DLC: World War Z – Florida Episode
Developer: Saber Interactive
Publisher: Saber Interactive
Genre: Co-op Zombie Shooter · Story Episode DLC
Released: November 12, 2026
Price: $9.99 · requires World War Z
Platform: PC (Steam) · cross-platform multiplayer
⚠️ Content note: Per its Steam page, World War Z contains frequent violence and gore.
🐊 How we reviewed it: on PC, via Steam, with the base game and earlier episodes. Since it’s been out for a couple of days, we’ve also noted what players are saying.
🌴 Know this first: the Florida Episode is $9.99, and the new weapons are free for everyone. It’s a premium story episode with three new maps and four new survivors, released as part of the free Viral State Update. That update also adds two new weapons, the Microgun and Dual Kama, and a reworked Daily Challenges system for all players. It sits at Mixed on Steam so far.
🧟 Welcome to Florida
The first days of the apocalypse have hit the land of gators, palm trees and, now, the Zeke. After a failed evacuation attempt, four vigilantes with military backgrounds team up to fight swarms of infected across the streets of Miami.
Your fight spills through bars, hotels and even a theme park, in a desperate attempt to succeed where the government failed.
Sunshine, neon and several hundred Zeke.
Years after launch, Saber is still feeding World War Z new content, and the Florida Episode is a sun-soaked, neon-lit addition to the horde shooter. It follows the free Waves of Lead update and the World War Z x The Walking Dead episode, and it brings the series’ signature swarms to a setting that suits them perfectly. It looks great and plays like classic World War Z, but it’s a small episode for the price. Its difficulty spikes and familiar AI problems have also split players.
Our verdict: “Team up in this thrilling 4-player co-op shooter to battle massive swarms of zombies worldwide. Choose a class, upgrade weapons, and survive action-packed campaigns with fast-paced, chaotic combat.”
What You Get
🗺️ 3 New Maps
A new story campaign across Miami’s streets, bars, hotels and a theme park, with multiple zones to fight through and defend.
🧑🤝🧑 4 New Survivors
Valentina Flores, Caesar Ruiz, Moses Bouchard and Christopher Williams.
🔫 Microgun
A new heavy weapon with its own perks, free for all players with the Viral State Update.
🗡️ Dual Kama
A fast new light melee weapon with its own perks, also free.
Swarms in the Sunshine
☀️ A Setting Made for Hordes
Florida is a great fit for World War Z. Bright sunshine and neon streets make a nice change from the darker episodes, and watching a swarm pour through a resort hotel or a theme park is exactly the kind of spectacle the series does best. One player called the new maps beautiful and super fun to play, with tanks firing and planes dropping bombs as the military tries and fails to hold back the horde.
Another described the environments as well crafted and the missions as well put together, with challenging gameplay and multiple zones to fight in or defend.
New Toys
🔫 The Microgun Steals the Show
The Microgun is the highlight. It’s a heavy weapon that one player described as shooting “like a million bullets in a second,” and it’s ideal for shredding swarms. The Dual Kama are fast, though that same player felt there are better melee options. Best of all, both weapons are free for everyone, not locked behind the DLC.
The four new survivors are a fun bunch. One player found them cool and funny, while another felt they lean into typical Florida stereotypes and that their customization options are a bit limited.
What Players Are Saying
The reception is split, and it sits at Mixed on Steam at the time of writing. Fans of the series are happy to see it still getting support, with one calling it “5 years and still going strong.” Several players couldn’t resist joking that Florida got overrun by zombies before GTA 6 arrived. On the other side, players disagree on its length. One felt there was only about 30 minutes of content, a step down from past episodes, while two others found the chapter lengthy, and one of those thought it was too long.
Where It Stumbles
⚠️ Florida Man Problems1. Difficulty spikes. Two players found the special Zeke relentless. One said special zombies show up constantly and the hordes hit much harder than usual, and another found that Juggernauts respawn within seconds of being downed, while admitting that’s partly a skill issue.
2. AI teammates. If you play solo, one player warns that the AI teammates are as unreliable as ever. Grab some friends if you can.
3. Value. Three maps for $9.99 is on the thin side. One player called it “a bit of a slap in the face” compared to what earlier episodes offered.
4. Some buggy mechanics. One player ran into mechanics they found buggy during the chapter.
🆓 Free for Everyone in the Viral State Update
Even if you skip the episode, the free Viral State Update brings the Microgun and Dual Kama, a reworked Daily Challenges system (with a new timer, reroll system, updated descriptions and pinning), and a batch of fixes for weapon perks, audio and animations.
Things to Know
📋 Before You Buy
• $9.99 · requires World War Z · optional Vacation Heat skin pack for four existing survivors ($4.99)
• Also part of the World War Z: Year 5 Edition bundle
• Single-player with AI, online co-op, cross-platform multiplayer · full controller support · 12 languages
• Steam rating: Mixed (28 reviews at the time of writing)
• Minimum: Windows 7, Core i3-3220 or AMD A10-5700, 8 GB RAM, GeForce 650 Ti, 50 GB of storage
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
The Good
The Bad
The Ugly
Miami SettingSunny, neon and packed with Zeke.
Short EpisodeThree maps for $9.99.
AI TeammatesStill not to be trusted.
MicrogunA swarm-shredding new heavy weapon.
Difficulty SpikesSpecials and Juggernauts everywhere.
—
Free WeaponsNot locked behind the DLC.
Limited CustomizationThe new survivors feel thin.
—
Still SupportedNew episodes keep coming.
—
—
The Verdict
The Florida Episode is classic World War Z in a fun new setting. The sunny, neon-soaked Miami maps make for great backdrops, the swarms are as spectacular as ever, and the free Microgun is a blast. If you still play regularly with a group, it’s a welcome excuse to jump back in.
It’s also a fairly small episode for $9.99. Its difficulty spikes can feel more frustrating than fun, and solo players are still stuck with unreliable AI teammates. The free Viral State Update is the better deal for everyone else.
The honest read: if you and your squad still play World War Z, the Florida Episode is worth grabbing, ideally on sale. If you play solo or only dip in occasionally, take the free weapons from the update and wait.
I'm a passionate gamer and video game enthusiast. I find immense joy in creating detailed and insightful video game reviews, diving deep into different adventures anytime I can manage. But if there's one thing that truly gets my heart racing, it's the thrill of surviving zombie-infested landscapes. Join me on my gaming journey as I explore and share my thoughts on the undead-filled worlds of gaming! 🎮🧟♂️
