Dead Island 2 is currently in development and will be released after a long wait. The long-awaited sequel to Techland’s zombie-bashing slaughter-fest is one of those new games in 2023 that genuinely can’t be ignored. Developer Dambuster Studios and publisher Deep Silver have finally gotten this blood-soaked sequel back on track after years of setbacks and restarts, and so far, we’re impressed with what we’ve seen and played.
Our preview and interview with the game’s director provide further detail about our hands-on experiences with Dead Island 2.
Dambuster, one of the anticipated PS5 games and upcoming Xbox Series X games, had its release date moved back from February 2023 to April 2023 so that more time could be spent polishing the game. Hey, what’s a couple more weeks after waiting for 12 years?
We have a gameplay trailer that will leave you wanting more while we wait for the gore-gorgeous shores of post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, so there’s that. Information on Dead Island 2’s development and release can be found here.
Dead Island 2 Release Date
While the Dead Island 2 release date was originally slated for February 2023, Dambuster Studios and Deep Silver subsequently stated that it has been pushed back by 11 weeks and would now be released on April 21, 2023.
Regarding the most recent Dead Island 2 delay, Dambuster commented, “The irony of delaying Dead Island 2 is not lost on us, and we are as disappointed as you undoubtedly are. The delay is just 12 short weeks and development is on the final straight now; we’re going to take the time to make sure we can launch a game we’re proud to launch. For those of you who’ve been waiting for years, thank you for hanging in there with us.”
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Dead Island 2 Platforms
Those of you keeping tabs on what’s coming to PC may rest easy, for we can now say that Dead Island 2 will be available on the Epic Games Store. PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and Xbox One are the other confirmed platforms for Dead Island 2.
Dead Island 2 Storyline
The events of Dead Island 2 begin on an evacuation plane that is taking you and a group of other survivors away from the ruined streets of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, as your plane crashes, you’re left to fend for yourself and pick your way through the ruins.
Then, during a fight with a zombie, your character gets bitten; however, when they do not transform into a zombie, the player concludes that they must be immune to the virus. You and your fellow survivors must contact the authorities and clear a path through the deserted city so you may all be rescued.
Dead Island 2 Gameplay
Dead Island 2 completely revamps the formula that made the first game enjoyable. To begin, “districts,” as game director David Stenton calls them, have been established over the landmass. The melee core of the battle remains, but the experience has changed drastically since 2011.
After getting our hands on Dead Island 2 for the first time, we could play two different test builds of the game. Dambuster’s dedication to the FLESH system was immediately apparent from this. The game’s horrific, anatomically realistic visuals are meant to replicate the slapstick and repulsion of 80s horror, providing some much-needed comic relief.
You can design a flexible collection of skills that you may adjust anytime as you gather skill cards and add them to your deck. Because of the “symphony of the combat sandbox” described by Stenton in our recent Dead Island 2 preview and chat with Dambuster, there is no shortage of methods to reinforce your chosen playstyle.
Dead Island 2 Trailers
Dead Island 2 trailers were scarce until the now-iconic E3 2014 zombie transformation sequence, which you can see below. But, at Gamescom 2022, Deep Silver and Dambuster Studios showed off a brand new reveal video and some fresh, up-to-date gameplay footage.
Let’s trace the history of creation. The Dead Island E3 2014 reveal trailer may be viewed above for a quick review.
The new Dead Island 2 reveal trailer from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2022 is next.
Dead Island 2 Combat
Dead Island 2 openly aspires to be the “best in class” in fighting, and it’s on its way there. Dead Island 2’s combat is advertised by Deep Silver as creating “the most intense, visceral, and gory first-person experience possible” because of the in-house FLESH system. There are six characters in Dead Island 2, each with its language and unique starting skill cards and arsenals.
The unique skill deck system allows you to instantly re-spec characters and try out various builds, fully personalizing your character’s skills.
Dead Island 2 Setting
The city of Los Angeles in Dead Island 2 is covered in blood. With Dambuster as our guide, we can see the city’s most famous landmarks, from the Beverly Hills suburbs to the Venice Beach boardwalk and beyond. Hell-A is a natural battleground for this co-op action game due to the city’s overabundance of undead and weapons.
Like the original Dead Island, you will be tasked with taking control of one of six protagonists, “Slayers.”
- Carla
- Dani
- Ryan
- Amy
- Jacob
- Bruno
Dead Island 2 Multiplayer
Though the zombie slashes them up and may be experienced in its entirety in a single player, teaming up with two friends in squads of three sounds like a lot of fun in Dead Island 2, Deep Silver believes this will ensure Dead Island 2’s “replayability,” as players work together to unravel the “thrilling” pulp plot and interact with the game’s “twisted” array of characters.
It’s still unknown whether or not co-op will be available from the start of Dead Island 2 or if it will be integrated into the game’s story mode like it was in Dying Light 2.
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Dead Island 2 development
Dead Island 2 has been in development for quite some time. Work on the sequel, previously headed by Yager Development and rumored to have begun as early as 2012, was finally unveiled during E3 2014. Dambuster Studios took over the development of Dead Island 2 three years ago, in 2019, after previous developers, Sumo Digital, had taken a break.
Due to the lack of material available, it is difficult to determine how much the game has evolved since its inception. Now that the Dead Island 2 release date is set in stone, we can anticipate further details leading up to the game’s debut.
Check out our review to discover if the game is worth your time if you’re curious about it. Our gaming news articles will keep you up-to-date on everything happening in the gaming industry.
