State of Decay 3 Announces Closed Beta Playtests Later This Year

State of Decay 3 fans will have the opportunity to play the game later this year through a closed beta. Undead Labs has confirmed that the closed beta will take place before the end of 2026, but the exact dates have not been announced. Fans interested in participating can sign up now by visiting a specific website and submitting the necessary information.

The studio also held an alpha earlier this year, which provided valuable feedback to improve various aspects of the game, such as combat, cosmetics, visuals, and movement. The beta will further enhance the game, as Undead Labs aims to stress-test and fine-tune the expansive map and untethered multiplayer feature. Kevin Patzelt, Creative Director at Undead Labs, emphasized the importance of the beta in refining the game.

He assured fans that even if they miss the initial access, there will be more opportunities throughout the year. State of Decay 3 has been in development since at least 2020, when it was first announced at the Xbox Series X/S reveal event. After a period of inactivity, the project resurfaced in 2024 and is now set for release in 2027.

Undead Labs is also separating from Xbox as part of the platform's recent restructuring, which included significant layoffs and some studios being sold off or going independent. While it is unclear where Undead Labs will go next, the studio is transitioning out of Xbox and is still planning to release State of Decay 3 on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

The game is also expected to be available on Xbox Game Pass, despite the studio not being obligated to include it post-Xbox.