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Press release:
Leamington Spa, UK – April 01, 2026: Leading UK games publisher Kwalee and independent developer Malformation Games have announced that their upcoming retro-inspired survival horror title, Ground Zero, will launch on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S this April.

Players will descend into the dark, ruined streets of Busan, South Korea when Ground Zero launches on April 16, 2026.

Set in a devastated South Korea, Ground Zero challenges players to uncover the truth behind the mysterious meteor impact that has reduced the nation to ruins and transformed every living thing into a monstrous threat. Atmospheric, brutal and steeped in tension, the game promises a gripping survival horror experience rooted in classic genre sensibilities.

About Ground Zero – A devastating meteor impact has wiped out South Korea. Two months later as the dust and lightning storms settle and the air becomes breathable, an elite Korean operative and her Canadian partner are sent to investigate. What waits for them in the foggy remains is more terrifying than they ever could have imagined…

Key Features:

Fight terrifying monsters that lurk in the dark corners of Busan, mutated by the fallout of the impact.

Uncover the truth of what really hit Busan that day. What are these strange growths unravelling from the meteor impact, and why has it corrupted what little life remains in the aftermath?

Explore a beautiful city in ruins, from shoreline towns and temples to the urban center.

Defend yourself with an array of abilities; shoot, stab, kick and counter as an expert soldier trained in firearms and martial combat.

Perfect your fighting skills and get rewarded. Cleaner kills means more Genome Points, which can be traded for powerful gear upgrades.

Take on huge, terrifying bosses. Seo-Yeon has no idea just how bad the mutations can get in the heart of the city. Be prepared for anything.

Relive the spirit of classic Survival Horror. Ground Zero captures the nostalgia of retro horror titles with fixed cameras and pre-rendered backgrounds, puzzles, custom difficulty and optional tank controls.

Have fun with unlockables and extra content: alternate outfits, additional game modes and hidden endings await players curious enough to find them.

About Kwalee
Kwalee is a multi-award-winning games publisher and developer based in Leamington Spa, UK. The company has built a growing catalogue of PC and console titles, including Wildmender, ROBOBEAT, Voidwrought, In Sink, Hordes of Hunger, The Precinct, Town to City, Don’t Stop Girlypop!, and Grime II alongside upcoming releases such as Hark the Ghoul, Call of the Elder Gods, Ground Zero, Retro Space, Lost Hellden, BPM Bitcrushed, Shift at Midnight, Welcome to Elderfield, Lily’s World XD, Rune Dice, Modulus: Factory Automation and more.

Founded by games industry icon and Codemasters co-founder David Darling CBE, Kwalee is supported by a global team of games experts, with studios in the UK, India, and remote locations worldwide. The company is actively seeking high-quality games to publish across all platforms and welcomes developers to get in touch.

Officially recognised as ‘Best Publisher’ at the TIGA Awards 2022, Kwalee is also a committed industry advocate—serving as an ambassador for the non-profit organisation Women in Games and regularly supporting charities such as Safe In Our World, GamesAid, and SpecialEffect.

About Malformation Games
Founded by James Marchant, Malformation Games is a remote-first indie studio based in Sweden, with team members working across the globe. James and his team bring over a decade of experience in both indie and AAA projects. Their shared passion for retro-style horror inspired Ground Zero, a survival horror game set in post-apocalyptic South Korea. Ground Zero is Malformation’s debut title and is scheduled for release in 2026.