The Xbox One and Windows release of State of Decay 2 is set for May 22nd this spring. The base game will cost $29.99 on Xbox One and PC. There will also be a deluxe edition made available for $49.99.

Speaking to IGN, general manager of marketing for the games division at Microsoft, Aaron Greenberg, explained that they wanted to bring in as many gamers as possible, which is why they went with a lower price point…

“Our goal is to build a long-term relationship with the State of Decay community and to foster deeper experiences with the franchise. We believe State of Decay 2 accomplishes this goal by immersing fans in the ultimate zombie survival fantasy, and we want to give more players the opportunity to join in and experience this unique game.”

The sequel runs on the Unreal Engine 4, supports four-player cooperative gameplay, and retains the original’s mixture of community base building and open-world, sandbox scavenging. Obviously, the third-person combat and gunplay will still be present as well, which was showcased in last year’s E3 trailer.

The game hasn’t really picked up a whole lot of hype because the zombie survival genre has become worn out and tired. It was hot and fresh when DayZ introduced us to something shocking and new; a simulation that wasn’t just about killing zombies but attempting to find survivors and build a new life beyond the reaches of the infection.

Unlike many other games out there you actually had to cultivate a community in State of Decay, and there was an element of perma-death depending on the characters who died. I’m curious what actual new elements are added to the game other than just standard performance and aesthetic upgrades over the 2013 release?

At least we know the vehicles are back, and the day and night cycle is intact.

You’ll likely receive a ton of more info leading up to the May 22nd release.