Dead Island became an instant cult classic in 2011, drawing players in with its surprisingly satisfying zombie slash combat and twisted sense of humor. More than a decade later, Dead Island 2 finally takes place – after a long, convoluted development journey.
2023 seems to be packed with incredible looking games, but Dead Island 2 is still on the hunt for the best Xbox games with its reimagined brutal zombie sandbox. Here’s what we know about Dead Island 2, including when and where it’ll be released, how it’ll play and more.
What is Dead Island 2?
Dead Island 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the original Dead Island, which was released way back in 2011 during the Xbox 360 era of gaming. The game, which pits players against hordes of ravenous undead within the confines of a dilapidated and dilapidated rendition of Los Angeles, was initially announced in 2014 as a same-generation successor to its predecessor. Unfortunately, Dead Island 2 has been stuck in a “development hell” since its unveiling.
Led by publisher Deep Silver, Dead Island 2 began development in the hands of Yager Development shortly after the release of the first game in the series. In 2015, the studio was replaced by Sumo Digital. After years of utter silence from Deep Silver about the state of Dead Island 2 (with many excited fans assuming the game had quietly died), it was revealed that Dead Island 2 had changed hands again. Since 2019, Deep Silver’s in-house studio, Dambuster Studios, has guided the development of this complicated, action-packed title, ultimately making Dead Island 2’s dream come true.
Dead Island 2, again revealed at Gamescom 2022, is official and coming to modern gaming platforms in early 2023. Players can look forward to a reimagined Los Angeles, nicknamed “Hell-A”, full of bloodthirsty zombies out to get the meat off your bones. Dead Island 2, an action-heavy RPG, will follow the spirit of its predecessor, but with plenty of new mechanics, systems and content to shake things up.
When is the release date for Dead Island 2?
When Dead Island 2 was unveiled again at Gamescom 2022, it also got a release date – and it’s sooner than you might think. Dead Island 2 will officially arrive on February 3, 2023, and it’s coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC via the Epic Games Store and Google Stadia. Dead Island 2 has not been confirmed for Xbox or PC Game Pass.
On Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, Dead Island 2 supports the entire range of current-generation gaming features, including resolutions up to 4K and 60 FPS (or higher), full HDR support, spatial surround sound, Smart Delivery to make sure that you always play the best version of the game, and more. The game also includes Xbox Achievements, cloud saves, and online co-op for up to 3 players.
You can pre-order Dead Island 2 now before release, with more information about the different editions available detailed below.
Where can I watch the Dead Island 2 trailers?
If you’ve been dying to see more of Dead Island 2, look no further than all the must-see trailers for this upcoming zombie slayer. Due to the gore-tastic Dead Island 2, many of its trailers may only be available to watch on YouTube.
Dead Island 2 Reveal Trailer
Watch the trailer on YouTube.
Dead Island 2 gameplay reveal trailer
Watch the trailer on YouTube.
Dead Island 2 E3 2014 Trailer
Watch the trailer on YouTube.
How can I pre-order Dead Island 2?
Dead Island 2 is now available for pre-order in both digital and physical editions, and clearly believes it will deliver an “AAA” stream-gen-zombie-smashing experience with its hefty price tag. Below are links to pre-order Dead Island 2 for Xbox, PlayStation and PC, as well as information about each digital and physical edition.
- Dead Island 2 Day One Edition (Digital). The standard version of Dead Island 2, the Day One Edition, costs $70 on Xbox and PlayStation and $60 on PC. This edition includes:
- A digital copy of the base game
- Pre-order bonus Memories of Banoi Pack, which includes two melee weapons, a weapon perk and a skill card
- Dead Island 2 Deluxe Edition (digital). An enhanced version of Dead Island 2, the Deluxe Edition costs $75 on Xbox and PlayStation, and $65 on PC. This edition includes:
- Everything from the Day One Edition
- The Gold Weapons Pack, which includes one melee weapon and one ranged weapon
- The Character Pack 1, which includes a unique costume and weapon
- The Character Pack 2, which includes another unique costume and weapon
- Dead Island 2 Gold Edition (digital). The ultimate version of Dead Island 2, the Gold Edition, costs $90 on Xbox and PlayStation and $80 on PC. This edition includes:
- Everything from the Deluxe Edition
- The Dead Island 2 Expansions Pass, which includes two post-launch DLC expansions for Dead Island 2 with new areas, missions, enemies, weapons and skills
- The Pulp Weapons Pack, which includes two signature melee weapons
- Dead Island 2 Day One Edition (Physical). The standard version of Dead Island 2, the Day One Edition, costs $70 for Xbox and PlayStation. This edition includes:
- A physical copy of the base game (this version is not compatible with Xbox Series S, Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, and PS5 Digital)
- Pre-order bonus Memories of Banoi Pack, which includes two melee weapons, a weapon perk and a skill card
- Dead Island 2 HELL-A Edition (physical). The ultimate version of Dead Island 2, the HELL-A Edition, costs $100 for Xbox and PlayStation. This edition includes:
- A physical copy of the base game (this version is not compatible with Xbox Series S, Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, and PS5 Digital)
- Everything from the Gold Edition, minus a digital copy of the base game
- An exclusive sample book
- A Venice Beach travel map
- Six slayer tarot cards
- Two pin badges
- a patch
What is the story of Dead Island 2?
