AdminIt looks like Dead Island 2 may finally have a definitive release date, although we’ve certainly been burned with this game by now. After it was originally planned to be released in 2015, the game disappeared. Rumors about the difficult development process led many to think that Dead Island 2 would never see the light of day.
Fortunately, and to the delight of zombie fans everywhere, Dead Island 2 is indeed still alive and kicking, and will be released next year. It was revealed again earlier in 2022, with a full gameplay trailer showing off the new tone and visual style. It looks like there will still be plenty of zombie-killing action set against the backdrop of sun-baked Los Angeles.
Now that the release date is in sight and a gameplay reveal is on the horizon, there’s a lot to learn about Dead Island 2. Here’s everything we know about Dead Island 2, including all the latest news and rumors. As new details are revealed, this page will be updated. Check back to see if the game has indeed reached the new release date.
Dead Island 2: get to the point
- What is this? The long-delayed sequel to Dead Island
- When can I play it? April 28, 2023
- What can I play it on? PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Dead Island 2 trailers
For a very long time, the only Dead Island 2 trailer we had was the original trailer from 2014. It was a tasty thing, showing a rapidly decomposing runner running along Venice Beach in Los Angeles.
While it didn’t really reveal anything about the game, it set the tone for what we could expect from Dead Island 2’s tone.
Fast forward eight years, and now we have two new trailers for the Zombies open-world survival game. A new movie, in the spirit of the original, giving a taste of this apocalyptic version of LA.
Although after waiting eight years between theatrical trailers, it’s understandable that fans might want to see Dead Island 2 in action. Fortunately, developer Dambuster Studios was happy to cooperate and released a gameplay trailer showing just how brutal this long-awaited sequel is going to be.
Dead Island 2 release date and platforms
Dambuster Studios has once again delayed the release of Dead Island 2. It will be released on April 28, 2023. This is a 12-week delay from the previous release date. In the Twitter post you can see below, the team states that this is now the final release date. We’ll see.
Fans will be waiting with bated breath. Dead Island 2’s development has changed hands twice since the sequel was originally announced eight years ago, leaving gamers disillusioned with the past. It was first developed at Yager, the same studio that created Spec Ops: The Line, and was originally scheduled for release in 2015. But it never materialized.
In 2016, it was announced that development had gone to Sumo Digital. Three years later, the game changed studios again, and Dambuster announced that it had taken over development of the game. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this time I’ll be able to cross the finish line.
In terms of platforms, Dead Island 2 will arrive on next-gen and old-gen consoles, with PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC confirmed.
The delay is only 12 short weeks and the development is now on the final straight. Dead Island 2’s new release date is April 28, 2023. #DeadIsland #SeeYouInHELLA pic.twitter.com/Vf1NARTECoNovember 17, 2022
Dead Island 2 gameplay and plot
Now that Dead Island has been revealed again, we’re starting to learn a little more about it. Our first bits of information actually came from a leaked Amazon playlist that revealed that Dead Island 2 isn’t set on an island. Instead, the action takes place in Los Angeles or “HELL-A”.
Screenshots on the game’s listing page showed that the game will continue the series’ emphasis on melee combat, and its description promises plenty of gore, saying that the game’s combat will deliver “the most intense, visceral, and gory first-person experience.”
You’ll have a variety of weapons to choose from, the memo says, each offering different tactical advantages. There will also be six playable characters in the game, each with customizable abilities via Dambuster says (opens in a new tab)“an all-new skill system that allows you to instantly change specs and try out the craziest builds.”
In an interview with Computer player (opens in a new tab)creative director James Worrall revealed that while the game lacks a branching narrative, the six-player characters offer different perspectives.
“Each player character has their own voice and their own dialogue,” he said. “So you can get one character who is particularly motivated, energetic or optimistic. You can get another character who is a little more of a cynical person. Some characters are quite low, subtle. We wrote these characters to reflect broad playstyles. “
As for the zombies, there will also be variety, with Dambuster confirming that there will be “dozens of different types of zombies, each with their own mutations, attacks, and hundreds of LA-themed variants.”
Dead Island 2’s story is still a bit of a mystery, although it sounds like you’re playing as a survivor of a deadly virus that has devastated Los Angeles. By teaming up with other survivors, you’ll try to “uncover the truth behind the outbreak” by “taming the zombies within.”
As part of this tie-in, Dead Island 2 will support single-player gameplay, but there will also be a co-op mode for up to three players. However, we still have a lot to learn about how co-op will work.
In the game preview IGN (opens in a new tab) touched on the game’s “FLESH” or “Fully Locational Evisceration System for Humanoids” which “procedurally destroys zombies on every hit” and makes the game a truly bloody experience. We saw it ourselves in the trailer.
Regarding the combat, IGN said the game “encourages constant movement, with dodging, kicking, and jumping all integral parts” and while there is a stamina system, it’s not overly restrictive, allowing you to “experiment with a variety of different techniques.”
Dead Island 2 news and rumors
Dead Island 2 Showcase coming in December
Along with the news of the recent delay, a Dead Island 2 gameplay reveal has been revealed. It will take place on December 6, 2022. You can watch it by clicking on the links in the tweet below.
Can’t wait to show you more on December 6: – our Twitch channel: our YouTube channel: our website: https://t.co/Erh4Juv3fJNovember 17, 2022
Dead Island 2 consulted the diversity board for a more “representative” LA
During a recent interview with Dead Island 2 developer Dambuster Studios, art director Adam Olsson said Discharge (opens in a new tab) he explained how they handled his version of Los Angeles. While there are more comical exaggerations, such as Muscle Beach Hell-A featuring zombie bodybuilders, Olsson confirmed that the decisions were made after talking to Dambuster’s diversity board.
“It was a really interesting exercise that tried to break down what makes something LA and what stands out as a truly unique LA experience. “We’ve been very careful to take anything that might seem like a painful stereotype, and that’s why we have a diversity board in the studio to help us understand if we’ve gone too far,” explains Olsson.
“The board has been working closely with us to make sure we’re setting the right tone as we want to make sure we bring Dead Island 2 into the 21st century. We want to be contemporary and we want to be representative.”
Alexa Game Control integration
Dead Island 2 will include an interesting feature: Alexa Game Control. Announced at Gamescom 2022, Alexa Game Control will give PC and console players the ability to use voice commands to perform various in-game actions. You don’t need an Amazon Echo device or an Amazon Prime account to use it. In fact, you don’t have to say “Alexa” either. All you need is “any mic or headset” connected to your PC or console, and a standard Amazon account linked to the game.
According to an Amazon blog post (opens in a new tab)With Alexa Game Control, you’ll be able to say things like “where’s the nearest workshop” and “swap for my best weapon” while in-game to do things like find the nearest workshop and, um, trade for your best weapon. The post even mentions the ability to “manipulate hordes of zombies” simply by saying “hey zombies.”
Dead Island 2 will be the first game to support this feature Frequently asked questions (opens in a new tab) reveals that it will be available in English in North America for PC and Xbox at launch, with more regions, languages, and possibly even platforms to follow.
Dambuster Studios takes over development
In 2019, production of Dead Island 2 was transferred from Sumo Digital to Dambuster Studios. No further details were given at the time, but it indicated that a sequel was at least still in the works.
