I'm not sure how many actually will play in 2019. Or 2018, or whenever we see substantial change. Yes, I will play when 0.63 and other major releases 'hit the shelves,' but the real question is: are the improvements enough to have a successful game? I'm not sure that's possible any longer. The longer developers take to provide improved content to players, the more technology debt they build and the more competition they face.
I think the problem that developers and designers failed to appreciate early in DayZ development is the consequences of releasing a game in a playable Alpha state, rather than focusing on releasing an 'engine' and improving it until it's correct. Camelot Unchained is going about their development in this way: build the engine and make it right, build a way to promote procedural development, then build functionality and 'fun.' I'm not anxious about the release of Camelot Unchained over it's last couple years of development because they never gave investors/backers the impression that 'this is the game.' DayZ standalone released an Alpha in 2013 and has not made significant progress that is apparent to players in 4+ years. That's just wild!
Anyway, I am hopeful for two things as it relates to DayZ: 1 - 0.63 will come out before a better survival shooter arrives; and 2 - the wait will be worth it and I will be wrong in my opinion that any changes are 'too little, too late.'
