State of Decay 3 to run closed beta before end of 2026; registration open

GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed

Undead Labs will run a closed beta playtest for State of Decay 3 before the end of 2026 and is accepting registrations now. The beta will expand access over time to stress-test the game's largest map and untethered multiplayer. This follows a May alpha that tested four-player co-op, new base-building and resource systems, and comes after Microsoft sold Undead Labs to an undisclosed buyer during its studio reset.

• Closed beta slated to start sometime before the end of 2026 with registration open now and player access increasing over the test period.
• Beta aims to stress-test the largest map Undead Labs has built and the game’s untethered multiplayer to identify performance and balance issues.
• May alpha tested four-player co-op, new base-building and resource strategies, and combat; beta will iterate on combat, lighting, SFX, weather, cosmetics, and character movement.
• Undead Labs continues development of State of Decay 3 after Microsoft sold the studio to an undisclosed buyer during the company’s recent studio reset.