Summary

State of Decay 3’s recent trailer offered a lot of reasons for players to get excited, but one detail was noticeably missing. SinceState of Decay 3is not as big of a name as series likeSuper MarioorResident Evil, strong trailers are more important than usual to draw the interest of players. In the case of the trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase, that job was done quite well. At the same time, one thing that was not seen during the trailer could raise questions aboutState of Decay 3’s future plans.

The debut ofState of Decay 3at the Xbox Showcaseafter several years without significant updates was a welcome surprise. In the trailer, some combat gameplay was shown off, giving the impression that fighting off hordes inState of Decay 3can get even more chaotic than it was in its predecessor. The scenes shown in the trailer also depicted what a day in the life of a community in the series would be like by showcasing both a scavenging run and losing a trusted ally to a zombie attack.State of Decay 3’s trailer hit plenty of the right notes to build anticipation for the game’s release.

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State of Decay 3’s Zombie Deer Was Nowhere to be Seen in the Latest Trailer

State of Decay 3’s Recent Trailer Lacked Zombie Animals

One thing that was inState of Decay 3’s revealtrailer did not reappear in the more recent trailer. In 2020’s reveal trailer, a survivor was out hunting in the wilderness when they spotted a zombie deer through the scope of their rifle, indicating a new threat for players to contend with. In the trailer that was shown at 2024’s Xbox Games Showcase, no animals were shown, with the horde consisting of zombies similar to those that players faced previously. This raises the question of whether zombified animals are going to be a part ofState of Decay 3at release after all.

Animal Zombies Would Mix Up State of Decay 3’s Dangers

If zombie animals are not a part ofState of Decay 3’s world, then it would be missing out on some potentially exciting moments. In addition to bringing up some interesting questions for the series' lore, zombie animals could provide some interesting encounters. For instance, a zombie deer like the one seen in the trailer, for instance, would be a threat due to its potential ability to gore survivors with its antlers. Other animals such as rabbits, wolves, or even bears would provide entirely different kinds of threats. Animal zombies inState of Decay 3would greatly diversify its enemy encounters.

Future Trailers Can Clear Up State of Decay 3’s Features

The hopes for zombie animals in the game are not extinguished yet.State of Decay3’s next revealcould very well include an example of zombie animals and how they would appear in the game. It’s also worth considering that the reason no zombie animals appeared in the latest trailer is that they were not the focus. The trailer in June was clearly intended to focus on survivors while also giving players a glimpse of what to expect from the gameplay. There’s a decent chance that if the game will have zombie animals, a full gameplay trailer will show them off properly.

Animal zombies inState of Decay 3would greatly diversify its enemy encounters.

Zombie animals were hinted at inState of Decay 3’s reveal, and their absence in June’s trailer was notable. Animal zombies could be thenext evolution ofState of Decay 3’s plague, and have a wealth of potential to heighten the game’s danger beyond whatState of Decay 2offered. At the moment, it’s not clear if they are still in the plan for the game. It will all depend on what future trailers reveal. Even so, skipping zombie animals could be a big missed opportunity forState of Decay 3.

State of Decay 3

WHERE TO PLAY

State of Decay 3 is an open-world survival game set years after a zombie apocalypse nearly wiped out humankind. An evolving zombie threat is taking over the landscape and you need to carve out a life for your community of survivalist homesteaders.The choices you make affect in-game events and storylines, so be careful: if one of your community members falls to the zombie horde, you’ll lose that character and their abilities forever. Every risk must be weighed against the reward!With online multiplayer for up to 4 players, start a community together from scratch with your friends in a shared, persistent world. You’ll all be able to build, develop, and expand a base that reflects your designs and choices.