Casting Spells Too Early? State of Decay 3's Reveal Trailer Was Apparently Just a Dream, Mate
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Undead Labs' studio head Philip Holt revealed the State of Decay 3 2020 trailer was purely conceptual, confirming fan-favourite zombie animals won't be in the game, a common industry trend of early hype, but recent alpha playtest news signals real development progress.
Right, so remember that spooky, atmospheric State of Decay 3 reveal trailer from way back in 2020? The one that had us all buzzing about its desolate landscapes and, crucially, those utterly terrifying zombie deer? Yeah, about that. It seems we might have been watching a wizard's fever dream rather than a glimpse into actual gameplay.
Turns out, Undead Labs' studio head, Philip Holt, has gently pulled back the digital curtain, admitting that 2020's cinematic was pretty much pure concept. Not only that, but a certain highlight – our beloved zombie deer – won't actually be making it into the final game. Bloody hell, my zombie deer apocalypse bunker plans are ruined!
This rather illuminating tidbit came to light during a recent chat with content creator Sunny Games. It was a proper deep dive, clocking in at around 48 minutes, breaking a long period of radio silence from the Undead Labs crew. And it's landed just as whispers of an alpha playtest for State of Decay 3 started doing the rounds – a bit of actual, tangible progress after years of us mostly staring blankly at the horizon, waiting for a signal flare.
Holt didn't mince words when asked about that tantalizing 2020 announcement trailer, particularly the fate of those undead cervidae. He simply stated, "No zombie deer! There really wasn't a game team when we were working on that trailer, it was so early. There were like four - five people, the game was in a word document." Can you imagine? A grand vision, rendered by Blur (a CGI powerhouse, mind you), all conjured from a handful of developers and a document. It’s like trying to build a portal to another dimension with just a magic wand and a recipe for biscuits.
Now, before we grab our pitchforks and march on the Undead Labs castle, let's peek behind the wizard's curtain a bit. This isn't exactly a new phenomenon, is it? We've seen this spell cast before. Rumours from 2022 hinted that Microsoft was putting the pressure on its developers to whip up hype trailers to fuel the next-gen console fire. And apparently, this specific trailer caught the Undead Labs team off guard as much as it did us. It sounds less like a deliberate deception and more like a company trying to meet corporate targets with a vision board instead of a playable build.
It’s a classic gaming industry conundrum, isn't it? The push to show off something shiny and new *before* anything concrete truly exists. It's the equivalent of a wizard promising a flying castle and showing off a really impressive crayon drawing of it, while only having laid the first brick for the kitchen. On one hand, it drums up excitement, keeps the investors happy, and helps rally the internal troops around a grand idea. On the other, it sets expectations sky-high, often leading to a rather deflating crash when reality finally catches up.
And for us, the players? Well, it's a bit of a rollercoaster, isn't it? We get all hyped up, imagining what incredible new challenges those zombie deer might present – maybe they’d be fast, maybe they'd charge you from out of nowhere, adding a whole new layer of survival horror! Then, *poof*, the illusion fades. It's a reminder that trailers, particularly those from early in a game's lifecycle, are often aspirational rather than literal. They're concept art in motion, a 'what if' scenario painted with the brightest possible colours.
But let's not get too bogged down in the shattered dreams of undead fauna. There's a silver lining here, a glimmer of genuine magic. The very fact that this interview is happening, breaking the long silence, and the appearance of an alpha playtest, suggests State of Decay 3 is actually making some proper headway. Undead Labs did drop a cinematic trailer in 2024 to keep the fires stoked, but an alpha? That's real, tangible progress. That's a developer finally getting a proper team together and building the actual game, piece by painstaking piece, rather than just showing us pretty pictures.
It’s a cautious optimism, mind you. The path to release for State of Decay 3 has been murkier than a swamp after a zombie horde has trampled through it. There were even whispers – unconfirmed, mind – about it potentially joining Gears of War: E-Day as a PlayStation 5 release, which adds another layer of intrigue to this long, winding development story. Those digital tea leaves are still swirling, so we'll have to wait and see how that particular spell lands.
So, what's the takeaway, mate? It's a healthy reminder to approach early game reveals with a pinch of salt and a hearty dose of gentle skepticism. Love the art, appreciate the vision, but keep your expectations grounded until you see some actual gameplay. For now, it seems State of Decay 3 is finally moving beyond the realm of pure concept and into the messy, exciting reality of game development. Here's hoping the final product, zombie deer or not, is a genuinely engaging experience that justifies the long wait. After all, the best spells are those that truly come to life, not just those imagined in a dusty old word document.
Tags: State of Decay 3, Game Development, Gaming Industry, Trailers, Undead Labs
Original article: Eurogamer