Undead Labs has confirmed that a physical copy of State of Decay 2 will not be included within the Collector's Edition – no, really.

Looking forward to fending off the zombie apocalypse when State of Decay 2 drops in May? Confused by the Collector’s Edition that the developer recently announced? Well, you aren’t the only one.

That’s right, earlier this month, Microsoft and Undead Labs revealed what – at the time – was touted as a Collector’s Edition. But, it led to instant confusion. A SteelBook case was included, despite no mention of a physical copy of the game itself.

It turns out that wasn’t a mistake. Yes, that’s correct. The Collector’s Edition, which has now been renamed as the Collectibles Kit, will ship without a copy of the game – physical or digital. An update posted on the developer’s website confirmed the news: “We’d like to clarify that the Collectibles Kit does NOT ship to retailers with a copy of the game included in the box”.

Undead Labs has said that some retailers might offer to include the “kit and game as a special bundle”, but it’ll be up to the discretion of each store. It all seems a bit mad, doesn’t it? At least they’ve renamed it to be a little bit less misleading.

The Collector’s Edition, or Collectibles Kit, for State of Decay 2 in question. A SteelBook case is depicted, but no mention of a physical copy of the game was ever present in the promotional material.

There are in fact three ways to play the game come release. The first and most obvious option is to purchase the Standard Edition of State of Decay 2. The second is to opt for the Ultimate Edition, which allows rabid fans access to the game four days earlier than normal release and comes with a host of goodies of its own, including a copy of State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition and two add-on packs (Independence Pack and Daybreak Pack).

Then, the third option available to money-savvy gamers is to snag a subscription for Xbox Game Pass. With Sea of Thieves having already dropped and Crackdown 3 heading to the all-you-can-eat subscription service, it’s shaping up to be a pretty good offer if you ask us.

Those set on picking up the Collectibles Kit will be treated to a host of zombie-tastic goodies including an exclusive SteelBook case, a brain-shaped case stand, a latex zombie mask, a “thumb-drive” (literally), and an exclusive iron-on patch which seems destined to end up on eBay.

State of Decay 2, the sequel to the critically acclaimed State of Decay, immerses players in an all-new multiplayer zombie survival fantasy and is scheduled for release on May 22 for Xbox One.