Dead Island 2 finally announced release date and trailers

The long-awaited Dead Island 2 will finally be released next year, publisher Deep Silver has announced. The zombie action RPG sequel is available to pre-order now ahead of its February 3, 2023 release date.

According to the new trailers, it will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC via the Epic Games Store.

Dead Island 2 was, somewhat unbelievably, initially unveiled all the way back in 2014, promising more of the kind of co-operative zombie shooting action that had made developer Techland’s enjoyable 2011 original a bit of a hit.

Since then, though, development has been turbulent, with the sequel missing its initially announcement 2015 release date and losing its original developer – Spec Ops: The Line studio Yager – that same year. Eight months later, British developer Sumo Digital was revealed to have taken over the project, but another studio switch was still to come when Homefront: The Revolution maker Dambuster Studios took the reins in 2019.

Unsuprisingly, given its eventful development, delays have continued to blight the luckless project throughout – its launch was recently pushed back again, this time to April 2023 – but, finally, Deep Silver has announced it’s ready for a more public showing, saying it’ll be “rolling out the bloody red carpet” for a Dead Island 2 showcase on Tuesday, 6th December.

Things get underway on YouTube at 8pm in the UK/9pm CET/1pm PT, with the publisher promising a “first look into the game and its features” alongside some “exclusive new gameplay footage, showcased through an exciting cinematic live action pulp adventure”.

Those impatient for more undead action might like to check out Ian Higton’s impressions of Dead Island 2, based on some hands-on time with the elusive shooter earlier this year.