State of Decay 3's Trailer Was More Illusion Than Gameplay, And That Zombie Deer? Poof!
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
Undead Labs' *State of Decay 3* 2020 reveal trailer was a dazzling illusion, with its iconic zombie deer and cinematic flair actually representing a game that was little more than a 'Word document' at the time, leaving players gently skeptical of early hype. While the zombie deer won't be making it into the actual game, the title is now moving into alpha, proving that even the most ethereal concepts can eventually solidify into playable experiences.
Right, so apparently, sometimes a game trailer isn't actually a game trailer, but more of a digital conjuring trick designed to make you believe in something that barely exists. And that's precisely the situation we've found ourselves in with *State of Decay 3*, mate.
You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, showing you a vision that's utterly captivating but perhaps a tad premature? That's what Undead Labs, the clever folks behind the *State of Decay* series, might've accidentally done back in 2020. Ahead of the Xbox Series X/S launch, they dropped a cinematic trailer for *State of Decay 3* that got everyone buzzing. No gameplay, mind you, just a tantalising glimpse into a grimmer, grander zombie apocalypse, complete with a genuinely spooky zombie deer. Naturally, we all went 'ooh!' and 'aah!' and started mentally planning our strategies for dealing with infected Bambi.
Well, as originally reported by Ethan Gach over at *Kotaku*, that trailer was, to put it mildly, a bit of a mirage. Studio head Philip Holt recently spilled the beans in an interview with Sunny Games, confirming what many in the industry probably suspected: when that trailer hit, *State of Decay 3* was less of a game and more of a twinkle in a developer's eye. "So that trailer, there really wasn't a game or game team when we were working on that trailer, like, it was so early," Holt admitted. Bloody hell, he wasn't kidding – he went on to say the game was, essentially, "in a Word document," with a core development team of fewer than a dozen people. A Word document! Fair dinkum, that's less of a game and more of a really enthusiastic shopping list for what might one day become a game.
Now, don't get me wrong, it's not unusual for games to be in early conceptual stages. But to whip up a pre-rendered cinematic trailer by Blur – a visual effects studio known for their stunning work – and present it as a reveal for a game that's practically a phantom limb of an idea? That's some serious digital wizardry. Holt clarified that the trailer represented "a concept, our thoughts at the time of what might be cool to explore." And while some of those initial sparks might persist, he dashed the hopes of many by confirming: "some of those things are just, like, we're not doing zombie animals."
So, the zombie deer? Poof! Gone. Vanished into the digital ether from whence it came. And while I appreciate the honesty, it does sting a little to have those fantastical visions of battling infected wildlife snatched away. It highlights a recurring pattern in our beloved gaming industry, doesn't it? The dance between aspiration and reality, often played out on the grand stage of console launch hype.
*Kotaku*'s earlier reporting from 2022 had already hinted at this, noting that Microsoft was doing the rounds, asking its studios for splashy trailers to build momentum for the new console generation. Developers on *State of Decay 3* themselves were apparently surprised by what was shown, particularly that memorable zombie deer. And it wasn't an isolated incident. Think back to Rare's *Everwild*, which debuted with a similarly enigmatic trailer and was later cancelled. Or Playground's *Fable*, also revealed early and only now slated for release this fall. Sound familiar? This isn't the first time an early cinematic has led to dashed expectations; remember the *Phantom Dust* Xbox One reboot trailer that was pre-rendered and untouched by the actual developers before it was ultimately canned? It's like watching a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat, only to realise the rabbit was never really there, just a very convincing illusion.
This whole situation is precisely why the gaming community has grown so wary, adopting mantras like "no gameplay, no hype." We've been burned enough times to know that a shiny pre-rendered cinematic, no matter how gorgeous, is a very different beast from actual, playable code. It's not about being cynical, mate, it's about being cleverly observant. We want to know what we're *actually* going to play, not just what a development team *thinks* might be cool to explore in a Word document.
But here's the cautiously optimistic twist to this chaotic tale: *State of Decay 3* is actually making progress! A May 2026 alpha playtest has just been revealed, meaning the game is well past its Word document phase and into something tangible. So, while the 2020 trailer was essentially an elaborate pitch, there *is* a game now, and that's genuinely exciting. It's a reminder that even when the initial reveal is more smoke and mirrors than solid reality, persistent development and a good team can still bring a vision to life – even if that vision no longer includes zombie deer. The lesson? Keep your wits about you, question the marketing speak, and always look for the gameplay. It's where the real magic happens.
**Source:** *Kotaku* by Ethan Gach
Tags: State of Decay 3, Game Development, Trailer Hype, Xbox, Gaming Industry
Original article: kotaku