Dead Island 2: release date, special editions, co-op, and more

Los Angeles like you’ve never seen it before (pic: Deep Silver)

With its development spanning nearly a decade, the release of Dead Island 2 is almost here, so let’s dive into all the gory details.

With Dead Island 2 jumping between studios for several years, many of its fans lost hope of ever seeing the sequel be released. 

Early hype for the game has been positive though, especially once fans leaked hours of gameplay footage, after getting their hands on a copy of the game that had been released prematurely. 

However, if you’d like to avoid spoilers and wait for the official launch, here’s everything you can expect from the role-playing zombie slasher. 

What’s Dead Island 2’s release date? 

Although the answer to this question has changed frequently over the years, you can be certain of this one. 

The official release date for Dead Island 2 is Friday, April 21, after the game was hit with a reverse-delay and publisher Deep Silver decided to launch it a week early. 

Once the clock strikes midnight, the game can be downloaded from your console’s digital store, the Epic Games Store, or you can purchase a physical version from any standard games retailer.  

Unfortunately, Dead Island 2 won’t grant players early access for purchasing special editions, as is often the case with other new releases. 

The game doesn’t take itself too seriously (pic: Deep Silver)

What platforms can you play Dead Island 2 on? 

With some companies prioritising next-gen consoles, it’s no longer certain that all new games will be accessible on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. 

That’s not the case with Dead Island 2, which will launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC – despite a few of these consoles not existing when the game was first conceived. 

If you prefer a more compact style of gaming, we have some bad news for you, as Dead Island 2 won’t be making its way to Nintendo Switch any time soon. 

How much does Dead Island 2 cost? 

Dead Island 2’s standard edition will cost £59.99 for last and next generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles.  

As usual, the game is slightly cheaper on PC, where it costs £54.99, though it comes with the same content. 

As ever, it’s only physical copies that are cheaper at launch, although most retailers are only discounting it by a few pounds at first.

It’s just as gory (pic: Deep Silver)

Is there a deluxe edition of Dead Island 2? 

Depending on how much money you’re willing to spend on your zombie-slaying adventures, there are several special editions of Dead Island 2 to choose from. 

The digital Deluxe Edition is priced at £64.99 for PlayStation and Xbox, while the same edition will cost you £59.99 for PC. 

The Deluxe Edition includes two premium character packs, featuring a unique costume and weapon, and the Golden weapons pack. 

Players that pre-order either the standard or digital Deluxe editions will also get the Memories of Banoi pack, with two weapons, a special weapon perk and skill card. 

There’s an even more special edition for consoles (pic: Deep Silver)

There is an even more exclusive Gold Edition that, in addition to these freebies, includes the Pulp weapons pack and the expansion pass, which will grant you access to two new chapters of the story that will be released after the game’s launch. The Gold Edition costs £79.99 on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and £74.99 on PC. 

Last but not least, there’s also a physical special edition for console players, called HELL-A Edition, that comes with a price tag of £84.99. 

The HELL-A Edition includes the Golden and Pulp weapon packs, the expansion pass, as well as a couple of physical items for Dead Island collectors. 

Here are all the physical items included in the HELL-A Edition: 

Steelbook case 

Venice Beach travel map 

6 Slayer tarot cards 

2 pin badges 

1 patch 

Does Dead Island 2 have a co-op multiplayer? 

As cooperative play was a hallmark of the original Dead Island, it’s only natural that this feature would be present in the sequel. 

However, if you’re using base Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles you won’t be able to host a co-op session upon the game’s release. 

Instead, you will have to rely on players with newer consoles from the same company (i.e. PlayStation or Xbox) to act as the host, who can be joined by two or more players. 

Deep Silver is currently working on a solution for this, with the aim that all players, regardless of console, will be able to host a session in Dead Island 2 in due course. 

You can go on zombie-slaying adventures with your friends (pic: Deep Silver)

Will Dead Island 2 be cross platform? 

Dead Island 2 allows for cross-gen cooperative play, enabling players on different console generations to team up, for example PlayStation 4 and 5 players. 

At present, cross-play among PlayStation, Xbox, and PC is not enabled, meaning that you won’t be able to resume your progress on a different platform than the one you started on. 

With this in mind, it’s best to stick to one platform for your gory escapades for the time being, unless you’re willing to buy the game twice. 

More: Gaming

Where is Dead Island 2 set? 

Set in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Dead Island 2 boasts distinct combat mechanics compared to its predecessors, while also retaining various elements, including the rage and crafting systems. 

You will have the chance to venture through some of the most recognisable city locales, ranging from Beverly Hills suburbia to the Venice Beach promenade and beyond. 

Same as in the original, you’ll be called to take on the role of one of six main characters, known as ‘slayers,’ and once you make your choice, you won’t be able to switch to another. 

Dani doesn’t seem too bothered by the chaos around her (pic: Deep Silver)

From the Hollywood stuntman Jacob to the firefighter stripper Ryan and Paralympian Amy, each character boasts unique base stats and perks that aid them in combating the zombie outbreak. 

The campaign of the game will remain unchanged regardless of which character you choose, with the only difference being their dialogue with non-player characters. 

The six slayers in Dead Island 2 are named Carla, Dani, Ryan, Amy, Jacob, and Bruno, each featuring a distinct backstory for you to discover – assuming they survive the zombie horde.

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With its development spanning nearly a decade, the release of Dead Island 2 is almost here, so let’s dive into all the gory details.