Level Zero: Extraction: A Brief but Impactful Journey in the Extraction Shooter Genre
Overview
Level Zero: Extraction, the multiplayer extraction survival horror shooter from DogHowl and tinyBuild, has come to an end just two weeks after its Steam launch. The game has been removed after developers determined it had "underperformed compared to expectations."
Development and Evolution
Level Zero's journey began in 2022 as an asymmetric survival game. However, it was later "re-announced" as Level Zero: Extraction, a more conventional extraction shooter. This shift was an attempt to combine the genres and offer a unique experience.
Market Reception and Challenges
Despite the ambitious concept, Level Zero: Extraction failed to gain significant traction. Its peak concurrent player count reached only 2,600, dropping to sub-100 by October 2024. The 1.0 release in January 2025 brought no improvement.
Legacy and Impact
While Level Zero: Extraction may have fallen short commercially, it provided valuable experience for DogHowl. The studio expressed gratitude for the opportunity to explore the unique blend of genres.
Future Endeavors
DogHowl is now focusing on a new multiplayer game, this time a co-op experience. The studio hopes to leverage the lessons learned from Level Zero: Extraction in its future projects.
Availability
Level Zero: Extraction servers remain online, but no further updates or events will be released. Monthly wipes will continue as scheduled.