After a decade of delays, Dead Island finally proves it’s here to stay with the confirmation of Dead Island 3.
Over 20 million people around the world have officially played Dead Island 2. That’s not an easy thing to do, given how long the game has been in production. Dead Island 2 has had a wild trip, from its messy start until its release in April 2023.
When it first launched, Dead Island 2 immediately became Deep Silver’s biggest launch ever. Within just two months, it sold over two million copies, but the player base didn’t stop growing. Later, the game landed on Game Pass, opening the doors for millions more players to jump in. Most recently, during the Epic Games Store mega sale, the game was given away for free, which also aided sales.
Deep Silver and Dambuster Studios also confirmed that a brand-new entry in the franchise is already in the works. There are no details of note, but a teaser image hints that the next game could take place somewhere new, so what that means is that Los Angeles, the setting for Dead Island 2, might not return.
The journey of Dead Island 2 is fascinating. Back in 2014, Deep Silver revealed the game with a flashy trailer that caught people’s attention. At the time, the project was being handled by Yager Development, with a planned 2015 release. But by the summer, everything fell apart. Yager was out.
In 2016, Sumo Digital took over the project. Fans were hopeful, but years passed with little to no updates. By 2019, development changed hands again, this time to Dambuster Studios. Just as progress seemed underway, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed things down even more. After nearly a decade of delays, Dead Island 2, like the name of the game itself, was thought dead. But against all odds, like the Undertaker, it rose from the dead and launched in 2023.
Dead Island 2 wasn’t perfect, but it delivered enjoyable zombie action. The game leaned heavily into mindless fun, which isn’t a bad thing, and the overall reception was positive, even if the price was a little steep. Over time, as discounts came up and sales grew, millions more players jumped in to enjoy the gory zombie action.
With a new Dead Island game already in development, the franchise has a chance to build on its current momentum. A new setting could refresh the series. Naturally, fans are asking questions about whether we’ll see reforms to combat or storytelling. Guess we have to wait to find out.
For Dead Island 2 lovers, the hope is that the next game balances chaos with creativity. After a decade of “won’t happen” rumors, the Dead Island franchise seems ready to embrace its moment in the sun. The next chapter could very well define the future of the series.
