What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
State of Decay 3 is still planned to launch day one on Xbox Game Pass, according to Undead Labs studio head Philip Holt. In an interview published October 6, 2026, Holt said the service helped the franchise reach a large audience, while the game’s planned four-player shared-world co-op gives players a reason to bring friends along. That is Holt’s explanation of the plan—not a disclosed publishing contract or a guarantee.
Why Game Pass remains in the plan
Holt said Game Pass helped the State of Decay franchise reach 25 million players. That figure is his interview statement; the interview does not identify an independent measurement or audit. He described the audience as a mix: some subscribers try a game and move on, while others stay with the series for years and become fans who are interested in the next installment. “I don’t know that we’d be in the place we are today if not for the Game Pass audience,” he said.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
State of Decay 2 - Ultimate Edition - Xbox One | $100.16 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
State of Decay- Year-One Survival Edition | $35.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Desperados 3 - Xbox One | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
No More Heroes 3 – Day 1 Edition - Xbox Series X | $21.79 | Buy on Amazon |
Co-op gives the service strategic value
Holt called State of Decay 3’s planned four-player shared world the game’s biggest investment. His argument is that a broad Game Pass audience can help players find the game, play with friends, and invite others to join. “Our biggest investment by far is the four-player co-op shared world, so a large audience that comes through Game Pass becomes a huge benefit.” This is the studio head’s strategic rationale, not independently demonstrated evidence of future sales or player growth.
What Undead Labs leaving Xbox means
The Game Business reported that Microsoft accepted a management-led acquisition offer. Holt formed Full Measure as the acquisition vehicle, and employees hold shares in it; the interview describes Undead Labs as employee-owned after the transition. The studio also has a new publisher for State of Decay 3, but the article did not identify that publisher.
#1 Best Overall
- State of Decay 2 Ultimate Edition includes early access to the full game, a code for the original State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition on console, and a code for two add-on content packs: Independence Pack and Daybreak Pack
- Build your community and invite up to three friends to explore an open world filled with hostile zombies Four Player Co-Op Multiplayer Establish a base, develop your characters and manage resources to survive in a post-apocalyptic world
- Model Compatibility: Xbox One;Xbox One X Enhanced with higher resolutions, steadier framerates and better effects
- Pre-order now to get the Amazon exclusive Survivor’s Pack Includes the Zed Swatter melee weapon, an exclusive vehicle and an assortment of survival supplies and abilities - Codes will be received within 7 days of release
Holt described the buyout as a way to secure the remaining capital needed to finish the game while continuing independently. “As an independent, we really get to serve an audience,” he said. In other words, the change in studio ownership did not, according to Holt, remove the planned Game Pass launch. The interview does not explain the contractual or commercial terms behind that plan.
What is known about development and timing
At the time of the October 6, 2026 interview, Holt said the game was in alpha and scheduled for release the following year, 2027. No exact date was given, so 2027 is a reported target, not a guaranteed launch date.
Rank #2
- Unlocking Heroes: Lifeline Roster
- New weapons: Under-barrel attachments and Incendiary Ammo
- New Music
- Community Improvements
Holt said staffing was reduced after the transition and development required changes, but not a radical rescope. The interview names Virtuos, Wushu, and Blind Squirrel as co-development teams. Holt said the studio had the runway it needed to bring the game to market, but declined to give a number for the staff reductions.
What the interview says about State of Decay 2
Holt said Undead Labs had released 38 updates for State of Decay 2, with the most recent arriving in November 2024. The figure and timing are his statements in the 2026 interview, rather than figures attributed there to an independent study.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Command up to five desperados and use their lethal skills to stealthily thin out the enemy rows
- Approach each mission with a variety of different solutions and paths
- Resolve seemingly impossible large enemy setups with careful planning and perfectly timed execution of the team's special skills
- Witness the glory of classic Wild West scenarios like frontier towns, desert canyons, Mississippi swamps, sprawling modern cities and many more by day and night
- Defeat your foes choosing between deadly and non-lethal options, stealth and blazing guns and further adjust the game to your playstyle
Source
Christopher Dring, “How Undead Labs saved itself and State of Decay from oblivion,” The Game Business, October 6, 2026. Read the interview.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Day 1 Edition contains a 5.3” x 7.3” softcover 70-page art book, a CD featuring select songs from the soundtrack, and a 7” x 4” Santa Destroy commemorative biker license plate, all in a custom box with an original illustration
- Grow Your Galactic Legend - In classic No More Heroes style, the Galactic Superhero Rankings are packed with outrageous boss battles, each oozing with personality; Soar through the ranks and prove you're the baddest in the universe
- Old Dog, New Tricks - From beam katana boss to wrestling pro, Travis can do it all; Take violence to new extremes with the customizable Death Glove, and punish those deadly invaders with combat that suits your style
- Superheroic Side Hustles - Explore Santa Destroy on Travis’ Demzamtiger to pick up odd jobs, from Coast Guard missions to toilet cleaning, then hit the road to unique locales like Neo Brazil and Thunderdome to keep the cash rolling in
- Bolder, Badder, and Better Than Ever - Thanks to sharper visuals, No More Heroes 3 has never looked better; Add in improved load times and better responsiveness, and you’ll be dishing out eye-popping ultra-violence in no time
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
