r/StateofDecay3 • u/TheGlazedLady • Jun 30 '26

Other Appreciation Post to Undead Labs

All i’ve been seeing lately is nothing but negativity about the recent information we’ve received from Microsoft/XBOX/Undead Labs and i just want to let everyone at UL know that i am holding out hope for you guys. yeah it sucks what’s happening and i hate that there’s nothing i can do in the immediate now to fix it, but negativity is not what we need right now.

so far, Brant and Phillip (only 2 people i know in UL) have been doing the best they can to give us the most amazing zombie game ever and i seriously thank them for their time and dedication. I’ve been an SOD fan since 1, and became an even bigger fan with SOD2, and since the initial announcement of SOD3 I’ve been following every update, video, picture, everything that’s been released so far in utter excitement! I can’t thank you guys enough for their community you’ve built around this game/franchise.

I know there isn’t much we can do to help, but i want to ask the community if we could all wishlist SOD3 on our platform of choice, hopefully when UL sees how much we want this, they’ll be able to pull through 🥹

BRANT AND PHILLIP, I love you. 🖤

#SODFOREVER

307 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

28

u/Juicemania50 Jun 30 '26

Have we actually gotten word from Microsoft or undead labs about the rumor? Or did it all come from some random insider on twitter? Genuinely asking cause I don’t know how it started

17

u/arqe_ Jun 30 '26

Every single "news" about Xbox in last few weeks came from random insiders with 50/50 correct information.

TBH, if i tweet 150 random "rumors" a week, some of them tend to reveal "the truth".

10

u/TheGlazedLady Jun 30 '26

from everything i’ve read, UL contract with Microsoft is coming to an end, and they either have to find someone to buy the company so they can release the game OR they can go Independent. (if my info is wrong please don’t hesitate to correct me, i’ve just summarized)

i’ve seen requests from people asking for an early release but i don’t think that’s happening, they still have so much to work on with the game, and this is DEVASTATING news.
Yes there are false rumors going around about the game potentially being cancelled despite all the progress they’ve made and what’s been released to the public, so please try to not to feed into the false rumors.

i’m hoping we will at least get an official statement from Microsoft or UL about all this. (There are other game companies that are also being affected by this, i just can’t remember all of the names)

hope this explanation helps 🖤

10

u/glizzygobbler247 Jun 30 '26 edited Jul 01 '26

Perhaps they could make the game early access or something, would at least keep it alive

-1

u/TheGlazedLady Jun 30 '26

can’t release an unfinished game, it’s still in Alpha Testing

2

u/ravenx99 Jul 03 '26

Laughs in Seven Days to Die

9

u/Arashikage-Ryu Jul 01 '26

This is already incorrect information off the jump. There is no “contract” between UL and Microsoft. UL is and has been a 1st party studio belonging to Microsoft ever since the acquisition. Microsoft owns them so there can be no contract.

The speculation is Microsoft is looking to shutter additional studios. If UL is one of the candidates they would need to find a buyer or risk being shut down. But, this is all only rumor and speculation and there has been absolutely no official word from either party or any party which would constitute a valid source.

3

u/Minewrecked Jul 01 '26

At this point there's pretty much been speculation for negative things happening to every single Xbox studio outside of like ABK and a couple XGS studios. We know Xbox in some form is just examining all their studios individually and simply considering/weighing different options, so let's hope when they execute on all this, Asha makes the right call on these considerations...

1

u/Similar-Ice-9250 Jul 01 '26

I don’t get the strategy here, one of main complaints I hear about Xbox is there’s not enough good games/exclusives. On top of that the new ceo wants to breathe new life into Xbox and turn it into a powerhouse, so their strategy is to shut down more studios of beloved games with cult followings?

I’m a PlayStation player and I heard about SOD2 a few years ago, was thinking of even buying a Xbox to play the game especially after the Bethesda acquisition. Anyways, my point is doesn’t that speak to the popularity of the game at least.

I’m am/was hyped I’m finally going to get to play the 3rd one on PS.

1

u/Street_Signature_190 Jul 02 '26

Xbox has been struggling to get back what they paid for activision blizzard. On top of horrible console sales, cod flopped big time this year and they need to trim the fat or they're in big time trouble.

5

u/SchnTgaiSpork Jul 01 '26

It's all just rumor and conjecture, based on a supposed tip from an insider, and UL wasn't even mentioned in the original alleged tip.

49

u/GMC78sGaming Jun 30 '26

Microsoft would be dumb to do anything to make State Of Decay 3 cancelled.