Dead Island 2 is set in Los Angeles, also known as LA, the City of Angels and Hell-A (at least during a zombie apocalypse). Players take control of one of six characters, each with a unique personality and dialogue. In the game, Los Angeles has been consumed by a deadly zombie virus that has infected the entire city, leaving millions of mindless covers hungry for human flesh. The US military has surrendered the city to the virus and has quarantined the entire area so that no one can get in or out.
You and a handful of other survivors have shown surprising immunity to the virus, even after being bitten and infected. However, the virus is hardly untouched, manifesting itself in your body in mysterious, terrifying new ways that could hold the key to surviving the fall of Los Angeles and finding a cure for the zombifying disease. Players must explore the city and learn to harness the zombie virus within them while surviving against hordes of vicious undead.
There’s a whole host of unique, voiced characters to meet in Dead Island 2, and a series of missions and quests that will bring you closer to unraveling the mystery of the virus and what will make you become. Like its predecessor, however, Dead Island 2 isn’t a serious, drama-laden tale of death and survival – instead it unleashes players in a blood-filled sandbox dripping with dark humor and a plethora of powerful weapons and skills. You may be saving the world, but Dead Island 2 wants you to do it in style.
What is the gameplay of Dead Island 2?
Dead Island 2 is classified as an action RPG. Players have plenty of options to personalize their playstyle and choose how they face the challenges of this ravaged world, but ultimately Dead Island 2 is a never-ending stream of chaos, disintegration and ridiculous gory action.
Each character’s skills are fully customizable, with a new skill system that allows players to quickly customize and even completely change their builds. A huge arsenal of melee and ranged weapons is available to discover and turn against the armies of zombies seeking your brain, many with unique attributes and abilities to help you get an edge. In addition to player skills, it also appears that weapons can be equipped with powerful perks to further enhance their abilities.
Dead Island 2 is a gore-tastic sandbox that lets you rip and tear, burn and shock an endless stream of zombies in first-person, and cut through an endless stream of zombies, complete with full-blown mutilation. When it comes to your undead enemies, there are dozens of different variants, each with different traits, mutations, and attacks. Zombies in Dead Island 2 also draws on Los Angeles’ diverse cultures to provide hundreds of zombie visual styles so no two battles look alike.
Deep Silver and Dambuster Studios want each encounter with Dead Island 2’s zombies to pose new threats to players, with numerous tactics to overcome those challenges. You don’t have to go it alone either, as Dead Island 2 features online co-op multiplayer for up to three players. Invite some of your friends and explore Los Angeles together, combining skills and strategies to overcome even the toughest obstacles in your path.
Interestingly, Dead Island 2 will be the very first video game to use a new feature from Amazon: Alexa Game Control. While it’s not clear how valuable this feature will be in practice, in theory it will allow players to interact with Dead Island 2 using only the power of voice. Without the need for the “Alexa” hotword or standalone hardware, players should be able to taunt zombies, request in-game help, and even activate skills during combat, all with the power of their voice.
Will there be DLC for Dead Island 2?
Dead Island 2 hasn’t arrived yet, but some players are already wondering how the game will be supported with additional content after release. While no details are available yet, it has been confirmed that players can expect post-launch DLC expansions for Dead Island 2 in the months following release.
The Dead Island 2 Expansion Pass, available for pre-order now as part of the Gold and HELL-A editions of the game, includes two DLC expansions. Each unnamed expansion brings new areas of Los Angeles to explore, additional story missions and associated weapons, skills and enemies to add more variety to the gameplay. We’ll probably have to wait a while before we hear more about what these expansions are all about, but players can pre-order the game now to guarantee access to the DLC when it comes out.
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