Back in 2014, a new E3 trailer released for one of the most anticipated zombie games of its time, Dead Island 2. Less than a year later, Dying Light released in early 2015. Dying Light saw great success, so it was no surprise when hype began building on a sequel. Dying Light 2 was eventually revealed in 2018, and just like Dead Island 2, it was revealed at E3.
Now it has been seven years since Dead Island 2's reveal and three years since Dying Light 2's, but fans are still without either game. In fact, neither game even has a release date. Many fans are beginning to wonder if Dying Light 2 is becoming the next Dead Island 2, and if either game will ever actually release.
With Dead Island 2, quite simply, the game seems to be in development hell. Very little has come about since its announcement in 2014, meaning fans know about as much now as they knew then. Although there is nothing wrong with a great CGI trailer to reveal a game and build hype, it was only a matter of time before the developer had to show some gameplay to back it up. That never really came though.
After 7 years, there has only been scraps of gameplay shown from Dead Island 2 from early demo versions and builds of a game that reveal its setting to be in popular California cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. These gameplay demos can be taken with a grain of salt though, because they are most likely tied to a game that is now potentially changed completely, as it has moved from developer to developer.
Dead Island 2's Development Troubles
Dead Island 2 has had two developer changes, with publisher Deep Silver claiming the reason for them to be that it wants to make sure it gets the game right. Originally, the game was supposed to be developed by Yager Productions, which changed in 2016 to a UK-based studio called Sumo Digital, which lasted until Dambuster Studios took over in 2019. Since then, Deep Silver has reiterated that the game is currently in development, and that it is by no means cancelled. So there may be hope for Dead Island 2, but with all of the development troubles the game has faced and continues to face, fans should keep hope in check.
As of right now, most information about the game comes from the Dead Island official Twitter and Deep Silver's official Twitter. Unfortunately, neither of these tell much about what the game will be like, and only confirm that Dead Island 2 is still in development. Deep Silver has said that fans should stay tuned for updates and information to be revealed soon, but plenty of gamers are having a hard time buying it. With the release of the next-gen consoles Dead Island 2 has another opportunity to finally find its footing, but whether it will fully complete its development or not is the biggest issue for many.
As time continues to pass, people who have been waiting for the game's release have all but given up hope. After all, the sheer time frame means many have changed jobs, gotten married, and more; life events have literally taken place while this game has been in development. Now it is less about if the game is still happening, but more if it will ever actually come out. A good start for that path would be for a gameplay trailer, but as of right now, there's no reason to believe that will happen. The one silver lining here for fans of the series is that it is 100% confirmed that the game is still in development, and is not dead in the water.
What Is Known About The State of Dying Light 2
As for Dying Light 2, its future seems a little bit more certain. Although the game missed its planned 2020 release date, the developer has been more active in assuring anticipating fans that the game is on a good track to launch this year. Developer Techland has said that the game is not struggling in its development, and that it just needs more time before it is ready for release. On Twitter, Techland continues to reiterate that the game is moving along well, and despite internal issues that need resolving within the company, the game's only fault was being announced and pushed too early.
As recent as March, there has been a developer update on the game, and fans can expect new gameplay or at least a new trailer to come relatively soon (according to Techland). Dying Light 2 has promised a lot of things with its release, with a vast and expansive open world being the top priority. Its focus on branching stories for the player and character choices having substantial effects on gameplay have fans excited for an experience with high replay value. With the game being promised to have a 40 - 80 hour 100% completion time, four years of planned DLC, and a more realistic, authentic post apocalyptic experience, there is a lot to look forward to with this title.
It seems that the developer is really taking an ambitious take on the zombie genre, opting to go with a more serious tone, a more narrative driven experience, and a world with consequences and tough decisions for its players to make. Whether Dying Light 2 will deliver on its promises remains to be seen, but one thing that can be said about the game is that it has at least stayed with the same developer throughout, unlike Dead Island 2.
Fans Can Expect To See Dying Light 2 Before Dead Island 2
With all of this information noted, it seems as if fans will most likely be seeing a lot more of Dying Light 2 before seeing Dead Island 2. If Dying Light 2 misses its intended 2021 release date, then it is most certainly fair game for people anticipating the game to become worried. However, with the Covid-19 pandemic shaking things up and the pressure on the developer to release its games on current and next-gen consoles (without having it result in a Cyberpunk 2077-like messy launch), it is much easier to forgive delays for a well polished game that delivers on its promises.
In Dead Island 2's case, it would be better to expect nothing and end up pleasantly surprised in the future when a trailer is finally revealed, gameplay is finally shown, and the game somehow manages to release after over seven years of development limbo. With the release of Turtle Rock Studios' Left 4 Dead successor, Back 4 Blood coming this summer, there is more hope for future zombie titles to meet their releases with this next console generation upon us. One thing for sure is that the zombie genre in gaming is always active, whether it be a new standalone franchise, another entry in an already popular series, or a much anticipated sequel to a beloved game that came out years ago. The undead aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
Dying Light 2 is confirmed to be in development for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, and Dead Island 2 is in development.