Is State of Decay 2 Cross Platform: Understanding Multiplayer Compatibility

7 min


State of Decay 2 has expanded the horizons of cooperative gameplay by enabling cross-platform capabilities. This multiplayer zombie survival game allows players to join forces in a post-apocalyptic world, regardless of whether they are gaming on an Xbox console or a PC. With cross-platform functionality, the barriers between different gaming communities are broken down, fostering a more inclusive and unified gaming experience across Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, which includes both Steam and the Microsoft Store.

A desolate landscape with abandoned buildings and overgrown vegetation, hinting at a post-apocalyptic world

The integration of cross-platform play in State of Decay 2 is a definitive move that underscores the growing trend of interconnected gaming. Players on different platforms can seamlessly connect and cooperate or compete within the game, enriching the overall multiplayer experience. This feature not only boosts the game’s accessibility but also ensures that friends can play together without being limited by their choice of platform.

While the game does support cross-platform play among the aforementioned platforms, it is important to note that State of Decay 2 remains exclusive to the Microsoft ecosystem and is not available on other gaming consoles such as the PlayStation. As such, gamers interested in surviving the zombie-infested landscapes of State of Decay 2 must do so on either a compatible Xbox console or a PC. This exclusivity affects the availability of the game but not the enjoyment that cross-platform play brings to its players.

Let’s talk about is State of Decay 2 cross platform compatible?

Game Overview

State of Decay 2 enhances the survival game genre by immersing players in a formidable zombie apocalypse scenario, requiring strategy, cooperation, and resilience. It not only broadened its reach through cross-platform play capabilities but also emphasized enhancement through a significant update with the Juggernaut Edition.

Concept and Gameplay

State of Decay 2 builds upon the success of its predecessor by offering a rich action-survival game experience set during a relentless zombie apocalypse. Players must manage a community of survivors, fortify bases, scavenge for resources, and defend against the unrelenting hordes of zombies. Gameplay focuses on collaboration, with the added tension of permadeath making every decision significant.

Platforms and Release

Initially released on May 22, 2018, State of Decay 2 was available on Xbox One and PC, providing players with multiple access points through platforms such as Xbox Live and Steam. Post-launch updates, including the Juggernaut Edition, have ensured the game’s enhancement over time.

Platform Release Date
Xbox One May 22, 2018
PC (Windows) May 22, 2018
PC (Steam) March 13, 2020

Developer and Publisher

Developed by Undead Labs, State of Decay 2 is a product of a studio specialized in zombie-survival games. The publishing duties are handled by Xbox Game Studios, ensuring that the game capitalizes on the Xbox ecosystem while also remaining available for PC gamers on Steam, highlighting its commitment to cross-play support and broadening the game community’s scope.

Cross-Platform Features

State of Decay 2 enhances the gaming experience by offering cross platform compatibility, allowing players to engage with one another regardless of their chosen gaming device. This section breaks down the details of cross-platform play and the supported platforms for State of Decay 2.

Cross-Platform Play Explained

Cross-platform play, or crossplay, allows multiplayer gaming between different gaming systems. In State of Decay 2, crossplay is fully supported, letting players join forces in the game’s cooperative gameplay mode regardless of whether they are on Xbox or PC. This feature is anchored by Xbox Live, which facilitates a unified gaming community that can enjoy the game’s multiplayer aspect seamlessly.

Supported Platforms

State of Decay 2 is accessible across a variety of platforms:

  • Xbox One series X and S
  • Previous generation Xbox One
  • Windows 10 PCs

Players can access the game on PC through the Microsoft Store, Steam, or Epic Games Store, ensuring a wide reach. Cross-platform gaming in State of Decay 2 includes the ability to cross-play between these platforms. Additionally, cross-progression is available, allowing players to transfer game saves between PC and Xbox, provided they are logged in to their Xbox Live account. This ensures continuity in gameplay, as players can switch platforms without losing their progress. Cross-network play is not only a future-forward approach to gaming but also a key feature of State of Decay 2 that fosters a more inclusive gaming experience.

Multiplayer Elements

State of Decay 2 enhances its survival experience through a cross-platform multiplayer mode, where players can share resources and tackle challenges together.

Multiplayer Mode Details

In State of Decay 2, players can engage in co-op multiplayer sessions across various platforms, including Xbox One series X and S, previous generation Xbox One, and PC via Microsoft, Steam, or Epic stores. Multiplayer mode is enabled through the game’s settings, allowing players to host or join a game. In this environment, up to four players can collaborate, bringing different community members and resources into shared sessions. So, is State of Decay 2 cross platform play possible?

Community and Resources

One key element of State of Decay 2‘s multiplayer is the shared community aspect. Players bring their unique survivors, with their skills and experiences, into a joint game. This pooling of resources and characters fosters a collaborative environment where planning, sharing, and strategizing are crucial for survival. The community’s growth and wellbeing become a collective effort, with all players contributing to base building, resource gathering, and defense against the zombie threat.

Survival with Friends

Cross-platform play brings a seamless and integrated experience to those looking to play State of Decay 2 with friends. Regardless of the platform, players can connect and participate in cohesive co-op multiplayer sessions. This interconnectivity ensures that friends can engage in the game’s survival challenges without barriers, creating a unified gaming community where strategies and experiences can be shared across different systems.

Technical Aspects

State of Decay 2’s cross platform play capabilities hinge on the technical harmony between different system architectures. The game maintains consistency in graphics and audio performance while fulfilling system requirements across platforms and undergoing performance optimizations for a seamless player experience.

