State of Decay 3 has returned to the spotlight after four years of silence, with a new trailer revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 and confirmation that the title is coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one. The series has always been an Xbox staple, and it’s nice to see it rear its head again.
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Fans can finally rejoice because State of Decay 3 hasn’t been left to die under a rock somewhere. The game is alive and well and one of the first few titles Microsoft showed off during this year’s Xbox Game Showcase. While we didn’t get a look at much gameplay, we do now have confirmation that the game is going to hit Xbox Game Pass on day one. That means you can preload it and pick it up as part of your subscription. To be honest, I’d say this game is worth getting a subscription for by itself.
State of Decay 3 gets a new trailer, making it look just as nasty and fleshy as you’d expect
The new trailer is purely cinematic but gets the heart of the series just right. It definitely shows that the permadeath mechanic with characters that die while you’re out and about is still a core part of the gameplay. However, the character in the trailer is remembered when someone collects a trinket from them that’s then displayed back at their base. I’d love it if this is a new system you can use to remember fallen characters in the final release.
The last trailer for State of Decay 3 was the first to feature infected animals. However, this latest trailer doesn’t show them. Instead, it focuses on clusters of infected where the virus has created pustules that overwhelm and cover the surrounding area.
Unfortunately, we still don’t have a release date for this game, even a 2025 window. All that tells us is that developer Undead Labs isn’t ready to give one yet. But I hope we get one that isn’t too far into the future because it’s been six years since the last game was released.
The State of Decay series sees players enter a zombie-infested world and establish a series of bases, recruiting more survivors as they play. Base-building elements help your homestead grow, as well as RPG mechanics that see characters grow and specialize in certain areas over time.
The key to succeeding is developing a schedule for heading out into the world, looting nearby buildings for food and resources, and then holding out at night in your base. Some characters are better suited for helping out back at base, though, crafting med-kits or tools to help the community grow.
