Philip Holt
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"We basically rewrote the entire State of Decay game": Undead Labs spent years trying to make State of Decay 3 into a full-blown zombie apocalypse MMO
Undead Labs spent years developing State of Decay 3 as a full-scale zombie apocalypse MMO, a vision initially held by founder Jeff Strain. After a significant pivot in late 2022, the studio rewrote the game to return to the scale of its predecessors. This pivot, coupled with Xbox cutting ties, led to layoffs but allowed the studio to secure new publishing support.
"It was a pretty harrowing three months" – Undead Labs head Philip Holt on what happened after Xbox cut the studio loose
Undead Labs CEO Philip Holt details the challenging three months following Xbox's divestment of the studio, which led to significant layoffs and a pivot to employee ownership. Despite the turmoil, the studio secured publishing funding for State of Decay 3, which is now employee-owned and aims for a 2027 release, focusing on player entertainment over investor demands.
Undead Labs boss "reluctant to share" number affected by layoffs: "I would hate to reduce the impact to those individuals to a number or statistic"
Undead Labs studio head Philip Holt expressed reluctance to share the exact number of employees affected by recent layoffs, emphasizing the human impact over statistics. The developer transitioned to an employee-owned studio following restructuring at Xbox, with Holt aiming for transparency during the difficult process. This move was part of broader Xbox layoffs impacting multiple studios.
State of Decay 3 Team is “Pretty Close to Finishing” Development, Says Studio Boss
Undead Labs studio boss Philip Holt stated that State of Decay 3 is nearing completion, with development picking up significantly in 2022-2023. He addressed changes made due to recent layoffs, assuring that scope is not dramatically impacted. Holt also discussed the studio's decision to accelerate full production due to concerns about Microsoft's acquisition strategy.
Xbox Announces New Film, TV and Entertainment Division XP, Led by Former Minecraft Studio Head
Xbox has launched a new division called XP, focused on expanding its gaming franchises into film, television, merchandise, live events, and partnerships. Led by former Minecraft studio head Kayleen Walters, the division aims to reach audiences beyond the games themselves, leveraging recent successes like the Minecraft movie and the Fallout series.
State Of Decay 3 Was Announced Early To Keep Undead Labs On Microsoft’s Radar
State of Decay 3 developer Undead Labs announced the game early in 2020 to keep the project on Microsoft's radar during an acquisition spree, according to studio boss Philip Holt. The studio has since become independent and employee-owned. Holt explained that the early announcement was a strategic move to prevent the studio from being overlooked amidst Microsoft's acquisitions of companies like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.
Games industry investors are "sitting on the sidelines waiting for obvious slam dunks", says Undead Labs boss, with labour costs a key worry
Undead Labs studio boss Philip Holt believes investors are hesitant to fund game development projects unless they are 'obvious slam dunks,' citing high labor costs, particularly in expensive regions like Seattle, as a major concern. He also discussed the studio's successful management buyout from Microsoft and its implications for the future of State of Decay 3.
State of Decay 3 Announced Early Because Studio Head Was Worried About Being “Swallowed Up” by Xbox
Undead Labs announced State of Decay 3 early to prevent the studio from being "swallowed up" by Microsoft's acquisition strategy. Studio head Philip Holt revealed that the decision was made to ensure their work would be recognized before potential divestment or being absorbed into a larger organization. The studio has since left the Microsoft umbrella, and development continues.
State of Decay 3 Studio Head Says He Was “Irresponsibly Transparent” With Team During Xbox Layoffs
Undead Labs studio head Philip Holt described his
Unlead Labs studio head says they were 'irresponsibly transparent' in preparing staff for layoffs
Undead Labs studio head Philip Holt stated that the studio was 'irresponsibly transparent' in preparing staff for layoffs following its divestiture from Xbox Game Studios. While the exact number of job losses was not confirmed, Holt emphasized that employees were informed about the likelihood of job cuts, which he believes was a courtesy despite the painful nature of the event. The studio is still working on State of Decay 3, with a projected 2027 release.
