PC

First, check your Windows Event Viewer for the source of the crash: press the Windows key, type Event Viewer, open Windows Logs > System (or Application), and look for errors related to Stateofdecay2.exe or Microsoft.Dayton. If you see a “DCOM Server Error,” run the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

If you have the Xbox Console Companion app installed, uninstall it and restart your PC. Then try these fixes in order, moving to the next only if the previous one didn’t help:

1. Make sure your antivirus is allowing State of Decay 2 through (most common with third-party antivirus, not Windows Defender).
2. Update your drivers, especially your GPU drivers.
3. Confirm there’s only one copy installed: open PowerShell as administrator and run get-appxpackage *Dayton* -allusers, then remove any duplicates and reinstall.
4. Reset the app: Settings > Apps > Apps & features > State of Decay 2 > Reset, then restart.
5. Move State of Decay 2 to a different drive.
6. Uninstall and reinstall the game.

Xbox

Digital version: Press the Xbox button > My games & apps, highlight State of Decay 2, press Menu >Manage game & add-ons > Installed > Uninstall all. Then reinstall from Ready to install.

Disc version: Uninstall the game and its add-ons, disconnect from the internet, reinstall fully from disc, reconnect, then take the update.

Try these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Store, click Library (lower-left), then Get updates.
2. If the download still hasn’t started, go to the State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition product page and start it there. You can also try running the update from the Xbox app.
3. Check Windows Update: Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates, and install anything pending (including Optional updates). A Windows Update can sometimes hide a Store update. 
4. Check for a pending Gaming Services update in the Store Library. Installing “Xbox Services” from the Store sometimes helps even if it’s already installed.
5. Restart your PC.

If it still won’t download, report it through the Windows Feedback Hub (press the Windows key, type “Feedback Hub,” and choose “Report a problem”).

First, check the Xbox status page to confirm Xbox Live services are online — most connection issues trace back to a service outage.

Make sure Multiplayer is turned on in the in-game Settings menu, and that you’re signed in to an Xbox account.

If you’re on PC and can’t host a session, update your Gaming Services: open the Microsoft Store, click Library > Get updates, then restart your PC and try again.

Open the Radio Command screen — press Up on the D-pad (controller) or the O key (keyboard) — scroll to the bottom, and select the “Stuck?” command. After a few seconds your character will be moved to a nearby clear spot.

This works while you’re in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, too. If your car is simply flipped rather than wedged, get out, stand near it, and use the “Flip” prompt. Note that the Stuck command takes a few seconds, so it isn’t a way to escape a horde in a hurry.

From the front-end menu, open Settings — the version number is in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

If you can’t launch the game:

Xbox: Press the Xbox button > My games & apps, select State of Decay 2, press Menu > Manage game & add-ons. The version is in the upper-right corner.

PC: Open the Microsoft Store, click … (upper right) > Downloads and updates, and scroll to State of Decay 2. The version is listed in the third column.

We’re no longer accepting new bug reports directly.

For discussion, troubleshooting help from other players, and sharing feedback, join the community on Discord or the r/StateofDecay subreddit.

It depends on where you bought the game.

Physical copy: Return it to the retailer you purchased it from.

Digital copy (Xbox or Microsoft Store):

1. Go to your Microsoft Order history to see if the item is eligible for a refund.
2. If eligible, select Request a return.
3. If you don’t see that option, the item may not be eligible — see the Microsoft Terms of Sale.

Before requesting a refund for downloadable software, uninstall it first (Start > Settings > Apps, select the game, then Uninstall). Note that for an Xbox Play Anywhere game, you won’t be able to play on PC or console once the refund is processed.

State of Decay 2 is a systems-heavy game, so we highly recommend playing the tutorial on your first run. It’s short and covers combat, scavenging, character inventory, and blood plague to get you through your first few days. You’ll start by choosing one of four pairs of survivors, and that choice carries into the main game.