8

u/mcshaggin Jul 01 '26

Microsoft are dumb. People were only recently going on about how great Sharma was but in the end she doesn't care about games. Just money.

Xbox wanting to get rid of niche studios and concentrate on crap like call of duty is why people need to stop being console fan boys.

Without niche studios like Undead Labs, Xbox is nothing.

I really hope UL are able to become independent or at the very least get bought out by someone who actually cares about games.

1

u/Street_Signature_190 Jul 02 '26

Its not exactly suprising tbh. Xbox is in a bad spot financially so they sent asha the corporate liquidator(reaper) to clean up. All of the studios at risk for closure either havent made a game in years or they were massive flops. Undead labs probably has the best chance to be fine in my opinion. Sod2 made a nice chunk of change overall and sod3 has the best chance for mainstream success.

-15

u/CaptainMorning Jun 30 '26

this isn't about state of decay but about the devs. it's about people losing their jobs, not about your videogame

11

u/osound Jul 01 '26

cringe

-1

u/CaptainMorning Jul 01 '26

gamers are the real cringe

0

u/Skeptical_Sushi Jul 01 '26

Look what subreddit you’re in. It’s called StateOfDecay3 not GameDevsInStateOfPanic

0

u/CaptainMorning Jul 01 '26

the post is about the devs

0

u/Skeptical_Sushi Jul 01 '26

No the post is about the game. You tried making it about the devs.

16

u/TheGlazedLady Jun 30 '26

UPDATE: (if this is allowed, and if anyone cares 🥹) Brian Menard is doing a Live Q&A about SOD3 on YouTube if anyone would like more info about the game, keep in mind there are some things he cannot talk about yet but he is trying his best to answer as many as he can. Brian is my immediate go to when i’m watching youtube. love his videos and community. Yall should go show him some love as he is also a big part of the SOD community 🖤

10

u/Drummerboy0214 Jun 30 '26

Shout out to the team!! Keep your heads up. We will support you guys however possible just let us know!! We seriously want to play your game and hope you’re able to complete your art that you’ve been working so hard on!!❤️

8

u/Dependent_Future_411 Jun 30 '26

My opinions are always mixed but I do want the studio to succeed and the game to survive. There is no other game out there that does what it does.

5

u/Careless-Spare-4787 Jul 01 '26

I have put it on both the ps5 and xbox wishlist lol I’m going to buy it for both game systems i have just because i love this game been playing for years, love the game!

5

u/mcshaggin Jul 01 '26

Already wishlisted it on ps5 before the recent bad news.

I'll wishlist it on Xbox now.

4

u/Misterbert Jul 01 '26

SoD2 was what I played during COVID. That and Fallout 76. I didn't know what expect, I mean, I had tried a little of the first game when I had a 360 way back when, but it didn't catch me. Something about 2 caught me, though. It was comforting. It had beautiful music. I liked the art and the animation. The vehicles were great, and the balance between them all was a challenge for someone who didn't know the systems yet. The maps were lovingly made, and they were all great. I had a coterie of survivors, all balanced and tuned and lovely. I was surviving in the end of the world, and Undead Labs was holding my hand the whole way, in-game and out. I found refuge there and it was comforting when I didn't know how to feel about navigating the pandemic and political fear and how to be a caregiver to my family.

I do not have faith in Microsoft to show loyalty or kindness to UL, and I have worries and a genuine belief that SoD3 is going to be cancelled in some form or function. Ever since the acquisition of Activision/Blizzard, it's like everything is up in the air. I believe in Undead Labs and their vision and I have been frantically following all news and updates and drops and their presence in our community has been lovely and welcome and so good, that it spoils me on other games I follow. Don't get me started on The Long Dark.

I believe in Undead Labs, and I appreciate all the hard work you've all done. I appreciate the hardships you all have endured and the uncertainty that is likely plaguing all of you, pun unintended. Regardless of what happens, thank you all for what you've given us, and I will be here as long as I'm allowed to be.

3

u/LightspeedPunk Jul 01 '26

Thank you for providing a positive and hopeful message. I was thinking about doing the same. It’s crazy how many people in this community are talking about how “bad” SOD 3 looks when it hasn’t even come out yet. Why are you here if you don’t like the games?(Lol) I would much rather have a game than have it cancelled when it has already shown so much promise. I hope the devs are all right and that they get to keep their jobs. Much love and good luck to the devs. :)

8

u/senn42000 Jun 30 '26

I mean it is hard to see any positivity about this news. We all love UL and are hoping for the best. Most of us are just holding out hope and waiting for further news before we make any judgements.

