Dead Island 2: Release Date, Gameplay, Trailers, And More

Dead Island 2 spent a long time in development hell, with its initial announcement coming in 2014, before years of uncertainty made it seem like it would never come out. There were reports of development restarts and studio changes over the years, but most people forgot about its existence until news finally came in 2022.

During Gamescom, Dead Island 2 had a surprise trailer which finally re-revealed the game and gave it an official release date. Unless disaster strikes again, it seems to be settled in for a 2023 release and zombie fans are rejoicing, So, if you want to know everything there is about Dead Island 2, including the release date and more, we've got you covered. 

Dead Island 2 Release Date

The currently confirmed Dead Island 2 release date is April 21, 2023, meaning it's not long until fans can enjoy the game. During the initial re-reveal at Gamescom 2022, it was given a February 3 release date, which was delayed in November to the currently stated date. 

Back when the game was first announced nearly a decade ago, the game was set for a 2015 release. Obviously, this didn't happen and 2015 came and went with the development changing hands, and an official release date wasn't given again until Gamescom 2022. To say it's had a troubled development would be an understatement. 

Dead Island 2 Developer

Dead Island 2's development has been tumultuous, to say the least, with multiple studio changes since it was first revealed. Publisher Deep Silver initially wanted Techland to return to develop the game, but they were busy with Dying Light, and instead, they had to look for development pitches.

Yager Development, of Spec Ops: The Line fame, was brought on to develop the game first before they were replaced by Sumo Digital in 2015. After four years, Sumo was then replaced by Dambuster Studios which developed Homefront: The Revolution. As of today, they are still the developers, and should everything go right, we'll be playing their version in April.

Dead Island 2 Trailers

The first look we got at Dead Island 2 was a CGI trailer back in 2014, showcasing a man jogging down Venice Beach in California, while everything around him turns to chaos as zombies devour members of the public and those who are still living panic.

Eventually, he turns before a car comes careening toward the camera and splats him. Cut to black, and we hear the voices of Jack Black and Aaron Paul as they squabble about driving off.

Not too long after this was the gameplay trailer that debuted at Gamescom 2014. It showed some pre-alpha footage as a player ran around a California suburb, shooting, slicing, and smashing zombies. It had an unmistakable Dead Island look, with the makeshift weapons and clunky combat of the first, along with some scavenging for a mission objective. 

More recently, there was the Gamescom 2022 official reveal trailer, which established the game was still in development. This is a CGI trailer that shows an unnamed man waking from a hangover in a fancy Los Angeles home, before heading out to kill zombies and scavenge supplies. The whole vibe of the trailer portrays the zombies as more of a nuisance than a real threat, and this will likely carry over to the gameplay in some form. 

Since then, we've seen several gameplay trailers that show off various elements of the combat, along with the player characters who you can choose to play as. 

Dead Island 2 Gameplay And Story

Dead Island 2 will have similar gameplay to the first title, but with expanded features and new mechanics. This time, players can explore an open world Los Angeles and San Francisco, where the US Army has quarantined the entire state to deal with an even stronger zombie outbreak than in the first game. 

It's expected to follow an RPG progression route, with the player leveling up and investing in new skills as they complete quests and kill enemies. We know there are also several characters you can pick from.

It will feature a mix of melee and ranged combat, with both thrown weapons and guns, giving players a wide range of ways to deal with the undead. The gore system also seems to have been expanded, with much more visceral cuts, lacerations, beheadings, and disembowelments, making it a satisfying time when up close and personal with the zombies. 

A key part of the story involves the player character being infected with the zombie virus (like Dead Rising 2) and will likely follow you to attempt to find a cure. Being infected, you can also activate a sort of Rage mode where you half-turn and can kill zombies much easier. 

Dead Island 2 Platforms

Dead Island 2 has been confirmed to be released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC at the same time.