State of Decay
Game
Documents about State of Decay
The Game Business42 min
How Undead Labs saved itself and State of Decay from oblivion
Undead Labs has successfully navigated a complex transition from a Microsoft-owned entity to an independent, employee-owned studio.
- Undead Labs transitioned from a Microsoft-owned entity to an independent, employee-owned studio to ensure the long-term viability of the State of Decay franchise.
- The studio implemented a workforce reduction to align operational costs with its new independent model while issuing stock options to remaining staff to foster shared ownership.
- The State of Decay franchise has reached a milestone of 25 million players, with significant growth driven by the discoverability and scale of Xbox Game Pass.
The Game BusinessOct 2026
Jason Schreier19 min
Xbox To Cut 3,200 Jobs, Get Rid Of Five Studios
Microsoft has initiated a major restructuring of its Xbox division, characterized by the elimination of 3,200 positions and the divestiture of five studios.
- Microsoft is cutting 3,200 jobs at Xbox, representing approximately 20% of its 16,000-person workforce, with 1,600 layoffs occurring immediately and the remainder scheduled over the next several months.
- Xbox is divesting from five studios: Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are being sold, while Double Fine and Compulsion Games will spin off into independent, management-owned entities with rights to their own IP.
- Arkane is entering a consultation process regarding its future due to French labor laws, as part of a broader strategy to move away from the 'limited integration' model of studio management.
Jason SchreierJul 2026
The Game Business12 min
Xbox plans 3,200 job cuts, and will drop five acclaimed studios
Xbox is undergoing a significant corporate restructuring, characterized by approximately 3,200 job cuts—representing roughly 15% of its workforce—and the divestment of five critically acclaimed studios.
- Xbox is cutting 3,200 jobs, representing approximately 15% of its total workforce, as part of a major corporate restructuring.
- The company is divesting five studios: Double Fine and Compulsion Games are moving to independent management, while Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, and Arkane Lyon are seeking new ownership.
- The restructuring shifts the company from a decentralized studio model to a centralized structure that prioritizes major franchises like Halo, Gears of War, and Fallout over smaller, independent-style projects.
The Game BusinessJul 2026
Game Developers Conference31 min
Low Cost Facial Scanning Using Photogrammetry in State of Decay 2
The integration of a low-cost photogrammetry pipeline into the production of State of Decay 2 demonstrates a successful shift toward efficient, scalable character asset creation.
- The implementation of a $500 single-camera photogrammetry rig reduced character head model production time from one week to one day.
- The workflow successfully generated over 200 raw scans, resulting in 75 unique, high-fidelity character faces for State of Decay 2.
- Technical success requires manual camera settings, RAW file formats, and the use of polarizing filters and anti-shine powder to neutralize skin reflectivity and specular highlights.
Game Developers ConferenceApr 2021
Companies behind it
As the documents state it.