State of Decay 3 Gameplay Finally Revealed, and Undead Labs Is Looking For Release Next Year

Announced back in 2020, State of Decay 3 remained largely under the radar for a long time, with Undead Labs hesitant to share details about the game. Fortunately, the Xbox Games Showcase provided the perfect opportunity to reveal more, and State of Decay 3 received a significant update during the presentation.

Not only did the studio reveal the first gameplay of State of Decay 3, but it was also announced that the game will be released in 2027 simultaneously across all platforms—PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. The developers aim to create the most realistic open-world zombie survival simulator, a goal they've emphasized multiple times. Judging by the initial gameplay footage, the game's world will be even more brutal than in previous installments, and surviving as a team will be more crucial than ever. You can watch the new State of Decay 3 trailer below:

In a recent blog post published shortly after the Xbox Games Showcase, the developers revealed their plans to conduct additional playtests in order to reach a wider audience and ensure the creation of a high-quality product. They also shared several new gameplay details. Specifically, Undead Labs confirmed that the game map in State of Decay 3 will be roughly four times larger than that of the second installment and will be fully accessible from the very beginning. The game will also feature shared-world co-op supporting up to four players in a persistent world, similar to what was done in Grounded. Additionally, there will be a Plague Nests system—evolving zombie hubs with distinct "personas"—an improved combat system, weapon crafting, expanded enclaves, and much more.

You can also check out everything that was announced and revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026.

Are you excited about the new information about State of Decay 3? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The game will release in 2027 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.