Undead Labs has shared the first gameplay footage for State of Decay 3 during the Xbox Games Showcase. The trailer highlights improved combat and visuals while confirming deeper systems remain in development. Creative director Kevin Patzelt discussed the choices in a follow-up interview.
The studio aimed to demonstrate the game's progress after nearly six years since announcement. All footage was captured in-engine using Unreal Engine 5, with Patzelt noting that over-the-shoulder views match the player perspective. In this trailer, it was important to knock people’s socks off with the quality of the game, Patzelt said. He added that the moment-to-moment experience exceeds prior Undead Labs titles, with combat playing a key role. Settlement building and co-op features have received upgrades. Players can now share tasks or pursue individual goals in the same world. A shared environment allows asynchronous changes, including building up to three settlements. A limited alpha test has already occurred. The studio plans to expand testing before a beta ahead of the 2027 launch target. The game is set for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