Early on you’ll get pop-ups and 3-panel tutorials, plus orange “!” markers guiding you to current objectives. If you miss a tip or want a refresher, hit pause and open the “How to Play” tab. You can also turn the tutorial prompts off in the Settings menu once you know your way around.

Yes — controls can be fully customized in the Settings menu under Controls > Remap Controls. You can remap keyboard and mouse bindings as well as most controller buttons. (On Xbox controllers, the right stick and the View and Menu buttons can’t be remapped.)

It’s worth exploring the rest of the Settings menu too — you’ll find options for Gameplay, Multiplayer, Accessibility, HUD, Video, and Audio.

Blood Plague is spread by red, bloody plague zombies and by damaged Plague Hearts. When a survivor is struck, an infection meter appears above their Health and Stamina.

Partial infection: Visit your Infirmary and use the “Infection Therapy” action (costs a few plague samples), or let the survivor rest in the infirmary to recover.

Full-blown blood plague (meter completely full): The only cure is to craft and consume a dose of plague cure, which costs meds and plague samples. You collect plague samples from slain plague zombies. If you can’t afford a cure, you can check the survivor into the Infirmary to keep them stable, exile them, or euthanize them.

Refuel: Driving uses gas. With a gas can in your inventory, go to the refueling point near the back of the driver’s side of the vehicle and follow the prompt. Find gas cans at gas stations, or craft them at your Storage. Refueling takes a moment, so do it away from zombies.

Repair: When your car starts smoking, you need a toolkit. Move to the front of the vehicle and follow the on-screen prompt. Scavenge toolkits at auto repair shops, or craft them with a Workshop (level 2) and a survivor who knows mechanics.

Upgrades: Build the Auto Shop facility to craft upgrade kits (light, medium, heavy) that boost durability, speed, storage, and fuel capacity. Check which vehicles each kit fits before crafting.

Open your inventory and tab over to Radio. Most commands cost a small amount of influence and have a cooldown, so read the details before choosing. Your options include:

• Find Resources/People — locate supplies you’re short on, or survivors to recruit.
• Recruit Legacy Survivors — bring a survivor from your legacy pool (high influence cost, long cooldown).
• Medical Advice — recover Health and remove Trauma (requires a survivor with the Medicine skill).
• Infestation Options — base-defense options that cost fuel or ammo.
• Daybreak & Independence Pack — call special traders and supply drops.
• Multiplayer — host an SOS, join others, or volunteer for Daybreak/Heartland (Multiplayer must be on).
• Stuck? — relocate a stuck character or vehicle.

Yes — State of Decay 2 supports cross-play. You can play with up to 3 other players, and anyone with an Xbox account can join regardless of platform or storefront. When you visit another player’s game you keep access to your own community’s Supply Locker.

To connect, exchange Xbox gamertags. PC players can use the Game Bar (press Windows + G) to invite or join friends across different stores and consoles. Make sure you’re signed in to an Xbox account and that Multiplayer is turned on in the in-game Settings menu.

Note that multiplayer uses a peer-to-peer connection, so your session quality depends on the host’s internet, and a tether system keeps players from straying too far from the host.

The quickest way to check is to ask Cash himself: select “Let’s talk about bounties,” then highlight the “…” icon to see which pack is retiring and which one comes next. The monthly rotation is:

• January — Bundle Up Pack
• February — Trumbull Valley Pack
• March — Pawn Shop Pack
• April — Plunder Pack
• May — Anniversary Pack
• June — World War II Pack
• July — Open Range Pack
• August — Critical Response Pack
• September — Trifecta Pack
• October — Fearsome Footage Pack
• November — Go Bag Pack
• December — Stay Frosty Pack

State of Decay 2 includes a wide range of adjustable settings and accessibility options. The full list can be viewed here.

The best places to share feedback, get help from other players, and stay up to date are our Discord server and the r/StateofDecay subreddit. With support winding down, the community is the liveliest place for discussion and help.