"Community input is important for the game's continued development."
State of Decay 3, the survival game initially announced in July 2020, is confirmed to be in active development by Undead Labs. The developer has announced plans to initiate a series of Alpha playtests for the title starting in May. The game is planned for release on Xbox and PC platforms.
Development and Community Input
Franchise co-creator and Principal Art Director Brant Fitzgerald stated that community input is important for the game's continued development. He noted that feedback from platforms including Discord, YouTube, and livestreams has been reviewed.
A portion of the team has been developing State of Decay 3 while other team members focused on updates for State of Decay 2. Undead Labs subsequently announced the conclusion of post-launch support for State of Decay 2 to allow the entire studio to focus on State of Decay 3.
Alpha Playtest Details
The Alpha playtests are scheduled to begin in May. Undead Labs stated that initial playtests will be limited, with plans for more opportunities throughout the year. The developer indicated that not all registrants will be selected for the initial round, but confirmed that names would be retained for future opportunities later in the year.
The upcoming Alpha playtests are expected to feature:
- Four-player co-operative gameplay
- New base building mechanics
- Resource management strategies
- Combat scenarios
Registration and Availability
Individuals interested in participating can register via the game's official website. Undead Labs has not yet clarified whether Alpha testing will be available on PC, Xbox Series S|X, or both platforms. The developer released a new "Pre-Alpha/In-engine" screenshot. State of Decay 3 is expected to be released on Xbox and PC platforms upon its eventual launch.
Project History
State of Decay 3 was initially announced in July 2020. Following earlier anticipation expressed by then-Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, a report from Kotaku indicated development issues, including allegations of mismanagement and sexism. The game later resurfaced with a gameplay trailer during the Xbox Game Showcase 2024.
Separately, reports from Games Beat indicated that Undead Labs was reportedly searching for a buyer amid Xbox studio restructuring.
The studio, based in Seattle, was acquired by Xbox in 2018. Some analysts suggested that showcasing the game at the Xbox Games Showcase may have been intended to attract potential buyers.