Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition
State of Decay is coming to Xbox One in just under two months, and if you haven't yet played the zombie apocalypse simulator, you're in for some fun. State of Decay approaches the concept differently than many of its contemporaries, making it a huge hit on Xbox 360 and Steam.
The Year One Edition takes the existing content, polishes it with improved visuals, and bundles it up for the current generation. The new version of State of Decay isn't just a graphical overhaul, it features new content and carries the improvements of the later updates (Breakdown and Lifeline) throughout the three-part experience.
Undead Labs has overhauled one of the weakest parts of State of Decay during the conversion. Unarmed combat now affords every survivor a knife. This allows players to quietly take down one or two zombies, but as you might expect, it won't do much good against a mob.
There are new missions peppered throughout the game now. You'll receive mysterious messages on your radio that will lead you to supply drops. These will contain top-tier weapons, but you'll have to fight for them.
The crates have noise-making beacons on them. Since noise attracts the undead, you'll need to fight through, shut off the beacon to stop the flow of corpses, and get out safely.
While the new SUVs and 30 new vehicle skins are a nice addition, I'm more impressed by what Undead Labs is doing with the Xbox One's challenge feature.
Challenges allow developers to create time-limited objectives with in-game content attached as a reward. Anyone who participates will unlock unique items if the goal is met. Some of the bonuses include a pig-shaped tow truck and weapon packs (sports and medieval types were mentioned).
Those that own the original State of Decay on Xbox 360 will earn a $10 credit toward the purchase of the new version on Xbox One (the same is true for PC players looking to upgrade to the new edition). This drops the price from $29.99 to $19.99. Those players will also unlock a unique survivor that includes a gun with a built-in suppressor that doesn't degrade.
For more on State of Decay, check out our review of the original.
Products In This Article
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
