Undead Labs

{{Infobox company

| name = Undead Labs LLC

| logo = Undead Labs 2024 logo.png

| logo_caption = Logo since 2024

| type = Subsidiary

| industry = Video games

| founded = {{Start date and age|2009|11|23}}

| founder = Jeff Strain

| hq_location_city = Seattle, Washington

| hq_location_country = US

| num_locations = 3

| num_locations_year = 2024

| key_people = Philip Holt (studio head)

| products = State of Decay series

| num_employees = ~60{{cite news |title=Birth of a video game: How a small Seattle studio creates a sequel to a smash hit — with Microsoft's help |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/birth-of-a-video-game-how-a-small-seattle-shop-creates-a-sequel-to-a-smash-hit-with-some-help-from-giant-microsoft/ |work=The Seattle Times |date=25 May 2018}}

| num_employees_year = 2018

| parent = Xbox Game Studios (2018–present)

| website = {{URL|https://www.undeadlabs.com/|undeadlabs.com}}

}}

Undead Labs LLC is an American video game developer based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in November 2009 by Jeff Strain and developed the State of Decay series. In 2018, Undead Labs became part of Microsoft Studios (now known as Xbox Game Studios).

History

Undead Labs was founded on November 23, 2009, by Jeff Strain, with the sole focus on zombie-based games.{{cite web |last1=Brice |first1=Kath |title=ArenaNet founder Jeff Strain opens new studio Undead Labs |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/arenanet-founder-jeff-strain-opens-new-studio-undead-labs |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en |date=23 November 2009}} On February 3, 2011, Undead Labs announced that they were partnering with Microsoft Game Studios to publish their games on the Xbox 360 and now also the Xbox One.{{cite web |url=http://undeadlabs.com/2011/02/news/undead-labs-and-microsoft-game-studios-to-create-zombie-survival-franchise-on-xbox-360/ |title=Undead Labs and Microsoft game studios to create zombie... |publisher=Undead Labs |date=February 3, 2011 |access-date=February 4, 2013 |archive-date=August 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819232819/https://undeadlabs.com/2011/02/news/undead-labs-and-microsoft-game-studios-to-create-zombie-survival-franchise-on-xbox-360/ |url-status=dead }} This decision was made after most of the other publishers who showed interest in their games were requesting what they described as "World of Warcraft clones".{{cite web |url=http://undeadlabs.com/2011/02/news/rude-qa-2/ |title=Rude QA 2 |publisher=Undead Labs |date=February 3, 2011 |access-date=February 4, 2013}} The first game State of Decay was released on the Xbox 360 on June 5, 2013, and on Microsoft Windows on November 5, 2013.{{cite web |last=Rosenburg |first=Adam |url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2011/02/04/open-world-zombie-survival-game-class3-coming-to-xbox-live-arcade/ |title='Class3' Coming To Xbox Live Arcade |publisher=MTV Multiplayer |date=February 2, 2011 |access-date=February 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101121033/http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2011/02/04/open-world-zombie-survival-game-class3-coming-to-xbox-live-arcade |archive-date=January 1, 2012}}{{cite web |last=McElroy |first=Griffon |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/class3-interview-jeff-strain/ |title=Jeff Strain Shares His Vision for Class3, a Different Kind of Zombie Game |publisher=Joystiq |date=February 3, 2011 |access-date=February 4, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://undeadlabs.com/forums/showthread.php?541-Faq |title=Faq |last=Weathers |first=Sanya |publisher=Undead Labs |date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=February 4, 2013 |archive-date=April 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413232356/http://undeadlabs.com/forums/showthread.php?541-Faq |url-status=dead }}

