State of Decay 3Explainer
Release date
State of Decay 3 release date: 2027, closed beta now underway
State of Decay 3 is coming in 2027, but Undead Labs hasn't named a day or a month. The closed beta opened on Oct. 13, 2026, with every alpha tester let in automatically and a new wave of invites sent the same day. The game is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC through Xbox and Steam, cloud and PS5, and it will be on Game Pass on day one. It's also no longer an Xbox studio game: on Sept. 22, 2026, Undead Labs said it had split from Xbox and become an independent, employee-owned studio.
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC
- PS5
- Xbox Cloud
State of Decay 3 is due in 2027, and its closed beta began on Oct. 13, 2026. Undead Labs hasn’t named a release day or month. The game is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, cloud and PS5, and it will be on Game Pass on day one.
When does State of Decay 3 come out?
In 2027. Xbox gave that window when it showed the first gameplay at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026, and Undead Labs repeated it after leaving Xbox in September. Creative Director Kevin Patzelt said in June that the studio was aiming for a 2027 release. Steam still lists the release date as to be announced.
- Jul 23, 2020Announced at the Xbox Games Showcase
- Jun 9, 2024New trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase
- Apr 3, 2026Sign-ups open for the first alpha playtests
- Jun 7, 2026First gameplay trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase, for 2027
- Jul 6, 2026Xbox says Undead Labs will move to new ownership
- Sep 22, 2026Undead Labs becomes an independent studio
- Oct 13, 2026Closed beta begins
Closed beta: how to get in
The closed beta opened on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. Every alpha tester was brought in automatically, and Undead Labs sent a new wave of invites the same day. Everyone else can sign up at the official playtest site and fill in a short survey to be considered. Undead Labs says it will keep expanding access.
Undead Labs warns that it’s a test build: some dialogue still uses a placeholder synthetic voice while voice recording continues, some screens are temporary, and many numbers will change as the team tunes the game.
Undead Labs is now independent
On July 6, 2026, as part of a major restructuring, Xbox said Undead Labs would join new ownership with funding to finish State of Decay 3. On Sept. 22, 2026, Undead Labs said it had completed its separation from Xbox and now operates as an independent, employee-owned studio. Microsoft had owned it since 2018, and the first State of Decay launched in partnership with Microsoft in 2013.
The same day, Xbox said that Undead Labs, with a new publisher, will release State of Decay 3 on Game Pass on day one. Neither company has named the publisher yet; Undead Labs says it will share more about its plans later. The Steam page still lists Xbox Game Studios as the publisher.
Platforms and Game Pass
Undead Labs says the game is coming to Xbox, Game Pass, PC and PlayStation. In its latest State of Decay 3 post, in August, Xbox listed Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, cloud, Steam and PS5, and said one purchase would cover both Xbox console and PC through Xbox Play Anywhere.
On Steam, State of Decay 3 has full English audio and text in French, Italian, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Latin American Spanish. Steam lists online co-op and cross-platform multiplayer. PC system requirements haven’t been released.
What’s new in State of Decay 3
You lead a community of survivors years after a zombie outbreak, in a world gripped by blood plague. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5, and its playable space is about 4 times the size of a single State of Decay 2 map, all open from the start.
For more 2027 games, see our lists of upcoming games in 2027 and upcoming PS5 games.
This page is updated as soon as Undead Labs announces a release date, a price or its new publisher for State of Decay 3.
Official images
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FAQ
When does State of Decay 3 come out?
In 2027. Undead Labs hasn’t announced an exact date. It confirmed the 2027 target again on Sept. 22, 2026, and the Steam page still lists the release date as to be announced.
Is State of Decay 3 coming to PS5?
Yes. Undead Labs says State of Decay 3 is coming to Xbox, Game Pass, PC and PlayStation, and Xbox lists it for PS5. It’s also on Steam for PC.
Is State of Decay 3 on Game Pass?
Yes. Xbox said on Sept. 22, 2026, that State of Decay 3 will launch on Game Pass on day one, even though Undead Labs is no longer part of Xbox.
How do I get into the State of Decay 3 closed beta?
Sign up at the official State of Decay 3 playtest site and complete the short onboarding survey. Undead Labs sent a new wave of invites on Oct. 13, 2026, and says it will keep expanding access, so stay signed up if you didn’t get in. Alpha testers were brought into the beta automatically.
Who owns Undead Labs now?
Undead Labs says it’s an independent, employee-owned studio. It completed its separation from Xbox on Sept. 22, 2026, after Microsoft had owned it since 2018. Xbox says State of Decay 3 has a new publisher but hasn’t named it, and Undead Labs says it will share more about its plans later.
Does State of Decay 3 have multiplayer?
Yes. You can play solo or online with up to three friends in a shared world. In co-op, every player can recruit survivors, run missions and manage settlements on their own. On consoles, online play needs a paid online subscription for that platform.
How big is the State of Decay 3 map?
Undead Labs says the playable space is about 4 times the size of a single State of Decay 2 map, and it’s fully open from the moment you join the game.
Pop quiz
2 questions from this story.
How many players can play State of Decay 3 together online?
State of Decay 3 supports solo play or shared-world co-op for up to four players.
How many settlements can you run at once in State of Decay 3?
Undead Labs says you can run up to three settlements and move survivors between them freely.
Your call
Where will you play State of Decay 3?
