State of Decay 3: Shared-world co-op, Plague Nests, 2027

Undead Labs showed gameplay for State of Decay 3 at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 and confirmed a 2027 release window. The studio said the game is built in Unreal Engine 5 and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC (including Game Pass and cloud), Steam and PlayStation 5. An active alpha is already running and sign-ups are open for expanded playtests.

The game uses a shared-world structure supporting up to four players in untethered co-op. Multiple players can affect a single persistent save by building facilities, claiming settlements or advancing story elements at different times. Players can establish up to three separate bases and progress those bases independently while remaining in the same campaign.

Undead Labs described the playable area as substantially larger than previous entries. A single playable space is roughly four times the size of a single map from State of Decay 2 and is open from the moment a player joins. The studio said the design allows players to explore, split objectives across the map or concentrate on a single shared settlement.

The reveal introduced Plague Nests, enemy-controlled hubs that change over time. Creative Director Kevin Patzelt confirmed the trailer footage is “100% game capture” and described nests as dynamic sources of enemy encounters with multiple behavior sets or “personas.” He said nests can escalate on their own timeline and present different tactical challenges and loot opportunities.

Combat has been revised with new inputs and defensive options. The game adds a quick attack and a power attack in place of the single-attack input used previously, and includes a dodge mechanic. Enemy types have been reworked with distinct roles, from slow, decayed walkers to faster or armored zombies and larger adversaries that alter combat dynamics.

Weapon crafting and a maker-culture approach influence armaments and facilities. Players can craft and modify tools-examples shown include machetes with serrated edges or rebar reinforcements-each with trade-offs in damage, stamina cost and durability. Facility upgrades expand crafting recipes and let players specialize bases for resources such as food, ammo or explosives.

Scavenging remains central to progression. Undead Labs said high-risk locations such as Plague Nests contain better supplies because they are less looted, creating a risk-reward model for exploration. Environmental details and hidden locations are intended to encourage off-path exploration to support settlements.

Undead Labs plans to share additional details over time and is inviting players to join the playtest waitlist. State of Decay 3 is available to wishlist now, will support Xbox Play Anywhere for cross-buy between console and PC, and will be included on Game Pass at launch.