Undead Labs Has Announced State of Decay 3 Beta
The developer opened sign-ups for early access on PC following the franchise's shift away from its former publisher.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Gaming
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Undead Labs has officially opened sign-ups for an upcoming beta test for State of Decay 3, with priority access granted to PC users. This development follows the studio's departure from Xbox earlier this year.
Why it matters
The beta launch represents a pivotal milestone for the studio, which first announced the project in 2020 to solidify its standing within the industry. It marks a shift for the series, which has historically relied on Xbox as its primary publisher and platform partner.
The State of Decay franchise has grown to 25 million total players since the launch of State of Decay 2 in 2018. The beta test for the third installment currently requires Discord account authorization for waitlist sign-ups.
The players
Undead Labs
This independent game development studio is best known for creating the State of Decay survival franchise.
Xbox
This gaming division of Microsoft served as the original publisher for the State of Decay series and remains a primary Game Pass partner.
The details
Interested participants can now register for the playtest through the official website, though the initial phase is exclusive to PC users. Future iterations of the test are expected to expand to Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
Timeline
State of Decay 2 was released in 2018.
Undead Labs announced State of Decay 3 in 2020.
The developer departed from Xbox in July 2026.
The beta program was announced in October 2026.
The full game release is scheduled for 2027.
Roadmap
State of Decay 3 continues the franchise's reliance on the Microsoft Game Pass platform to reach its massive, established player base. This release signals how even independent studios are maintaining ties to major subscription ecosystems to ensure day-one visibility.
Players looking to participate in the upcoming test must authorize their Discord accounts through the official playtest website to join the waitlist. Those playing on consoles will need to wait for future test phases to gain access to the game.
The takeaway
The transition to a multi-platform release strategy marks a significant evolution for the survival franchise's long-term accessibility. Prospective players should prepare by ensuring their Discord accounts are ready for the upcoming sign-up verification process.
Further reading
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