On January 11, 2014, it was announced that Undead Labs has signed a multi-year, multi-title agreement with Microsoft Studios.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-11-state-of-decay-dev-signs-multi-year-agreement-with-microsoft |title=State of Decay dev signs multi-year agreement with Microsoft |last=Matulef |first=Jeffrey |date=January 11, 2014 |work=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=January 11, 2014}} Jeff Strain stated that the first State of Decay was "just the start of (Undead Labs') long-term ambitions", and spoke of many future titles potentially entering the franchise.{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/4/20/5628554/state-of-decay-lifeline-preview-undead-labs-interview |title=State of Decay's Lifeline DLC is just the start of Undead Labs' 'long-term ambitions' |last=Sarkar |first=Samit |publisher=Polygon |date=April 20, 2014 |access-date=July 4, 2014}}

Moonrise was shut down at the end of 2015.{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=2015-09-02 |title=Sun sets on Pokémon-inspired Moonrise as players switch off |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/9/2/9248147/moonrise-cancelled-undead-labs |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}

At E3 2018, Microsoft announced they had entered into an agreement to acquire Undead Labs into Microsoft Studios.{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/06/10/microsoft-acquires-state-of-decay-2-studio-undead-labs/ |title=Microsoft acquires State of Decay 2 studio Undead Labs |first=Mike |last=Minotti |date=June 10, 2018 |website=VentureBeat |access-date=October 25, 2021}} In 2020, the studio announced their next title State of Decay 3 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-game-showcase-state-of-decay-2|title=State of Decay 3 Announced|first=Matt |last=Kim |date=July 23, 2021 |website=IGN |accessdate=January 3, 2022}} In July 2021 Undead Labs opened a second studio in Orlando, Florida focused on developing animation technology in Unreal Engine 5 for Undead Labs as well as for other studios under the Xbox Game Studios banner.{{cite web|url=https://wccftech.com/new-undead-labs-team-to-focus-on-cross-studio-animation-technology-for-xbox-game-studios/ |title=New Undead Labs Team to Focus on Cross-Studio Animation Technology for Xbox Game Studios |first=Alessio |last = Polumba| date=January 3, 2022|work=wccftech |access-date=January 3, 2022}} Strain left the company by October 2021 and founded another studio, Possibility Space.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/possibility-space-new-studio-jeff-strain-undead-labs-microsoft-blizzard-arenanet |title=State of Decay Studio Founder Jeff Strain Starts New Studio, Possibility Space |first=Ryan |last=McCaffrey |date=October 13, 2021 |website=IGN |access-date=October 25, 2021}}File:Undead Labs logo.pngA 2022 investigation by Kotaku reported on a sexist studio culture, which was abetted by Philip Holt, the new studio head who replaced Strain, and then-head of HR Anne Schlosser.{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=2022-03-31 |title=Allegations Of Sexism, Bullying, And Burnout: Inside The Microsoft Studio Behind State Of Decay 3 |url=https://kotaku.com/state-of-decay-3-xbox-series-x-s-sexism-microsoft-undea-1848728682 |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Kotaku}} Schlosser was removed after a Microsoft HR investigation. The toxic work environment, which continued after Schlosser's departure, led to a high employee turnover rate, especially among experienced staff. These issues, combined with a lack of design vision, contributed to extensive delays in the development of State of Decay 3. Employees also blamed Microsoft for not living up to its goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion by not responding to reports of abuse in a timely manner.

On June 9, 2024, Undead Labs was rebranded with a new logo and website following the Xbox Showcase, where the company showed its first gameplay trailer for State of Decay 3.{{Cite web |author1=Cole Martin |date=2024-06-09 |title=Xbox leak confirms at least one major exclusive game for tomorrow's Xbox Games Showcase |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-leak-confirms-at-least-one-major-exclusive-game-for-tomorrows-xbox-games-showcase |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Windows Central |language=en}}

Games developed

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Platform(s)
2013 \| State of Decay \| Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One
2018 \| State of Decay 2 \| Windows, Xbox One
TBA \| State of Decay 3 \| Windows, Xbox Series X

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Platform(s)

2013

| State of Decay

| Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One

2018

| State of Decay 2

| Windows, Xbox One

TBA

| State of Decay 3