Holds 18,567

Shacknews host Jan and a group of friends are set to stream the DayZ Badlands playtest this evening. Their goal? Get geared up for once. This ShackStream aims to focus on survival progress rather than showcasing a polished version of the game.

Shacknews describes the stream as a kind of rematch. Jan and his crew are “determined to make some progress” after past attempts left them lacking in gear. The outlet hasn’t revealed specifics about the playtest, so this stream might be the best opportunity to see how new players handle the game.

The timing is interesting, as it brings renewed attention to a game that’s been around for over a decade. DayZ launched on Steam on December 16, 2013, and Bohemia Interactive remains both the developer and publisher. The Badlands playtest indicates that the studio is still working on new content for this survival shooter.

That said, there’s a caveat. The sources don’t provide details about the Badlands build, its scope, or how players can access it. Until Bohemia shares more, treat anything beyond “there’s a playtest and Shacknews is streaming it” as unverified.

The base game still attracts a solid player base. DayZ currently has 18,567 concurrent players on Steam. With a 74% positive rating from 211,969 reviews, that’s about 157,000 positive responses—a great foundation for any playtest.

Critics have been harsher than players. DayZ holds a Metacritic score of 44, highlighting the gap between its long road from early access to full release. It’s priced at $49.99 on Steam, which is steep considering the mixed reviews.

By The Numbers

Release date	December 16, 2013
Current Steam players	18,567
Steam reviews	74% positive (211,969 reviews)
Metacritic score	44
Steam price	$49.99

Community Pulse

The community feels mostly positive about the game, though some technical issues persist. One Steam reviewer mentioned that DayZ is a “fun survival simulator, but the master server response can be poor; this needs to be fixed.” Server reliability is a crucial aspect to monitor during any playtest, and the live stream will reveal if connection problems hinder Jan’s gearing plans.

What To Watch

• Official Badlands details: Bohemia hasn’t outlined the playtest’s content or access terms in the sources we checked. We can expect more clarity once the studio provides updates or the stream reveals specifics. Shacknews also lists the stream on its news feed.
• Player count movement: The current figure of 18,567 concurrent players serves as the baseline. If there’s a sustained increase after the playtest, it could indicate real interest in the new content.
• Server stability: Complaints about the master server are a common theme in reviews. Watch to see if the stream experiences connection issues or loot-access challenges.