State of Decay 3 Announces Closed Beta Playtests Later This Year

State of Decay 3 fans will have the chance to play the game later this year via a closed beta.

Undead Labs has confirmed that it will hold a closed beta for State of Decay 3 before the end of 2026. Exact dates weren't given, but interested fans can sign up now by clicking here and filling out the required information. The studio also held an alpha earlier this year, which reportedly resulted in actionable feedback to improve the game. The team noted that the alpha allowed them to improve combat, cosmetics, visuals, and movement, resulting in a better product. The beta will only allow more opportunities to improve the game, according to Undead Labs.

“We’re going to be expanding our alpha and then closed beta to more players over time, this is our largest map ever and with untethered multiplayer, we really need to take the opportunities to stress-test and fine-tune,” said Kevin Patzelt, Creative Director at Undead Labs. “If you don’t get access right away, rest assured there will be more opportunities throughout the year for players familiar and brand new to the series.”

State of Decay 3 has been in the works since at least 2020, when the game was announced at the Xbox Series X/S reveal event. The project went quiet for a number of years, but was re-revealed in 2024 and is now planned for release sometime in 2027 . It's been a long road, and it hasn't been an easy one. Undead Labs is also splitting away from Xbox, as part of the platform's big reset. Xbox underwent a massive restructuring earlier this summer , leading to extensive layoffs and multiple studios being sold off or released to go independent.

Undead Labs is in the process of transitioning out of Xbox, though it's currently unclear what the studio's new path is, such as acquisition by another company or forging its own path. Additionally, it has been reported that Undead Labs will not be obligated to bring State of Decay 3 to Xbox Game Pass once it leaves Xbox. However, the blog post announcing the closed beta noted that the game is still planned for a Game Pass release. So, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

State of Decay 3 will release on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC next year.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.