Undead Labs has revealed new development details for State of Decay 3. Following the studio's independence, the project has shifted its development focus to dedicate more effort to polishing the single-player survival experience, while still retaining co-op multiplayer modes.
Studio head Phil Holt stated that the game is progressing as planned, with the team facing no major issues. Cooperative gameplay is no longer the overwhelming core focus; solo players will receive more comprehensive system support, including the return of the single-player pause feature long requested by the community.
The combat system has been almost entirely rebuilt from the ground up, aiming to place greater emphasis on tactical decision-making when fighting zombies. Survivor communities will also be expanded, capable of housing dozens of members. Dynamic weather will do more than just change visuals; it will affect road conditions, vehicle traction, crop yields, and water reserves, while also altering how infected detect and hear players.
Undead Labs retained the rights to the series after leaving Xbox and has partnered with a new, yet-to-be-announced publisher. State of Decay 3 is still planned for Xbox Game Pass, though no release date has been announced yet.