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Undead Labs, the Washington-based studio behind the zombie survival game State of Decay 3, has announced a closed beta playtest for the game, set to begin before the end of 2026. The news comes after Microsoft reportedly sold the developer to an undisclosed buyer. In an August 26 Xbox Wire post, Undead Labs' community manager, Bruce Dugan, revealed the upcoming playtest and opened registration for it. While an exact start date wasn't confirmed, creative director Kevin Patzelt said the beta will expand 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 [this experience], Patzelt said.

"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. The closed beta follows an alpha test held in May, which featured four-player co-op, new base-building and resource strategies, and combat. Dugan highlighted key takeaways from the alpha, including engaging combat against multiple freaks, the improvements to the world's lighting, SFX, weather and overall visuals, cosmetic changes like varied clothing options and additions of glasses and beards, and smoother and more reactive character movement.

The announcement comes months after Microsoft began divesting several studios it acquired, selling some, laying off employees, and canceling games. While some developers like Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions were spared, Undead Labs and Hellblade developer Ninja Theory were sold to other buyers. Announced in 2020, State of Decay 3 is the third entry in the long-running franchise. It is currently slated for a 2027 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. A trailer for the game is available on YouTube.