State of Decay 3 to launch in 2027 on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC with expanded co-op

State of Decay 3 is scheduled for release in 2027 on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC platforms, including Steam, marking the series’ first launch on PlayStation in addition to Xbox and PC ^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]}. The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one ^{[1, 5, 8]}.

Undead Labs demonstrated a gameplay trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, 2026. The footage, captured entirely in-game, showcased improved combat, base-building, and resource management features ^{[1, 2, 9, 8, 6]}. Kevin Patzelt, Creative Director at Undead Labs, said the trailer aimed to "knock people’s socks off with the quality of the game," promising the highest moment-to-moment experience quality in the studio's history ^[9].

The title runs on Unreal Engine 5, allowing for the highest visual quality and animation fidelity the series has seen to date ^{[9, 8]}. Players can build settlements, manage survivor communities, and face an evolving plague system called Plague Nests that dynamically reacts to player actions ^{[1, 8]}.

State of Decay 3 supports cooperative gameplay for up to four players within a shared open world approximately four times larger than in State of Decay 2 ^{[1, 2, 9, 8, 6]}. Philip Holt, Studio Head of Undead Labs, explained the game's co-op design features four player characters starting in different locations to highlight the shared world experience, where players can collaborate on tasks and progress while exploring independently within the same map ^{[1, 9]}.

The game’s development faced challenges after reports of sexism and mismanagement at Undead Labs surfaced in 2022, contributing to slower progress ^[1].

Originally announced in July 2020 with a concept trailer that did not reflect the final game, the new trailer confirms that elements like zombie animals shown before will not be included ^{[1, 2, 6]}.

Public playtests began in April 2026, signaling active development ahead of the 2027 release ^[2]. The game’s cross-generation launch includes Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, reflecting a shift from the series’ previous platform exclusivity ^{[3, 5]}.