GPTRACK50 has recently revealed that its forthcoming zombie action RPG, Stupid Never Dies, is set to debut in Fall 2026, accompanied by fresh trailer footage. After a live demo event in Los Angeles, game director Eiichiro Sasaki (known for helming Resident Evil 6) and producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi (responsible for multiple titles in the RE, Devil May Cry, and Dino Crisis franchises) sat down with Famitsu to discuss what players can anticipate from their new studio’s inaugural release. They also tackled speculation regarding the game’s classification as a “soulslike.”
Based on current details, Stupid Never Dies is a dynamic fast-paced action RPG that prioritizes character progression. Players assume the role of Davy, a low-ranking zombie boy, on a mission to revive his adored Julia – a frozen human girl – back to life. The core gameplay loop involves timed dungeon expeditions where you combat enemies, gather peculiar items, and gain levels. A standout feature is “Style Eat,” which enables Davy to pilfer vanquished enemies’ abilities by consuming their cores.
This system unlocks up to ten distinct monster combat styles (in addition to Davy’s inherent zombie style), featuring creatures such as werewolves, vampires, harpies, lizardmen, and others. Since different abilities shine in varying scenarios, you can equip up to two combat styles simultaneously and swap between them in real time, though there’s no assurance you’ll run into the styles you desire when you need them.
Furthermore, an “Overtech” feature will let you cybernetically enhance Davy’s physique with various weapons and implants, which function regardless of which monster style you’ve morphed into. The game also incorporates a burst mechanic – by landing hits in combat, you’ll fill a Davy Burst meter which, upon activation, will instantly amplify Davy’s stats and drastically elevate his level.
In conversation with Famitsu, Kobayashi mentions that while clearing Stupid Never Dies will be a formidable challenge for newcomers, the title has been tuned so that players with moderate gaming experience can reach the conclusion (which spans roughly 20 to 30 hours). He also addresses fan inquiries, clarifying that the game is not a soulslike-style production. In fact, from the outset of development, he explicitly instructed his team that this was not the genre they’d be pursuing. This aligns with Kobayashi’s earlier remarks when speaking with AUTOMATON, where he noted his aim was for a blend of technical and tactical gameplay, rather than purely punishing action.
Director Sasaki highlights that in Stupid Never Dies, certain aspects of progression are reset upon death or dungeon completion, yet numerous abilities persist and accumulate, preventing a complete return to square one. “I believe the engaging aspect of this game is its mix of controllable and uncontrollable progression. The fact that not everything is in the player’s hands is what lends it a feeling of difficulty, and I think we’ve achieved a solid balance there.” As Kobayashi explains, the reset mechanics mean you can’t triumph simply by leveling up, nor can you solely depend on skill.
With development approximately 90% complete, Stupid Never Dies is slated to release in Fall 2026 for PC (Steam) and PS5.