Undead Labs Regains Independence, Continues to Partner with Xbox for State of Decay 3

Undead Labs has regained its independence after buying itself back from Microsoft. The studio behind the State of Decay series was part of a major Xbox restructuring, but it's now free to operate outside the Xbox structure.

In an official statement on the State of Decay website, Philip Holt, the studio head, said that independence will allow the team to focus on game development and interact more closely with their community. He expressed gratitude towards Microsoft for years of cooperation, acknowledging that they've been part of the State of Decay story from its beginning.

Despite no longer being affiliated with Xbox, Undead Labs' upcoming game, State of Decay 3, will still be available on Game Pass on day one, regardless of which company publishes it. The studio's relationship with Xbox dates back to 2013, when the first State of Decay was released in collaboration with Xbox and originally created for Xbox Live Arcade.

Jeff Strain, Undead Labs' founder, previously worked on MMOs like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars before co-founding Undead Labs. This development marks a significant shift in the studio's status, allowing them to pursue their creative vision without external constraints.