State of Decay 3: Alpha Playtests Coming This May

Hey there, Xbox fans! It’s been a long, quiet road for State of Decay 3. Since that cinematic trailer dropped nearly six years ago, many of us started wondering if the project had quietly shuffled off its mortal coil. But like the very zombies that define the series, it turns out the game is very much alive and kicking. Undead Labs has finally broken the silence, and the news is better than a stash of pristine medicine in a plague heart zone: Alpha playtests are officially kicking off this May.

It’s no secret that Microsoft’s gaming division has seen its fair share of turbulence lately. With various layoffs and studio shifts, fans were understandably nervous about the fate of this survival sequel. However, Undead Labs seems more focused than ever. Franchise co-creator Brant Fitzgerald highlighted that they’ve been lurking in the shadows of Discord and YouTube, watching how we play and listening to what we want. The big takeaway? "Community is survival," and they want us involved in the process.

So, what can we expect from these early tests? The Alpha phase is set to feature four-player co-op, giving us a taste of how the teamwork mechanics have evolved. There’s also mention of new base-building systems and resource management strategies that should add some much-needed depth to the post-apocalyptic grind. Of course, there will be plenty of zombie-slaying combat to keep the adrenaline pumping as you scavenge for supplies.

If you’re itching to get your hands on a rucksack and start scavenging, you can head over to the official State of Decay website to register for a chance to join. Keep in mind that not everyone will get in during the first wave in May, but the devs have promised to keep the list active for future sessions throughout the year. The game is slated for Xbox and PC, and while we don’t have a solid release date yet, this is the most concrete sign of progress we’ve seen in years. It looks like the wait might finally be nearing its end, and we couldn't be more excited to see how this world has grown.