State of Decay 3 Was Revealed Early Partly Because of the Studio Boss' Anxiety Around Xbox's Plans
Undead Labs boss Philip Holt revealed that State of Decay 3 was announced early due to his own anxiety surrounding Xbox's future plans for the studio. This early reveal was intended to preemptively address potential concerns.
State of Decay studio Undead Labs goes independent after Xbox restructuring, but lays off "a significant number" of the team in doing so
Undead Labs, the developer of the State of Decay series, has become an independent, worker-owned studio after being acquired by Microsoft in 2018. This transition comes with significant layoffs, with the studio stating "a significant number" of staff are departing. Despite the restructuring, development on State of Decay 3 continues for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, with a closed beta planned before the end of the year and a 2027 release target.
Undead Labs confirms it is now an "employee-owned studio"
Undead Labs, the developer of State of Decay, has announced its separation from Xbox and is now operating as an employee-owned studio. Development on State of Decay 3 continues, with a planned release in 2027 for Xbox, Game Pass, PC, and PlayStation. This transition occurs amidst broader layoffs and restructuring within Microsoft's gaming division.
State of Decay 3 Remains in “Active Development” Despite “Significant” Layoffs at Undead Labs
Undead Labs, now independent from Xbox, has announced significant layoffs, raising concerns about State of Decay 3's development. Studio head Philip Holt confirmed the game remains in "active development" on schedule, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and assistance from The Coalition. Despite past allegations of a toxic work environment and previous rumors of layoffs, the game is still targeting a 2027 release for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, and will be available on Game Pass.
State of Decay 3 releases 2027, seven years after it was first announced
State of Decay 3 is slated for release in 2027 on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, and will be available on Game Pass. The co-op survival game from Undead Labs, first announced in 2020, will feature a shared world experience with greater player independence and will not include zombie animals as initially conceived.
State of Decay 3 “Nails the AAA Feel”, Might Show Up During June 7th XBOX Showcase – Rumor
According to a rumor from Jez Corden of Windows Central, State of Decay 3 is expected to be featured at the upcoming June 7th Xbox Showcase. The game is reportedly in private alpha testing and has achieved a polished 'AAA' feel, a significant improvement over its predecessor. While other Xbox Game Studios titles like those from Ninja Theory and Double Fine are unlikely to be shown due to early development stages, potential reveals include projects from Toys for Bob and InXile Entertainment, as well as a possible new Xbox Elite Controller.
State of Decay 3 var "i ett Word-dokument" när första trailern släpptes
Undead Labs studio head Philip Holt revealed that the initial trailer for State of Decay 3 in 2020 was created before development began, with the game concept existing only in a Word document at the time. The studio has since progressed, with a new trailer released in summer 2024 and alpha testing commencing in May, though a release date remains unannounced.
"We're not doing zombie animals", says State of Decay 3 studio head, but you can turn a tea kettle into an undead-attracting bomb
Undead Labs studio head Philip Holt confirmed that State of Decay 3 will not feature zombie animals, contrary to its initial reveal trailer. He explained the trailer represented an early concept and that the game now focuses on crafting improvised weapons and devices from scavenged materials. The studio is researching detailed crafting mechanics, such as turning a tea kettle into a zombie-attracting explosive.
State of Decay 3 reveal trailer wasn't reflective of the actual game, says studio head
Philip Holt, studio head at Undead Labs, confirmed that the 2020 reveal trailer for State of Decay 3 was conceptual and will not feature zombie animals as initially shown. He explained that the trailer was pre-rendered by Blur when the development team was very small, representing early ideas rather than concrete game features. This clarification comes after reports of an alpha playtest and renewed focus on the game after a period of silence.
State of Decay 3 was initially revealed when game didn't really exist, says developer
Undead Labs studio head Philip Holt revealed that the 2020 reveal trailer for State of Decay 3 was released when the game was barely a concept. He acknowledged that early reveals can build hype but also cause frustration. Todd Howard also commented on The Elder Scrolls VI's early reveal, noting Bethesda's focus on Starfield content.
