State of Decay 3

State of Decay 3 is the next open-world survival game from Undead Labs. Years after the original outbreak, a community of survivors fights for a lasting home in a world shaped by the blood plague.

As in the previous games, the focus is not on a single main character but on the entire group: whoever dies can be lost for good. At the same time, you build settlements, search for resources, look after vehicles and decide which members of your community take which risks.

State of Decay 3 is set to release in 2027. Undead Labs still confirms the release for Xbox Series X|S, PC and PlayStation 5.

The game is currently in the alpha phase. A closed beta is set to begin before the end of 2026 and will gradually open the previous, smaller playtest to more players.

Undead Labs lists Xbox Series X|S, PC and PlayStation 5 as confirmed platforms. This means the PlayStation version is part of the announced platform set from the start for a new main entry for the first time.

On Xbox and PC, State of Decay 3 is also set to remain available via Game Pass.

State of Decay 3 once again combines survival combat, base building and character management with lasting permadeath. Decisions therefore affect not only resources or mission progress, but also the makeup of your own community.

For the third entry, Undead Labs is also expanding the multiplayer structure. The studio speaks of untethered multiplayer, meaning a cooperative model in which teammates should not be permanently bound to the immediate vicinity of the host. At the same time, the world is meant to offer the largest map in the series so far.

The public development playtests began in 2026 with a small alpha group. Undead Labs is using the tests for, among other things, fights against multiple Freaks, lighting, weather, character customisation and the load on the new multiplayer system.

The planned closed beta before the end of the year is meant to significantly expand this test base. The studio stresses that feedback feeds directly into balancing, co-op encounters and the effects of the permadeath system.

Since September 2026, Undead Labs has been developing State of Decay 3 as an independent, employee-run studio. The separation from Xbox is complete; according to the studio, it changes neither the ongoing development plan nor the release window still targeted for 2027.

Undead Labs had been part of Microsoft since 2018 and had worked closely with the company since the first State of Decay.