State of Decay 3 lives on after studio's separation from Xbox, with a closed beta promised for this year

Undead Labs has announced a closed beta for State of Decay 3, set to begin in 2026, following the studio's separation from Xbox. The zombie-infested third installment has undergone a series of closed alpha playtests since April. Kevin Patzelt, the creative director, stated that the team will expand the beta and alpha access to more players as the game progresses.

The closed beta will feature the largest map to date and untethered multiplayer. Patzelt mentioned that the studio gained valuable insights from the first wave of testing, particularly regarding combat balance in co-op sessions and the impact of permadeath on the enclave of survivors. Beta testers have praised the improved graphics, lighting, character customization, and updated freak zombies.

Interested players can register for the upcoming beta before the game's release in 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. This announcement marks Undead Labs' first significant news since separating from Xbox, following Microsoft's recent layoffs and the studio's transfer to a new owner. It remains uncertain if State of Decay 3 will launch on Game Pass simultaneously with its release.