After a tumultuous development cycle, “Plants vs. Zombies 3” has finally entered early access testing for the third time.
Fans of the popular game series have eagerly anticipated the release of the long-awaited third installment. The original Plants vs. Zombies game was launched in 2009 and gained immense popularity. Its sequel, Plants vs. Zombies 2, released in 2013, faced criticism for its freemium model. Now, with “Plants vs. Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia” soft-launching in select countries, players can get a taste of the upcoming game.
The early access testing for Plants vs. Zombies 3 has begun in the Philippines, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Netherlands. More countries are expected to join the early access program in the coming months.
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The developer, PopCap, has made significant alterations to the game since its initial announcement in 2019. This latest soft launch aims to provide a better user experience and incorporates classic gameplay elements while introducing new puzzles to make battles more unique.
Matt Townsend, the head of the Plants vs. Zombies team, has expressed the desire to bring the game back to its roots with Plants vs. Zombies 3. Unlike the sequel, which heavily relied on in-app purchases, the third installment aims to offer a more traditional gaming experience. While some in-app purchases will still be available, the focus is on earning upgrades and new plants through gameplay rather than spending real money. This shift aims to address customer dissatisfaction with the freemium model that dominated the mobile gaming industry in the past decade.
As Plants vs. Zombies 3 is still in active development, an official release date has not been announced yet. Android and iPhone users in the aforementioned countries can participate in the early access program to test the game and provide feedback to the developers.