Undead Labs has officially opened sign-ups for a closed alpha test of State of Decay 3, marking the first substantive look at the highly anticipated zombie survival game since its initial reveal. A new trailer released this past weekend provided details, indicating the alpha is set to begin next month.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting the third installment for years, especially given that State of Decay 2 launched nearly eight years ago in 2018. During this long wait, players have actively contributed feedback on desired improvements for game mechanics and features.
The development journey for State of Decay 3 has been protracted, with Undead Labs’ leader Philip Holt acknowledging in a recent interview that the game was unveiled prematurely. The initial conceptual trailer, released six years ago, showcased survivors in a snowy landscape battling infected animals—a feature that, as Holt now confirms, will not necessarily be present in the final game. He explained that at the time of that trailer, development was nascent, described as merely a “Word document,” with only a handful of team members involved. The trailer itself was a pre-rendered concept by Blur, intended to explore potential ideas for the series.
Holt further revealed that much of the Undead Labs team had been dedicated to supporting State of Decay 2 since its launch. However, co-creator Brant Fitzgerald confirmed that the majority of the team has shifted its focus to State of Decay 3 over the past couple of years.
Addressing community feedback from State of Decay 2, which included desires for untethered co-op and enhanced base-building mechanics, Fitzgerald stated that these aspects have been addressed, alongside the addition of more combat elements. Specific details, however, are being reserved for those participating in the closed alpha. Undead Labs continues to value community input, encouraging players to share their thoughts on the official Discord channel.
The upcoming closed alpha test is poised to provide long-awaited answers regarding whether State of Decay 3 will meet the high expectations of fans for an open-world zombie survival experience. Interested players can sign up for the playtests via the game’s official website.