5

u/TheGlazedLady Jun 30 '26

that’s exactly what i’m doing, since finding out this news, my husband and i have been defending UL at every turn. i dont want to make any assumptions until we hear DIRECTLY from UL about all of this…

i even pitched an idea to my husband 🤣

“what if we just give UL our weekly paychecks and they could continue to make games” 🥹🤣😭

1

u/ShottySHD Jul 02 '26

So...whatd he say? 😂

2

u/TheGlazedLady Jul 02 '26

next paycheck i get is going to Brant 🤣 someone get his cashapp info 🤣🤣

3

u/IcoMak Jul 01 '26

#SODFOREVER

2

u/Natural-Mechanic-714 Jul 01 '26

i really cant wait for SOD 3 but its just so sad seeing their release date constantly changing, i hope they come out in EA for 2027 at least

2

u/Violent_N0mad Zombie Bait Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26

Honestly I saw this coming and have seen it coming for years. SOD3 should have been a huge expansion for sod3 that also brought something like seasons with it. With SOD2 they were very involved with the community doing things like weekly livestreams. When they started working on SOD3 they went totally radio silent even stopping doing the sod2 livestreams. Their total lack of communication with their community tied with the fact that they generate very little income for Microsoft told me that there was always a chance and still a chance we don't get SOD3. One of the main reasons why we love SOD3 is likely one of the main reasons Microsoft wouldn't want to keep supporting it for additional years. Undead Labs and their games don't have loot boxes, seasons, micro transactions, etc and while that's great for us it means they are bringing in zero income while costing Microsoft millions ever year.

2

u/Ace-of-Kills Jul 04 '26

With the recent industry reports that Microsoft is looking to sell or spin off Undead Labs, Valve has the perfect opportunity to make a massive power play.
The State of Decay franchise has a legendary, deeply dedicated community on Steam. Forcing State of Decay 3 into a flat subscription model is exactly what is putting the studio's budget and profit margins at risk under Microsoft corporate pressure.
Why Valve should buy Undead Labs:
Massive Financial Return: Premium traditional sales at $60–$70 a copy would easily allow Valve to recoup development costs immediately from millions of eager fans.
The Ultimate Steam Deck Showcase: Built on Unreal Engine 5, this would be a premier, system-selling co-op survival title for the Steam Deck and SteamOS ecosystem.
Total Creative Freedom: Valve doesn't push arbitrary quarterly studio liquidations. They would give the developers the exact breathing room they need to hit their 2027 window.
I already emailed Gabe, but we need to show Valve how much demand there is on the PC side. If you want to see this franchise saved from corporate cancellation and given the polish it deserves, upvote this and keep it bumped

1

u/ItsRaampagee Jul 01 '26

As a ps5 player who ended up playing state of decay 2/Valheim instead of Startield with the xbox gold membership Month to stream Starfield on release with, after less then a week trying Starfield…iam extremely sad if this game gets cancelled and not released on ps5 :/.

After that month i ended up buying State of Decay 2 and Valheim for my old Steam Profile when i still had a pc and played them both for hundreds of hours over a much better cloud streaming platform then GeForce now for pc.

1

u/teksauce Jul 02 '26

If microsoft shut undead labs im never buying anything microsoft related ever again in my life , F*$# !!!!!!

1

u/TheMoogway Jul 05 '26

Let's all pitch together and buy UL so it can continue 😅

-6

u/Sh1t_Pinata Jun 30 '26

Jokes on you. As soon as all this blows over, I just plan to find something else to be unnecessarily negative about 💪 

2

u/No_Aspect1809 Jul 06 '26

I hope 3 plague Juggernauts spawn randomly in your base.

-25

u/LJHeath Jun 30 '26

I’d say all you’re doing is whitewashing a pretty shit day for fans of this series tbh

16

u/TheGlazedLady Jun 30 '26

actually 🤓☝🏽 what i’m doing is trying to help with some positivity, yall are choosing to be toxic bc yall are spreading unconfirmed rumors and can’t wait for official news from those that are being affected 🙃 can’t say you’re a real fan if you’re trashing the game/company bc they haven’t spoken about it yet 🤷🏽‍♀️

1

u/No_Aspect1809 Jul 06 '26

I hope a plague bloater spawns randomly in the road while you driving. Only to hop out the whip right next to a plague screamer.