Video Games
‘State of Decay 3’ Dev Undead Labs Facing Potential Closure
Overshadowing the announcement of Ninja Theory’s third entry in the Hellblade series earlier this month were reports that the developer was facing possible closure by Microsoft, alongside South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games and Double Fine. Now according to a new story by GamesBeat, another developer under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella is potentially facing closure in Undead Labs, who are currently working on State of Decay 3.
Earlier this month, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma had announced that Microsoft was in the process of ‘resetting’ Xbox. That resulted in a report by Bloomberg during Summer Game Fest that revealed that multiple developers were negotiating with Microsoft to spin off of Xbox to avoid closing down. Now, according to the GamesBeat report, Undead Labs is now part of that group of developers negotiating to be bought to avoid layoffs.
The article states that Undead Labs could lose 110 jobs if it were shut down, while Compulsion could lose 90 jobs, Ninja Theory could lose 135 jobs, and Double Fine Productions could lose 100 jobs.
Other developers and publishers at Microsoft also reportedly face cuts, including Blizzard, id Software and Bethesda.
Undead Labs was acquired by Microsoft back in 2018, with State of Decay 3 being announced in 2020. News on the development of the game was quiet until 2024, when a new trailer was released. Updates on the game again were hard to come by until last January when then-Xbox Game Studios lead Craig Duncan revealed that development was still very much alive. That was followed up this month with an official announcement that State of Decay 3 would be coming next year to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store.
For those keen on following up on our mid-year best-of list for video games, iam8bit and Yacht Club Games are teaming up in a new collection for Mina the Hollower, which not only brings the game’s iconic soundtrack by Jake Kaufman and Yuzo Koshiro to vinyl, but also offers fans some cool merchandise.
Available for pre-order now at iam8bit, the Mina the Hollower Collection includes the soundtrack on 3xLP ($64.99), a notebook ($19.99) and a Keychain Blind Box ($14.99). Those fans looking to have it all can pick up the entire collection in a vinyl bundle with the Mina the Hollower: Bone Up Bundle Edition. All products are available for pre-order today through August 17, with plans to ship in Q4 2026.
The Mina the Hollower vinyl soundtrack is pressed on rich Velvet Purple Splatter Vinyl, and features retro-inspired zoetrope artwork designed by Nimit Malava. The soundtrack also comes with a pair of special 3D glasses that enhances the cover art, paying homage to the retro nostalgia of the old-school, chip-tastic tracks composed by Yacht Club Games’ Jake Kaufman and Yuzo Koshiro.
iam8bit also offers up a series of collectible keychains as part of a Blind Box set. Those who purchase will receive one of six randomized Mina designs rendered in high-quality, squishy PVC rubber, with a Secret Chase Rare in the mix for some lucky buyers. Keychains are available to purchase individually or bundled in a set of three, and purchasing the bundle guarantees three unique keychains.
Lastly, there’s the Mina the Hollower Notebook, a 240-page notebook that replicates Mina’s in-game journal and is brought to life in a forest green faux-leather, with beautiful gold embellishments on its cover.
As mentioned, for completionists, you can grab the entire collection in the Mina the Hollower: Bone Up Bundle Edition, ($89.99). The bundle comes with the soundtrack, one Keychain Blind Box and Notebook.
And if you haven’t jumped into Mina the Hollower, you can find the game on PC via Steam and GOG, PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch 2.
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