State of Decay 3is still in the shadows, and as the wait for the anticipated zombie title grows longer, there are already plenty of other zombie-based titles passing it up.Killing Floor 3just launched, andDying Light: The Beastis right around the corner, but this isn’t all bad news forState of Decay 3.

Right now, there’s no telling whenState of Decay 3will finally arrive, and withDying Light: The Beastlooming closer on the horizon, a strong competitor will get to launch ahead of it.Dying Light: The Beastis one of the most anticipated zombie gamesat the moment, as it marks the return of the franchise’s original protagonist, Kyle Crane. As exciting as this upcoming title is,State of Decay 3still has a big leg up on the competition in one regard: only one of these games is releasing day-one on Xbox Game Pass.

State of Decay 3 Tag Page Cover Art

State of Decay 3 Being a Day-One Xbox Game Pass Launch Already Gives it a Massive Boon

When Does Dying Light: The Beast Come Out?

While the game will at least be available for Xbox consoles, not being a day-one Game Pass launch could keep it from reaching a wider audience. Of course, the game is bound to come to Game Pass eventually, but releasing on the subscription service right out of the gate has proven to be beneficial for a lot of titles. There are alreadyhigh expectations forDying Light: The Beast, thanks to the growing hype, but it makes one wonder if its launch could potentially be even better if Game Pass users could also get a slice of the pie.

State of Decay 3’s Game Pass Launch Makes it the More Accessible Zombie Title for Xbox Users

It’s important to note thatState of Decay 3has one big weakness when it comes to its reach, though. As is tradition with the franchise,State of Decaywill only be available for PC and Xbox Series X/S. Not being able to reach the PS5 crowd definitely keeps it from potentially hitting its full potential, but the fact that it will immediately be available for Game Pass makes it an enticing option for gamers who are torn between which zombie games to jump into.State of Decay 3is one of many zombie gamesthat are slated for the future, and whenDying Light: The Beasthits the scene, it will be exciting to see which titles launch soon after.

Right now, it’s expected thatState of Decay 3will launch sometime in 2026. If that’s the case, then it’s easy to imagine a scenario where a gamer is in the mood for a new zombie game and hasDying Light: The Beast,State of Decay 3, and potentially even other zombie titles to choose from. IfDying Light: The Beastisn’t on Game Pass by that time,State of Decay 3would be the clear choice, especially for those looking to get the best deal.

State of Decay 3was announced at the 2020 Xbox Games Showcase.

The Wait for State of Decay 3 Has No End in Sight

There’s no tellingwhenState of Decay 3will be ready, but there will hopefully be good news on the horizon. There are still a few big gaming events scheduled for the year that could be good stages for the game to announce a release date, like The Game Awards.

AfterState of Decay 3was absent from last month’s Xbox Games Showcase, the silence has become deafening. Also, it seems like the game was safe fromMicrosoft’s recent lay-offs, so that’s at least a good sign. Right now,State of Decay 3’s future is still mysterious, but its Game Pass plans are incredibly beneficial.