A blood stained infected stares ahead with glowing eyes in State of Decay 3
Image credit: Xbox Game Studios

State of Decay 3 release: All the gory details

⚠️ This page mixes confirmed information with industry rumors and speculation. We’ll keep it updated as new details and leaks come to light.

Table of Contents
  1. The Escapist recaps
  2. When could State of Decay 3 be released?
  3. Expected State of Decay 3 price & pre-orders
  4. State of Decay 3 platforms
  5. State of Decay 3 trailer & gameplay analysis
  6. Ask The Escapist

Despite being first unveiled in 2020, State of Decay 3 news has been scarce, although more details emerged in 2024 at the Xbox Game Studios showcase. Yet, the game was missing from any 2025 showcases. This, combined with Xbox layoffs and cancellations, has some fans concerned for the franchise’s future. 

However, so far, State of Decay 3 remains in development. Set after the events of State of Decay 2, this is a direct sequel to the 2018 title. Therefore, fans can expect the same open-world survival experience. The Escapist has taken the time to track down all the bloody details about the game so you don’t have to. 


The Escapist recaps

  • State of Decay 3 is a sequel to State of Decay 2, created by Undead Labs, the same developer behind the previous installments.
  • As State of Decay 3 is an Xbox Game Studios title, the game will be available on Xbox and PC. 
  • The State of Decay 3 release date remains elusive, with no estimated timeframe provided. 
  • State of Decay 3 will feature both single-player and multiplayer modes, with the latter supporting up to four players simultaneously.

When could State of Decay 3 be released?

A massive creature looms over survivors in the fiery darkness of State of Decay 3
You need to be vigilant if you’re to survive. Image credit: Xbox Game Studios

State of Decay 3’s release date is “to be announced”, as previously stated. Initially, rumors suggested the game would launch in 2025. Once it was obvious that it wouldn’t happen, fans were hoping for at least a launch update, but once again, no such information was forthcoming. 

Current speculation estimates a release date of sometime in 2027, with an announcement taking place in 2026. However, take this with a pinch of salt, as neither Undead Labs nor Xbox Game Studios has officially confirmed this. 

Rumors of a State of Decay 3 cancellation have exacerbated growing concern for the game, but as far as The Escapist is aware, the game is still in development. If that changes, we’ll update you accordingly. 

Expected State of Decay 3 price & pre-orders

A peaceful tribute wall filled with candles and keepsakes stands at dusk in State of Decay 3
That’s quite a selection you’ve got there. Image credit: Xbox Game Studios

Right now, there’s no State of Decay 3 price listed. Consequently, its possible retail price is speculation only at this juncture. 

When State of Decay 2 launched in 2018, the standard version cost $29.99; this is now the price of State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition. For an old title, this price point is reasonable; however, for State of Decay 3, the cost upon release will likely be much higher. 

Video game prices have dramatically increased over the last few years, and thus, new games tend to retail for between $40 and $60. For those looking to minimize cost, State of Decay 3 will be available on Xbox Game Pass as a day-one exclusive. 

State of Decay 3 platforms

A rugged survival vehicle speeds down a forest road in State of Decay 3
Sometimes, you just need to be fast to survive. Image credit: Xbox Game Studios

State of Decay 3’s platforms consist of the Xbox Series and PC; whether the Xbox Series S will be able to run the game remains unclear.

Due to its Xbox origins, a State of Decay 3 PS5 release is unlikely, though not necessarily impossible; as Xbox continues to filter out exclusives, the title could end up on a “rival” console. Even so, for the time being, there are no official plans for this to happen. 

State of Decay 3 trailer & gameplay analysis

A desolate open-world fight for survival is the overarching theme of the State of Decay 3 trailer. Set two years after the apocalypse, players will navigate the world as seasoned survivors rather than novices. In the second installment, the zombie apocalypse was fresh, with players needing to adapt quickly to survive; in State of Decay 3, the goal is to continue surviving for as long as possible.

This is about “carving out a life” for yourself and other survivors – any remnants of the past are just that: remnants. Arguably, the State of Decay 3 trailer places emphasis on teamwork and thus its multiplayer feature. Although it features a single-player option, this title is designed for multiplayer play. 

Actual State of Decay 3 gameplay is hard to find, as the trailer is predominantly a cinematic glimpse at the world players will be trying to survive in. Still, one can assume that the mechanics seen previously will return, though with improved features. State of Decay 3 is a survival game, meaning the familiar beats of establishing and building bases, as well as fighting off zombie hordes, will be a common occurrence. 

As for how it runs or how intuitive the controls are compared with State of Decay 2, that’s as elusive as its release date, at least for now. 

Ask The Escapist

When will State of Decay 3 be released on PS5?

If State of Decay 3 ever does release on PlayStation, it won’t be anytime soon. The only confirmed platforms to date are Xbox and PC, with that unlikely to change. 

Is State of Decay 3 coming to Game Pass?

Fans will be overjoyed to learn that State of Decay 3 will be on Xbox Game Pass from day one. 

Will State of Decay 3 support crossplay?

Officially, those details remain unknown. Still, industry rumors suggest that crossplay between Xbox and PC will be included.

Is State of Decay 3 open-world or linear?

Just like with the previous installment, State of Decay 3 is an open-world survival experience – you determine how the action unfolds. Unlike Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which benefits from linear storytelling, State of Decay 3 is more of a sandbox experience than character-driven. 

Do you need to play State of Decay 2 first?

Despite being from the same franchise and following on from the second game’s events, State of Decay 3 is a standalone experience that you can play without prior knowledge of the IP.


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Related Content
Table of Contents
  1. The Escapist recaps
  2. When could State of Decay 3 be released?
  3. Expected State of Decay 3 price & pre-orders
  4. State of Decay 3 platforms
  5. State of Decay 3 trailer & gameplay analysis
  6. Ask The Escapist
Related Content
Table of Contents
  1. The Escapist recaps
  2. When could State of Decay 3 be released?
  3. Expected State of Decay 3 price & pre-orders
  4. State of Decay 3 platforms
  5. State of Decay 3 trailer & gameplay analysis
  6. Ask The Escapist
Related Content
Table of Contents
  1. The Escapist recaps
  2. When could State of Decay 3 be released?
  3. Expected State of Decay 3 price & pre-orders
  4. State of Decay 3 platforms
  5. State of Decay 3 trailer & gameplay analysis
  6. Ask The Escapist
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Emma Flint
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Ever since Emma watched her mum play Alex Kidd back in the early 90s, she’s loved gaming. Now a Features Writer, with a particular fondness for RPGs, you can often find Emma starting yet another playthrough of the Dragon Age series. But she isn’t just a dedicated fangirl; she also has over 13 years of feature writing experience, having written for WIRED, The Guardian, TechRadar, and Inverse, to name but a few.
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Sam Smith
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Sam is Escapist's Features Editor and has been obsessed with gaming since he first discovered Sonic the Hedgehog in the mid-1990s. Since then, he’s collected nearly every console and adores all things Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox equally. After completing his journalism degree, Sam steered his career towards writing about games and has never looked back, with bylines at Dexerto, GamesRadar, Insider Gaming, Soundsphere, and more. He’s also fully NCTJ accredited. He’s also likely to be that annoying person who keeps beating you in Elden Ring’s Colosseum.