Undead Labs has just dropped some new details on their upcoming expansion State of Decay: Lifeline. Contrary to the zombie fiction norm, the team over at Undead Labs is not using the government as their “go-to badguy” and are, instead, going in the opposite direction. Lifeline will see servicemen and women fight with everything they’ve got to ensure that civilization doesn’t crumble into chaos. Now, military personnel are nothing new to State of Decay, but they have been nothing more than side characters up until this point. Lifeline is putting the spotlight directly on them.
You’ll be strapped into the boots of a Greyhound One unit member sent to rescue scientists who are working on providing a solution to the outbreak. Needless to say, their work is of the utmost importance and your top priority. Greyhound One won’t find themselves roaming the rural environment of Trumbull Valley, however. The “fallen city of Danforth” is your new playground, although we know nothing more than the name at this point. We are told a full map reveal will happen in the coming weeks.
Probably the most interesting part about Lifeline is that it flips the very nature of State of Decay upside down. Here, you are a soldier. As a soldier, you have access to high-grade weaponry. You can call in off-map support, such as artillery, and mow down hordes with your shiny new firearms. The player starts off as an unstoppable brute and then transitions into the role of a forced-to-improvise and desperate killer. Resources will be used up and gone forever, making the progression forward an upward battle. This should be a refreshing change of pace for current State of Decay players that have already logged countless hours working up from 2x4s and crowbars.
Lastly, Undead Labs is beefing up the home defense mechanic of the gaming in Lifeline with the Landing Zone. The Landing Zone area is set up early on in the expansion and serves as the home base. This base can be used to receive supply drops or extract civilians. Given that it is occupied by military personnel, it has an edge in the battle against the undead. Minefields can be set up; highly-trained soldiers cover structurally weak areas; a healthy (at first) stock of weapons resides here. But resources deplete and the relentless zombie hordes can overrun it if given the chance, leaving the civilians as a tasty treat.
That’s all the new info on Lifeline for now! Check back regularly for updates on the expansion’s new features, location, characters and, most importantly, release date.