Graphics and Audio

State of Decay 2 presents a detailed open-world map with high-definition graphics that are consistent across PC and Xbox One platforms. The visual fidelity is calibrated to ensure that players receive a visually similar experience regardless of the platform. Audio quality is also uniformly preserved, with the soundscape offering an immersive experience that complements the visual elements.

  • Graphics: High-definition textures, dynamic lighting.
  • Audio: Directional sound design, orchestral score.

System Requirements

The game requires specific hardware configurations to operate smoothly on both PC and Xbox One. PC users must meet minimum system requirements that include a compatible operating system, a certain level of CPU and GPU performance, and adequate memory.

  • PC Minimum System Requirements:
    • OS: Windows 10
    • CPU: Intel i5-2500 @2.7Ghz / AMD FX-6300
    • RAM: 8 GB
    • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 / AMD Radeon HD 7870
  • Xbox One:
    • Requires Xbox Live account and sufficient storage.

Performance Optimizations

Developers have tailored State of Decay 2 to perform optimally on both Xbox One and PC by implementing platform-specific optimizations. These ensure that the game runs smoothly, having accounted for differences in hardware capabilities. Load times, frame rates, and network latency have been optimized to maintain gameplay fluidity and multiplayer synchronization in the cross-platform context.

  • Optimizations Include:
    • Streamlined loading times.
    • Adaptive resolution scaling.
    • Network enhancements for multiplayer stability.

In-Game Content

A group of survivors gathers around a campfire in a post-apocalyptic world, with abandoned buildings and overgrown vegetation in the background

State of Decay 2’s in-game content offers a diverse range of characters, a robust skill system, an extensive arsenal of weapons and equipment, and a variety of missions that contribute to overall game progress. The game is designed to provide a comprehensive zombie survival experience with a focus on base building, character development, and community management.

Characters and Skills

Each character in State of Decay 2 comes with a unique set of skills that affect gameplay. Players can improve their community’s effectiveness by carefully selecting and developing each character’s abilities. Skills range from combat and fitness to cooking and medicine, with certain traits improving group viability and individual survivability.

  • Core Skills: Cardio, Wits, Fighting, Shooting
  • Community Skills: Gardening, Mechanics, Medicine, Cooking

Specializations within these skills unlock further abilities and bonuses, allowing players to tailor characters to specific roles within the community.

Weapons and Equipment

State of Decay 2’s arsenal includes a wide variety of weapons and gear that survivors can use to defend themselves against the infested:

  • Melee Weapons: Knives, bats, and more for close-quarters combat
  • Firearms: Handguns, rifles, shotguns, and others for ranged attacks
  • Equipment: Barricades, medical kits, and vehicle upgrades for community defense and mobility

Players must scavenge for these items throughout the game, with rarer equipment generally offering improved stats and effects.

Missions and Progress

Missions in State of Decay 2 are dynamic and contribute to the narrative and progress of the game. They are tied to the player’s actions and decisions, which influence the stability and growth of the survivor community. Progress is tracked through main story missions, side quests, and the management of resources and community morale.

  • Story Missions: Advance the main plot and unlock key features
  • Side Quests: Provide additional resources and build relationships
  • Bounties: Special challenges that reward players with unique weapons and items

Achievements are associated with various in-game activities and milestones, serving as tangible markers of the player’s accomplishments.

Expansion Packs and DLC

State of Decay 2 enriches its core gameplay with a variety of Expansion Packs and DLCs, offering new content and game modes for players. They provide additional challenges, storylines, and exclusive items that further the immersive experience of the zombie survival game.

Daybreak Pack

The Daybreak Pack is a significant DLC for State of Decay 2, which introduces a new game mode. In this mode, players are tasked with defending a technician who is trying to repair a satellite relay against waves of zombies, including the highly challenging Blood Plague Juggernauts. Successful defenses reward players with prestige points which they can exchange for unique items and characters at the base game.

Heartland Expansion

The Heartland expansion is a narrative-driven DLC with a storyline that expands on the game’s universe. It offers a new 10-hour campaign that can be played solo or cooperatively, featuring unique survivors with their stories, missions, and gear. This expansion provides a different perspective on the game’s world through its two distinct story paths, giving players a more in-depth look at the lore of State of Decay 2.

DLC Availability

DLC content for State of Decay 2 is accessible via various retail options, each offering unique packs:

  • Prepper’s Pack: Exclusive supply drops and a vehicle
  • Survivor’s Pack: Additional equipment and supplies
  • Survival Pack: A selection of personal survival tools
  • SHTF Pack: Gear tailored for emergency situations
  • Apocalyptic Pack: Resources for enduring the apocalypse

These packs are available for purchase through retailers such as the Microsoft Store, Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart. Each pack offers content designed to assist players in their struggle for survival in the post-apocalyptic world of State of Decay 2.

Community and Networking

In the context of State of Decay 2’s cross platform compatibility, community and networking are pivotal. They provide the framework for players to connect, strategize, and share experiences across different platforms.

Discord and Social Platforms

Discord serves as a hub for State of Decay 2 enthusiasts. Within various Discord channels, they can share tips, find fellow survivors to join in-game, and participate in community events. The use of social platforms like Twitter and Facebook complements Discord, allowing for broader community engagement and news dissemination.

Gaming Communities

Gaming communities form the backbone of the multiplayer experience in State of Decay 2. These communities are often platform-agnostic, welcoming players from Xbox and PC alike. They are organized through forums, dedicated websites, and in-game alliances, where members contribute to a shared pool of knowledge and resources.

Xbox Live Integration

State of Decay 2 seamlessly integrates with Xbox Live, which facilitates cross-platform play between Xbox console users and PC gamers. Xbox Live enhances community interactions through features like friends lists, messaging, and voice chat. This connectivity ensures that players can team up easily, regardless of the device they are playing on.

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