Nearly six years after its original reveal during the Xbox Game Showcase 2020, State of Decay 3 is finally entering its first public testing phase. Since its announcement, there have been very few updates on the game, with only a brief gameplay showing in 2024, which led many fans to worry that the project had been delayed or even canceled.
However, fans now have something to feel relieved about, as Undead Labs has officially confirmed that State of Decay 3 is moving forward with an alpha test beginning in May 2026. Registrations are now open for players to sign up for a chance to participate. According to Undead Labs, the May alpha will give selected players early access to key gameplay features, including “4-player co-op, some new base-building and resource strategies, and a whole lot of combat.”
In a post on its official website, the studio explained, “You’ve all been super patient, and we hope you’re as excited as we are that the moment has arrived to start sharing State of Decay 3 with you. We want to be upfront that this first wave of playtests will be limited, but we plan on sharing insights and feedback with everyone as we go, and if you don’t get into this first group, rest assured there will be more opportunities throughout the year.”
The studio also confirmed that this will be the first of several tests planned for this year, so players who are not selected this time may still get another chance later.
While we’re still a long way from a release date, the fact that players are finally getting their hands on State of Decay 3 is a huge deal. It shows that the team has now reached an important stage of development. It’s also worth noting that the Xbox Games Showcase is scheduled for June 2026, so there is a chance we could get an update on the game’s release date or see some additional gameplay footage and reveals. As more information on State of Decay 3 emerges, we’ll be sure to let you know here at GameObserver.
