Summary
Developer Undead Labs has enlisted the help of two new game studios, The Coalition and Obsidian Entertainment, to work onState of Decay 3. Undead Labs hopes to foster new talent to assist with the game’s online co-op flexibility and to utilize Unreal Engine 5, the graphics software used in the latest trailer.State of Decay 3will be the first title released following Microsoft’s acquisition of Undead Labs in 2018 and the release ofState of Decay 2, and will mark a first-time collaboration with third-party studios outside of Undead Labs and Xbox Game Studios.
The originalState of Decaywas released in 2013 and tasked players with surviving a zombie apocalypse by scavenging for resources in the desolate Trumbull Valley and taking down the undead.Players ensure their survival by building a base, reinforcing nearby facilities, and rationing food sources by conserving home-grown goods and trading with NPCs. WhileState of Decaywas initially a single-player game, the sequel introduced cooperative gameplay in an open-world environment. Now,State of Decay 3seeks to improve on the multiplayer aspect of its predecessor while also enhancing the single player experience.
Undead Labs and Xbox Game Studios have announced their partnership withGears of Wardeveloper The Coalition and Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behindGroundedandThe Outer Worlds. There are plenty offeaturesState of Decaycould borrow from other zombie games, but Creative Director at Undead Labs, Kevin Patzelt, is after a more novel experience. “We’re heavily emphasizing engaging co-op combat, taking a close look at our level design and approach to how we’re building the world to ensure that players can have a blast smashing and shooting zombies together out in the open world. To support that effort, combat needs to be downright fun. We’re looking at deepening our combat systems, our designs for enemy behaviors, and our animation fidelity to level up the moment-to-moment experience across the board,“Patzelt said toXbox Wire.
If there’s one major asset that has benefitedState of Decay, it’sthe freedom of an open-world environment. In regard to enhancing this key component, Studio Head and Head of Product Philip Holt has entrusted the use of Unreal Engine 5 to Obsidian Entertainment. “It’s all in-game assets, all rendered from the game, and it’s a depiction of a typical scene that you would encounter in a four-player co-op session. We wanted to give you a representative feel of what the game would be like, but also tell a story,” Holt stated.
Unreal Engine 5 launched in 2022 and many developers flocked to snag the latest product, which has been used to craft the new generation of video games as well as to improve existing ones. Some of thebiggest games to bring Unreal Engine 5 into playincludeFortnite,Tekken 8, and several upcoming games, such asArcheAge 2, theSilent Hill 2remake, andMarvel 1943: Ride of Hydra. WithState of Decay 3, it has become evident that Undead Labs and its collaborators intend to turn things up a notch to improve the game’s overall quality and allow it to stand out against its competitors and predecessors.
Undead Labs believes in “investing time” in a customizable experience that’s tailor-made for each player.State of Decay 3promises a visual ride that’s just as cinematic as it is practical and engaging to play.TheState of Decay 3trailer clearly tells a story, but the obvious graphical improvements were the first thing to grab people’s attention, painting a clear image of how Undead Labs intends to take the franchise to even greater heights.
State of Decay 3
WHERE TO PLAY
State of Decay 3 is an open-world survival game set years after a zombie apocalypse nearly wiped out humankind. An evolving zombie threat is taking over the landscape and you need to carve out a life for your community of survivalist homesteaders.The choices you make affect in-game events and storylines, so be careful: if one of your community members falls to the zombie horde, you’ll lose that character and their abilities forever. Every risk must be weighed against the reward!With online multiplayer for up to 4 players, start a community together from scratch with your friends in a shared, persistent world. You’ll all be able to build, develop, and expand a base that reflects your designs and choices.
