State of Decay 2 developer Undead Labs has honored a community member’s late father by incorporating him into the game as an in-game character. Redditor EmbarrassedBudget shared the touching story, recounting how he reached out to Undead Labs three years ago following his father’s death.
Initially, the studio added his father’s name to random survivors within the game, but three years later, the player discovered a character named Bruce Allen Buncombe, who not only bore his father’s name but also shared his traits and background.
The in-game character, Bruce Allen Buncombe, is depicted as having run a medical office before the zombie apocalypse, leading a quiet life, and being described as “old and tired,” mirroring the real-life qualities of the player’s father.
This discovery profoundly moved EmbarrassedBudget, who expressed deep gratitude to the studio for immortalizing his father in such a meaningful way. He shared that this gesture has cemented his connection to the game and his father’s memory within it.
In response to the player’s heartfelt message, Undead Labs expressed their own emotional reaction. The studio tweeted, “I’m not crying you’re crying,” expressing their happiness that the player found the character representing his father. The studio’s response highlights the impact of their gesture and their commitment to creating a meaningful experience for their community members.
The State of Decay series, known for its base building, community management, and intense zombie survival gameplay, has always carried an underlying tone of melancholy.
The games feature somber music, poignant backstories, and the ever-present threat of permadeath, emphasizing themes of perseverance and hope amid life’s impermanence. This story of memorializing a late community member’s father reinforces these themes, showcasing the game’s deeper emotional resonance and the studio’s dedication to its player base.