{"id":2157488,"date":"2026-09-22T16:31:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T13:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2157488"},"modified":"2026-09-22T16:31:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T13:31:55","slug":"undead-labs-goes-independent-after-xbox-separation-confirms-state-of-decay-3-is-still-in-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2157488","title":{"rendered":"Undead Labs Goes Independent After Xbox Separation, Confirms State of Decay 3 Is Still In Development"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-3246540067 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-2044616299 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Undead Labs has confirmed that State of Decay 3 is still in development after the studio separated from Xbox, becoming an independent, employee-owned developer.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Undead Labs shared this information in a September 22 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stateofdecay.com\/undead-labs-becomes-independent-studio\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">blog post<\/a>, where they revealed that State of Decay 3 is currently in alpha, with plans to enter a closed beta by the end of 2026. The game is scheduled to launch in 2027 on Xbox, Game Pass, PC, and PlayStation.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"> \u201cIndependence brings us closer to our community and lets us focus on what matters most: making the best games we can and earning the continued support of the people who choose to spend their time with us,\u201d Studio Head of Undead Labs Phillip Holt said in a statement. \u201cState of Decay exists because millions of players have made that choice over the years, and we\u2019re dedicated to honoring their trust.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cWe\u2019re enormously grateful for our years as part of XBOX and for everything that relationship has made possible. Microsoft has been part of the State of Decay story from the very beginning, and we\u2019re proud of everything we\u2019ve accomplished together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While the latest round of Xbox layoffs has resulted in some baffling business decisions that are leaving fans equal parts confused and concerned, players are largely welcoming Undead Labs&#8217; most recent announcement, particularly the fact that the studio is now owned by its own employees.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Employee owned? That&#8217;s awesome, happy for the crew! I think that is a great sign that the team really believes heavily in the work they&#8217;ve put into State of Decay 3,&#8221; one user wrote on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/StateOfDecay\/comments\/1wnbgbd\/undead_labs_becomes_independent_studio\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reddit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Independent but keeping it on GamePass&#8230; has to be the biggest double win I&#8217;ve seen in a long time. Devs get their studio and subscribers still get to play it. While people who canceled their GamePass just outright buy it,&#8221; another said.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Nice to have some seemingly good news. Not a small feat to free themselves from Xbox,&#8221; another wrote.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Developing&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<section class=\"author-sign-off\" data-cy=\"author-sign-off\"><span class=\"stack jsx-59817748 jsx-1927875859\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-444076027 jsx-4218469134 profile-thumb jsx-2141281959 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Virginia Glaze Avatar\" class=\"progressive-image profile-thumb-img jsx-249361588 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/avatars\/6a3973ecf71dd1001d20de39\/XD1zX2FT-1782150223173.jpg?crop=1%3A1&amp;width=56&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-3630940851\"><span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-702910195 author-sign-off-header\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/person\/virginiaglaze\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-2809511915 bold underlined\">Virginia Glaze<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 muted\">News Editor<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-1220387432\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"author-sign-off-socials\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 author-sign-off-socials\"><button type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"listbox\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-label=\"View social links\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 socials-trigger\"><span title=\"X\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 social-icon-avatar\"><span class=\"ign-icon jsx-2877214176 jsx-2750866048 jsx-2788214270\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"jsx-2877214176\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div role=\"listbox\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2772765485 jsx-4243969252 jsx-3705869475 dropdown-menu jsx-3625955085\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/@TheeMissGlaze\" id=\"author-sign-off-social-twitterHandle\" class=\"menu-item jsx-3565735818 jsx-3927327418\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 menu-item-text\" data-text=\"X\">X<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"ign-icon icon-twitter jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-twitter\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 sign-off-text\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Virginia (she\/her) is IGN\u2019s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she\u2019s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheeMissGlaze\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer\"><em>@TheeMissGlaze<\/em><\/a><em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"jsx-2511205168 preferred-source\"><strong class=\"jsx-2511205168\">Get IGN&#8217;s Biggest Stories FIRST. Set Us as Your Source.