State of Decay 3 closed beta playtests coming later this year
The world of survival gaming is buzzing with news from Undead Labs, as the team prepares to take their ambitious title, State of Decay 3, into the next phase of development. Fans will soon have the opportunity to dive into a closed beta, offering an unprecedented look at what awaits players later this year.
Undead Labs has confirmed plans to host a closed beta before the end of 2026 for the highly anticipated title. While exact dates are still being finalized, interested players can sign up now to get on the list and prepare for the journey by clicking the provided link.
The journey to this point has involved rigorous testing. Earlier this year, the team successfully completed an alpha phase, which provided crucial, actionable feedback. This initial testing allowed Undead Labs to refine core elements, significantly improving combat mechanics, cosmetics, visuals, and overall movement, resulting in a noticeably better product.
Creative Director Kevin Patzelt highlighted the importance of this next step, emphasizing the scale of the project. State of Decay 3 is their largest map yet, featuring untethered multiplayer, and the team needs this phase to stress-test and fine-tune the experience for maximum impact.
“We’re going to be expanding our alpha and then closed beta to more players over time,” Patzelt explained. “This is our largest map ever, and with untethered multiplayer, we really need to take the opportunities to stress-test and fine-tune.”
Undead Labs is currently navigating a significant transition, splitting away from the Xbox platform following Microsoft’s recent restructuring and subsequent layoffs. While the studio is transitioning its path—whether through acquisition or forging an independent route—it is important to note that the game remains planned for a release sometime in 2027 across Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Despite the platform shift, there is still a possibility that the game will eventually appear on Xbox Game Pass. However, the announcement of the closed beta underscores the team’s commitment to delivering a polished, high-quality experience, regardless of the immediate platform obligations.
The path from concept to a fully refined, sprawling survival experience is a long road, but with the upcoming beta, the anticipation for State of Decay 3 only grows stronger.
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