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State of Decay 3 is still planned to launch day one on Xbox Game Pass, according to Undead Labs studio head Philip Holt. The studio’s reported employee buyout changed who owns Undead Labs, but Holt said Game Pass remains central to reaching the players the game’s four-player co-op is designed to bring together. That is the studio’s stated plan—not a disclosed contract or a guaranteed launch arrangement.
Why Game Pass remains part of the plan
In an interview published October 6, 2026, Holt said Game Pass helped the franchise reach an audience of 25 million players. That number is Holt’s statement in the interview, not a separately identified independent measurement or audit. He described a mix of churn and long-term attachment: some subscribers try a game and move on, while players who connect with the series may remain fans for years.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
State of Decay 2 - Ultimate Edition - Xbox One | $100.16 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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State of Decay- Year-One Survival Edition | $35.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Desperados 3 - Xbox One | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
No More Heroes 3 – Day 1 Edition - Xbox Series X | $21.79 | Buy on Amazon |
Holt summed up the service’s importance this way: “I don’t know that we’d be in the place we are today if not for the Game Pass audience.” His point was that the subscription audience introduced the franchise to players who might otherwise not have tried it.
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Holt called State of Decay 3’s planned four-player shared-world co-op its largest investment. A broad audience, he argued, gives players more opportunity to find friends to play with and invite them into the game—including friends on other platforms. He said: “Our biggest investment by far is the four-player co-op shared world, so a large audience that comes through Game Pass becomes a huge benefit.”
#1 Best Overall
- State of Decay 2 Ultimate Edition includes early access to the full game, a code for the original State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition on console, and a code for two add-on content packs: Independence Pack and Daybreak Pack
- Build your community and invite up to three friends to explore an open world filled with hostile zombies Four Player Co-Op Multiplayer Establish a base, develop your characters and manage resources to survive in a post-apocalyptic world
- Model Compatibility: Xbox One;Xbox One X Enhanced with higher resolutions, steadier framerates and better effects
- Pre-order now to get the Amazon exclusive Survivor’s Pack Includes the Zed Swatter melee weapon, an exclusive vehicle and an assortment of survival supplies and abilities - Codes will be received within 7 days of release
This is Holt’s strategic rationale for keeping Game Pass in the launch plan. The interview does not provide independent evidence that the approach will increase sales, player numbers, or retention.
What Undead Labs leaving Xbox means
The Game Business reports that Microsoft accepted a management-led acquisition offer. Holt formed Full Measure as the acquisition vehicle, and employees hold its shares; the interview describes Undead Labs as employee-owned after the transition. State of Decay 3 also has a new publisher, but the article does not name it.
Rank #2
- Unlocking Heroes: Lifeline Roster
- New weapons: Under-barrel attachments and Incendiary Ammo
- New Music
- Community Improvements
Holt described the buyout as a way to raise the remaining capital needed to finish the game while continuing as an independent studio. “As an independent, we really get to serve an audience,” he said. That change in ownership does not, by itself, establish that the Game Pass plan has been canceled—or that it is contractually guaranteed.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDevelopment status and reported release target
At the time of the October 6, 2026 interview, State of Decay 3 was in alpha and targeted for release in 2027. No exact launch date was given, so 2027 should be read as the reported target at that time rather than a confirmed release date.
Rank #3
- Command up to five desperados and use their lethal skills to stealthily thin out the enemy rows
- Approach each mission with a variety of different solutions and paths
- Resolve seemingly impossible large enemy setups with careful planning and perfectly timed execution of the team's special skills
- Witness the glory of classic Wild West scenarios like frontier towns, desert canyons, Mississippi swamps, sprawling modern cities and many more by day and night
- Defeat your foes choosing between deadly and non-lethal options, stealth and blazing guns and further adjust the game to your playstyle
Holt said staffing was reduced after the transition and the project needed changes, but not a radical rescope. He declined to state how many people were affected. The interview names Virtuos, Wushu, and Blind Squirrel as co-development teams and reports Holt’s statement that the studio had the runway it needed to bring the game to market.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the interview does—and does not—confirm
- Planned: Holt said State of Decay 3 was still intended to launch day one on Game Pass.
- Not disclosed: The interview does not reveal the publisher’s name or the terms of any Game Pass agreement.
- Not guaranteed: A stated plan is not a contractual assurance, and the 2027 target is not an exact date.
These details come from Christopher Dring’s interview with Holt, published by The Game Business on October 6, 2026.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Day 1 Edition contains a 5.3” x 7.3” softcover 70-page art book, a CD featuring select songs from the soundtrack, and a 7” x 4” Santa Destroy commemorative biker license plate, all in a custom box with an original illustration
- Grow Your Galactic Legend - In classic No More Heroes style, the Galactic Superhero Rankings are packed with outrageous boss battles, each oozing with personality; Soar through the ranks and prove you're the baddest in the universe
- Old Dog, New Tricks - From beam katana boss to wrestling pro, Travis can do it all; Take violence to new extremes with the customizable Death Glove, and punish those deadly invaders with combat that suits your style
- Superheroic Side Hustles - Explore Santa Destroy on Travis’ Demzamtiger to pick up odd jobs, from Coast Guard missions to toilet cleaning, then hit the road to unique locales like Neo Brazil and Thunderdome to keep the cash rolling in
- Bolder, Badder, and Better Than Ever - Thanks to sharper visuals, No More Heroes 3 has never looked better; Add in improved load times and better responsiveness, and you’ll be dishing out eye-popping ultra-violence in no time
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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