State of Decay 3 Offers a Next-Generation Glimpse of the Popular Zombie Survival Franchise

I’ve always been an immense fan of State of Decay and other zombie survival games. There’s something about the way that this franchise is executed that feels far more genuine than other open-world zombie games out there. With the third one on the way, we’re finally seeing the game hit the next generation of gaming. The Xbox‘s Showcase during the Summer Game Fest gave us an incredible look at what we can expect and how it differs from what we’ve come to know about the franchise to this point.

The previous two installments have never followed a structured structured story, making each game session incredibly unique per player. The world and the people in it change as their homes become crowded with survivors and zombies start checking off more and more people. State of Decay 3 takes that core concept of community and cranks it up to 11. In fact, developer Undead Labs even felt that a change to their logo would be fitting considering the changes they want to make to this new title.

State of Decay 3 Brings Survival Back to Xbox

The above trailer as well as an interview with the devs gives fans a glimpse at four players. Of the four, three of them begin in different places of the world. Rather than have all the players and characters start in the same place, they’re given more of a shared experience. Yes, players will all be able to get to the same locations, it will just have to be via different means. Using this, players will also be able to get the most cohesive and flexible online co-op. Of course, you still need to be careful even if you’re with friends because the permadeath feature is being brought back.

If you play a character for too long, they will grow in various ways according to how you’ve carried them. However, all of that is gone the moment they day, forcing you to focus on a different in-game character. You’re still able to switch between characters as you did in previous games, ensuring you are able to get a good grip on all of the playable characters. The visceral and reactive combat will also be returning, with Undead Labs promising much more realistic dismemberment and gore. The latest generation of gaming is no stranger to the depths of violence, so it’s going to be incredibly exciting to see what they can do with Unreal Engine 5.

I’m genuinely hoping to see a game that’s far more my own than any other State of Decay—or really any zombie survival game—that’s come before it. I want the way that vehicles are crafted and the scratches and stains that come from a life of killing zombies to forever be a part of my characters. After watching the trailer and seeing how the game will be handled, I’m more than excited for when I can enjoy the post-apocalyptic setting once more.

State of Decay 3 will be available for Xbox and PC.