State of Decay 3 Announces Alpha Playtest After 6-Year Wait

The long-awaited zombie survival sequel is finally letting fans test the game.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a zombie moving through a neon-lit, decaying urban environment, conveying the tense, high-stakes atmosphere of the upcoming State of Decay 3 game.As the long-awaited State of Decay 3 prepares to open its doors to players, the game's gritty, high-tech vision of a zombie-infested world comes into focus.Seattle Today

Undead Labs has announced the first alpha playtest for State of Decay 3, the long-awaited sequel in the popular zombie survival crafting franchise. The game, first revealed in 2020, has been in development for over six years as the studio works to expand on the previous entry while incorporating fan feedback. The alpha test will feature 4-player co-op, new base building and resource strategies, and plenty of zombie combat for players to try out.

Why it matters

State of Decay 3 has been one of the most anticipated Xbox exclusives, but its lengthy development cycle has raised concerns. This alpha playtest signals that the game is finally starting to take shape and that Undead Labs is eager to get feedback from the passionate community to help shape the final product.

The details

In a new video, franchise co-creator Brant Fitzgerald announced that the studio will be hosting a series of alpha playtests starting next month. The tests will allow players to try out new features like 4-player co-op, expanded base building, and enhanced combat and scavenging mechanics. Undead Labs has been closely monitoring fan feedback from the previous game and is looking to incorporate that input into the sequel.

  • State of Decay 3 was first revealed during Xbox's 2020 summer showcase.
  • The game reappeared during Microsoft's 2024 summer showcase, but there had been no public updates since then.
  • The alpha playtest is set to begin next month.

The players

Undead Labs

The Seattle-based studio behind the State of Decay franchise, which has been developing the third entry in the series for over six years.

Brant Fitzgerald

The co-creator of the State of Decay franchise, who announced the upcoming alpha playtest in a new video.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Starting next month, we'll be hosting a series of alpha playtests with the community. Listen, I'm not going to spoil the surprise for you, but I can say that it will feature 4-player co-op, some new base building and resource strategies, and a whole lot of combat. If scavenging supplies in the middle of a zombie outbreak sounds fun to you, then grab your ruck, pack some mags, and head over to our website to find more information and register for a chance to be included in the alpha.”

— Brant Fitzgerald, Franchise Co-Creator

“We've been keeping a close eye on what you liked about State of Decay 2 and what you didn't. We've read your feedback on Discord. We've watched your gameplay clips and live streams on YouTube. And through it all we've seen how powerful and tight-knit this community is. And that's all you got to do, guys. It became clear the community is survival and that we need your help. And if you've made it this far, great.”

— Brant Fitzgerald, Franchise Co-Creator

What’s next

Fans can visit the State of Decay 3 website to register for a chance to participate in the upcoming alpha playtest.

The takeaway

After a lengthy development cycle, State of Decay 3 is finally starting to take shape, with Undead Labs eager to get feedback from the game's passionate community. This alpha playtest signals that the studio is committed to incorporating fan input to deliver the best possible zombie survival experience.