Dead Island 2 Game Pass Release Comes With a Big Catch

Much to the surprise of fans, Dead Island 2 released on Xbox Game Pass earlier today, but is only available to Ultimate members on consoles. This is likely due to Dead Island 2‘s PC edition being exclusive to the Epic Games Store until later this year.

Dead Island 2‘s Game Pass release caught fans off guard due to its total lack of marketing from Microsoft or developer Dambuster Studios. However, this isn't anything new for Game Pass, which recently added Tales of Arise with a similar approach. Dead Island 2 is a well-received follow-up to 2011's Dead Island and receives regular updates, making it a promising addition to Xbox's subscription service. However, a significant portion of Game Pass' subscriber base has been left out of this offering.

Those subscribed to PC Game Pass Ultimate might be able to download the game on April 22 when Dead Island 2‘s Epic Games Store exclusivity ends. However, it should be noted that Dead Island 2 might not still be on Game Pass by then, although a lifespan that short would be surprising. Dead Island 2‘s Game Pass release gives console Ultimate subscribers access to the full base game, and users can also claim new rewards, like the Trickster's Smile knife, by linking their account to Dead Island 2‘s PROS platform. Additionally, users can now earn the legendary-tier Malibu Nightstick bat by dismembering 1,000 limbs.

Eligible Game Pass subscribers only having access to the base game suggests that fans will have to fork over some extra cash to download Dead Island 2‘s Sola Festival DLC once it drops later this year. The expansion does not have an exact release date yet, although it does have a Q2 2024 release window. Not much else is known about the DLC, except that it will feature some sort of post-apocalyptic rave community. Haus, a previous Dead Island 2 expansion, similarly featured human characters and was a hit with many fans.

Dead Island 2 might have more up its sleeve for 2024, including a potential Switch release. Dead Island 2‘s parent company previously confirmed that the game will release on a new platform this year, although its approaching Steam release may have been what the announcement was describing.

Game Pass subscribers have more additions to look forward to in the near future. PC and console subscribers will have access to Maneater on February 27, Indivisible on February 28, Space Engineers on February 29, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun on March 5, and Diablo 4 on March 28.

Dead Island 2 is scheduled to release in February 2023, almost ten years after it was originally announced. The game has switched development studios twice in that time; it was originally developed by German company Yager Development, then by British studio Sumo Digital, before another British company, Dambuster Studios, took over.