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Microsoft's State of Decay 3 developer Undead Labs this week lifted the lid on a new logo as it enters a "new era". As part of this, it's provided an update on the size of the company, which was originally founded back in 2009.
As explained by the studio's head Philip Holt, when the first State of Decay game launched on Xbox 360 in 2013, the developer was made up of "maybe 20 people". The second game then shipped in 2018 on Xbox One, Windows and Game Pass when the team was around 60 - 65 people and now the team is apparently "double that size or greater".
"You know we're part of the first-party organization [Microsoft], we're part of one of the largest content producing organizations in the world now. And well on our way to making State of Decay 3."
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As shown in a brief image above, Undead Labs' flagship studio is located in downtown Seattle, WA and the developer has satellite studios in Champaign, IL and Orlando, FL.
Based on Holt's latest comments, Gamesradar estimates the current employee count at Undead Labs to be made up of "at least 120 - 130 developers". The studio also recently revealed how it's now shifted its full "focus and resources" to State of Decay 3 now that it has completed work on State of Decay 2.
Have you played the State of Decay series on Xbox? Are you looking forward to the third game? Let us know in the comments.
[source youtu.be, via gamesradar.com]
Comments 10
Pretty reassuring to see at least one Xbox dev not getting chopped down as of late, but they also make it sound like SoD3 has barely got off the ground...
It might just be the wording. I hope.
@Elbow yes. I was pretty disheartened when they recently said they were finally done with SoD2 and moving fully to SoD3. Again it might be poor wording, but it it seems a ways off which is disappointing as it was announced way back in 2020 and has had multiple trailers.
Surprised they're still around, thought sod2 was barebones and really below par especially for a first party title.
Also only released two games in 11 years which even for a microsoft studio is ridiculous.
@Cherip-the-Ripper SoD2 was getting content updates as of like a week ago
Wushu Studios was doing the updates and content for State Of Decay 2.@themightyant
@TheGameThrifter @Wisegamer I dearly hope you are both right, but I believe Wushu were only assisting on updates, Undead were still leading them. They also only just announced a month or so ago that they were now moving to full production on SoD3 so it’s likely a ways off. But I’d love to be wrong.
Love this game. I'm hoping for a SOD3 release late next year. They have completed all updates for SOD2 so to go "dark" longer than that would be an issue I think.
I've said a few times before, @Elbow, @themightyant and @Wisegamer, I think SoD, Gears of War: E-Day, Perfect Dark and Blade will all be launch titles (or soon after) for the NeXtBoX.
All 4 of these games lacked the Series X/S logo when they were shown at the Summer Showcase this year. They were the only 4 titles not to have the logo.
With the rumour being that the NeXtBoX will release in 2026, I think it safe to say that we will be waiting two years or more before SoD is ready to play...
@Fiendish-Beaver I agree that all ofd those titles will be 2026 and part of the launcch line up for the next console/handheld... But at the same time, all of those games will be cross gen for Series X/S consoles too. Just play better on the newer console.
I mean Blops 6 just came out for Xbox One... They wont be abandoning the Series players right away if ever with cloud gaming getting better and better
Yes, @Stoned_Patrol, I absolutely agree, all these titles will be cross-generation titles. Never quite understood why they still didn't use the logo in the trailers because they will still be on the Series consoles, even if they are launch titles for the NeXtBoX. Makes little sense to me...
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