In a surprising turn of events, The Walking Dead: Betrayal, a highly anticipated social deduction game, has been pulled from Steam, along with a promise of refunds, due to the developers' inability to cultivate the envisioned community of backstabbers. Skybound Games and Other Ocean Interactive announced the decision in a blog posted on the game's Steam page.

Since its release in September as an Early Access title, The Walking Dead: Betrayal never received a full release. This setback marks the second stumble for the popular Walking Dead franchise this year, following minor controversy surrounding the graphics of The Walking Dead: Destinies, which was released earlier in December.

The Walking Dead: Betrayal was unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 and aimed to blend the elements of The Walking Dead universe with the popular game Among Us. Players were meant to form teams of Survivors to escape hordes of walkers, while also dealing with the social dynamics introduced by "Traitors" – Survivors who aimed to sabotage the team's progress for their own gain.

Currently, The Walking Dead: Betrayal holds a "mixed" rating on Steam, garnering only 111 reviews. Some reviewers found the game to be enjoyable, but many raised concerns about the diminishing player base. Additionally, similarities were drawn between Betrayal and Other Ocean's previous game, Project Winter, which featured a similar gameplay loop.

For those who purchased The Walking Dead: Betrayal through Steam, securing a refund is a straightforward process as all they need to do is request one through the Steam platform. However, users who bought the game through a retailer are advised to contact the respective retailer for refund procedures. Further details are available on the game's store page.

The Walking Dead: Betrayal's removal from Steam and the offer of refunds highlights the challenges faced by developers in fostering a thriving gaming community. As fans of The Walking Dead eagerly await new releases, it remains to be seen how Skybound Games and Other Ocean Interactive will respond to this setback and deliver on the immersive gaming experiences fans crave.