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State of Decay Studio Splits From Xbox, Suffers Layoffs - Kinda Funny Games Daily 09.23.26

Sep 23, 2026 · 1h 8m

Summary

Blessing Adioa and Greg Miller discuss Undead Labs' significant layoffs following its separation from Xbox, analyzing the financial challenges of becoming an independent studio. They debate whether State of Decay 3 can succeed in the crowded survival-crafting market to sustain the team, with guest Mike Howard arguing it will likely perform well. The hosts also reflect on the broader industry shifts, comparing Xbox's current management style to Sony's creator-focused approach and addressing the risks of studio independence.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: LinkedIn Hiring Pro Sponsor: Tidy Cats Performance Plus Intro: Journey into the Rapids and News Recap Banter: Poe's Birthday and Studio Dynamics Chat Check-in and Layoff Predictions Discussion: Jake from State Farm and Flo from Progressive Undead Labs Layoffs and State of Decay 3 Outlook State of Decay 3 Mechanics and Market Competition Super Chats and Viewer News Xbox vs PlayStation: Studio Independence and Creative Control PR Response and Transition to Sponsors Sponsors: Dream World and Ridge Power Bank Sponsors: Factor, LinkedIn, and Uber Eats Sponsor: Instagram Teen Accounts Xbox Mythic Achievements and Retro Gaming New Silent Hill Movie and Producer Roles Sega Nearly Cancelled Sonic Series Rainbow 6 Siege Loyalty Rewards and Game Reviews Viewer Comments and Quick News Updates Outro and Final Sponsors
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