Undead Labs has announced that State of Decay 3 will undergo a closed beta playtest "before the end of 2026." While an exact start date has not been confirmed, interested players can currently register for the opportunity to participate.
In a recent Xbox Wire post, community manager Bruce Dugan shared that the playtest is designed to stress-test and fine-tune the game's extensive features, including its large map and untethered multiplayer. Creative director Kevin Patzelt emphasized that access will expand over time, ensuring both new and returning players will have opportunities to join throughout the year.
This upcoming beta follows an alpha test conducted in May, which featured four-player co-op, new base-building mechanics, resource management, and combat scenarios. The developers plan to incorporate lessons learned from the alpha, with Dugan highlighting improvements in areas such as combat against multiple freaks, world lighting, sound effects, weather, visuals, character customization, and movement.
The development of State of Decay 3 continues amidst a period of significant restructuring for Microsoft's acquired studios. While Undead Labs was reportedly sold to an undisclosed buyer, the studio is proceeding with its zombie survival title. The game, initially announced in 2020, is the third installment in the series and is currently slated for a 2027 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.