The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival Hits PS5 on September 18

A New Contender for the Beat-Em-Up Renaissance

The retro beat-em-up has been having a moment. Games like Marvel Cosmic Invasion and TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge have helped revive a genre that once ruled arcades, and now The Walking Dead is getting in on the action. According to Push Square, The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival is set to arrive on PS5 on September 18, offering a zombie-brawling take on the beloved IP rooted in the television adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s comic series.

Push Square editor Sammy Barker described the game as something that will “scratch an itch,” while tempering expectations against those higher-profile beat-em-ups. It is not being positioned as a genre-defining release, but rather a competent licensed brawler that fans of the show might find satisfying.

One notable twist: this is not a pure fist-and-boot slugfest. Players will have access to firearms and crossbows alongside melee combat, giving the action some range that sets it apart from the typical crowd-punching formula. The game features multiple characters from the show’s source material, each with their own unique moves and abilities.

Two Editions, One Controversial Decision

Streets of Survival launches in two configurations. The Standard Edition runs $19.99 and includes the base game plus a pre-order bonus called the Golden Survival Pack, described as gold-polished gear for tougher encounters.

The Deluxe Edition steps up to $29.99 and adds a few extras through its Arcade Apocalypse Pack: two weapon skins (a Tactical Magnum and an unlockable mystery weapon), a character skin for Civic Republic Military Rick, a digital soundtrack, and two gameplay modes. Those modes are The Walker Pit, an endless survival combat arena, and HELL ON EARTH, a hardcore difficulty setting that removes checkpoints entirely.

That last point has drawn some pointed responses. As Push Square reported, readers pushed back on locking difficulty settings and a survival mode behind a premium edition. One commenter put it bluntly: “Difficulty settings locked behind a deluxe edition? Get in the bin.” Another noted that keeping gameplay modes behind a paywall is “truly poor practice,” while still acknowledging that having a lower-cost option available is a reasonable trade-off for players who just want the core experience.

Barker himself acknowledged the frustration in his writeup, calling it “a bit of a shame” but noting that the $19.99 entry point at least gives budget-conscious players a way in without paying for extras they may not want.

What to Expect at Launch

The game draws directly from the TV series rather than the original comic books, which should give it a familiar cast for viewers of the show. Whether the brawling holds up is the real question. Early impressions from commenters on Push Square were mixed, with some pointing to animation that looks “slow and wonky” in the trailer, while others expressed genuine enthusiasm.

The beat-em-up revival has set a high bar. Shredder’s Revenge in particular demonstrated how much life the genre still has when executed with care and craft. Streets of Survival appears to be aiming for something more modest: a licensed brawler with recognizable faces, some ranged combat variety, and two price points to suit different levels of commitment.

September 18 is the date to mark down, and pre-ordering either edition gets you that Golden Survival Pack at launch.