<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.ign.com\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--secondary jsx-3027214138 icon-button contained centered large\" title=\"Add Source\" aria-label=\"Add Source\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ign-icon icon-google jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-google\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Google.9e99a9d7.svg?cors=0\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 large\">Add Source<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Undead Labs has confirmed that State of Decay 3 is still in development after the studio separated from Xbox, becoming an independent, employee-owned developer.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Undead Labs shared this information in a September 22 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stateofdecay.com\/undead-labs-becomes-independent-studio\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">blog post<\/a>, where they revealed that State of Decay 3 is currently in alpha, with plans to enter a closed beta by the end of 2026. The game is scheduled to launch in 2027 on Xbox, Game Pass, PC, and PlayStation.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"> \u201cIndependence brings us closer to our community and lets us focus on what matters most: making the best games we can and earning the continued support of the people who choose to spend their time with us,\u201d Studio Head of Undead Labs Phillip Holt said in a statement. \u201cState of Decay exists because millions of players have made that choice over the years, and we\u2019re dedicated to honoring their trust.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cWe\u2019re enormously grateful for our years as part of XBOX and for everything that relationship has made possible. Microsoft has been part of the State of Decay story from the very beginning, and we\u2019re proud of everything we\u2019ve accomplished together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While the latest round of Xbox layoffs has resulted in some baffling business decisions that are leaving fans equal parts confused and concerned, players are largely welcoming Undead Labs&#8217; most recent announcement, particularly the fact that the studio is now owned by its own employees.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Employee owned? That&#8217;s awesome, happy for the crew! I think that is a great sign that the team really believes heavily in the work they&#8217;ve put into State of Decay 3,&#8221; one user wrote on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/StateOfDecay\/comments\/1wnbgbd\/undead_labs_becomes_independent_studio\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reddit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Independent but keeping it on GamePass&#8230; has to be the biggest double win I&#8217;ve seen in a long time. Devs get their studio and subscribers still get to play it. While people who canceled their GamePass just outright buy it,&#8221; another said.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Nice to have some seemingly good news. Not a small feat to free themselves from Xbox,&#8221; another wrote.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Developing&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<section class=\"author-sign-off\" data-cy=\"author-sign-off\"><span class=\"stack jsx-59817748 jsx-1927875859\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-444076027 jsx-4218469134 profile-thumb jsx-2141281959 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Virginia Glaze Avatar\" class=\"progressive-image profile-thumb-img jsx-249361588 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/avatars\/6a3973ecf71dd1001d20de39\/XD1zX2FT-1782150223173.jpg?crop=1%3A1&amp;width=56&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-3630940851\"><span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-702910195 author-sign-off-header\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/person\/virginiaglaze\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-2809511915 bold underlined\">Virginia Glaze<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 muted\">News Editor<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-1220387432\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"author-sign-off-socials\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 author-sign-off-socials\"><button type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"listbox\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-label=\"View social links\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 socials-trigger\"><span title=\"X\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 social-icon-avatar\"><span class=\"ign-icon jsx-2877214176 jsx-2750866048 jsx-2788214270\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"jsx-2877214176\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div role=\"listbox\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2772765485 jsx-4243969252 jsx-3705869475 dropdown-menu jsx-3625955085\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/@TheeMissGlaze\" id=\"author-sign-off-social-twitterHandle\" class=\"menu-item jsx-3565735818 jsx-3927327418\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 menu-item-text\" data-text=\"X\">X<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"ign-icon icon-twitter jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-twitter\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 sign-off-text\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Virginia (she\/her) is IGN\u2019s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she\u2019s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheeMissGlaze\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer\"><em>@TheeMissGlaze<\/em><\/a><em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/section>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Undead Labs has confirmed that State of Decay 3 is still in development after the studio separated from Xbox, becoming an independent, employee-owned developer. Undead Labs shared this information in a September 22 blog post, where they revealed that State of Decay 3 is currently in alpha, with plans to enter a closed beta by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-2157488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2157488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2157488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2157488\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2157488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2157488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2157488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}