State of Decay 3 Alpha Tests Begin in May: Register Now

Undead Labs has opened registrations for the first community alpha playtests of State of Decay 3, which are scheduled to begin in May.

The developer is inviting players to register for a chance to participate via a dedicated portal at playtest.stateofdecay.com. State of Decay co-creator Brant Fitzgerald stated that the alpha will feature four-player cooperative gameplay, new strategies for resource management and base-building and a significant focus on combat.

Development Timeline

The third installment of the zombie survival shooter was first announced in July 2020 with a short cinematic trailer. Following that initial reveal, official updates remained sporadic for several years, with the next public update appearing in 2024 through another cinematic trailer. During this interval, the developer, Undead Labs, underwent a rebranding exercise.

Reports indicate that at the time of its original 2020 presentation, the game existed primarily as a conceptual document. Despite the extended development period, early reactions to the title’s pre-alpha stage have been reported as very positive.

Playtest Logistics

Undead Labs has clarified that the first wave of these playtests will be limited in size. The studio intends to share insights and feedback derived from these sessions with the wider community as development progresses.

For those not selected for the initial group, the developer has confirmed that further opportunities to participate in playtests will be provided throughout the remainder of the year.