The project, despite its announcement, initially existed solely as a text document.
Last week, Undead Labs finally provided an update on State of Decay 3. After many years of eager anticipation, the developers confirmed that the first alpha test for the open-world zombie survival game is scheduled to begin next month, offering fans their initial opportunity to experience the long-awaited title.
Nearly eight years have elapsed since the release of State of Decay 2, and public interest in a sequel has consistently grown. However, the extended period of silence surrounding the third installment sparked numerous questions, especially given that the project was unveiled long before any substantial development work had commenced.
In an interview with Sunny Games, studio head Philip Holt conceded that the announcement indeed came “too early.” According to Holt, when the initial trailer debuted six years ago, the game, in essence, did not exist.
“We literally had neither a team nor the game itself. Everything existed only as a Word document.”
— Philip Holt, Undead Labs.
The trailer, produced by Blur Studio, was entirely pre-rendered and merely showcased a conceptual vision for the upcoming game. It depicted survivors navigating a snow-covered environment and encountering infected animals – an element that seemed poised to introduce a new dynamic to the series. Nevertheless, the developers have now clarified that zombie animals will not be featured in the final game.