7 Days to Die Alpha 21: How to Install the Update on Steam

The Alpha 21 build for 7 Days to Die went live on June 12, and many players hitting Steam expected the usual one-click update process. Instead, the patch hides behind a beta branch, which trips up anyone who has not opted in before. Here is how to grab it in a few minutes.

Switching to the Alpha 21 Beta Branch on Steam

https://twitter.com/7DaystoDie/status/1668308393633755156

Unlike most Steam releases, Alpha 21 will not appear as a pending update on your library page until you tell Steam you want experimental builds. Follow these steps and the download will start automatically.

1. Open Steam and head to your Library.
2. Right-click 7 Days to Die in the sidebar and pick Properties.
3. Switch to the Betas tab inside the Properties window.
4. Open the dropdown labeled "Select the beta you would like to opt into".
5. Scroll to the bottom of the list and choose latest_experimental, Unstable build.
6. Close the window and click 7 Days to Die again in your sidebar.
7. Hit Update and let Steam finish pulling down the new files.

Once the install completes, the title screen should reflect the new version number.

System Requirements for Alpha 21

Alpha 21 does not raise the official hardware floor, but the build runs heavier in larger worlds. Confirm your rig fits the spec sheet before you wonder why a horde night turns into a slideshow.

Minimum specs

• 64-bit processor and OS required
• OS: Windows 7 or higher (64-bit), macOS 10.13, or Ubuntu 16.04 (64-bit)
• CPU: 2.8 GHz quad-core
• RAM: 8 GB
• GPU: 2 GB dedicated VRAM
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband connection
• Storage: 15 GB free space
• Audio: DirectX-compatible sound card

Recommended specs

• 64-bit processor and OS required
• OS: Windows 7 or higher (64-bit), macOS 10.13, or Ubuntu 18.04 (64-bit)
• CPU: 3.2 GHz quad-core or faster
• RAM: 12 GB
• GPU: 4 GB dedicated VRAM
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband connection
• Storage: 15 GB free space
• Audio: DirectX-compatible sound card

What Alpha 21 Actually Changes

This patch is one of the biggest in the game's lifecycle. Expect a reworked progression system, fresh character outfits, balance shifts and a long list of fixes. Read the official patch notes before launching a fresh playthrough, since several of these changes are not save-compatible.