Games

Dead Island 2 Has Done Its Best Dying Light 2 Impression So Far

Published

3 weeks ago

December 5, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Key Takeaways

Table of Contents

Dead Island 2 has been providing robust post-launch support with major expansions and updates.
Dead Island 2’s continuous updates mirror Dying Light 2’s content roadmap, increasing its longevity.
Fans may receive more engaging content and potential story additions for Dead Island 2 in the future.

While it was initially a well-received game in and of itself, Techland’s Dying Light 2 has since become known for its long-term roadmap, including major DLCs like Bloody Ties and ongoing enhancements such as new parkour challenges, events, and even crossovers with other franchises. Now, nearing the end of 2024, Dying Light 2 is still eyeing a little over two years of additional post-launch content. In the meantime, a game that could be considered Dying Light 2‘s cousin, Dead Island 2, has been doing a bang-up job of showing its potential to be another Dying Light 2, as developer Dambuster Studios has remained faithful to Dead Island 2 with plenty of post-launch content for players to enjoy.

Ultimately, Dead Island 2‘s post-launch support is a good omen for its future, especially if it ends up treading a similar road to Dying Light 2. So far, at least, Dead Island 2 has nonetheless been doing an uncanny Dying Light 2 impression with its post-launch support, which is great for the game’s longevity and the series’ future.

Dying Light 2’s Ongoing Support Shouldn’t Miss an Obvious Crossover Opportunity

Dying Light 2 is sticking to its big plans for post-launch content, and one potential crossover with another franchise is too good to pass up on.

Dead Island 2 Has Been Pulling a Dying Light 2 Since Launch

Dead Island 2’s Robust Post-Launch Support Reflects Dying Light 2

Alongside the normal updates that are made to any new release — like balance adjustments, bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements — Dead Island 2 has received a considerable amount of more substantial content as well. In 2024, Dead Island 2 released two major expansions: Haus and SOLA Festival, which introduced new stories, locations, enemies, weapons, and skills. Then, on October 22, 2024, Dead Island 2 received another huge update that included a new co-op horde mode called “Neighborhood Watch,” a long-awaited New Game Plus mode, three additional skill slots, an increased level cap, new skins and weapons, an increased difficulty, and new zombies.

Seeing as how Dead Island 2 came out in April 2023 and its post-launch support is still going strong, it effectively mirrors Dying Light 2‘s content roadmap, despite not having one currently laid out (at least publicly) for the next few years. In the same way that Dying Light 2 has, Dead Island 2 has persistently delivered both free and paid updates while consistently evolving the game world with new stories, enemies, and mechanics, all more than enough to keep players coming back to the game even almost two years after its launch.

There May Be More Yet to Come for Dead Island 2

If Dead Island 2 truly does plan to follow in Dying Light 2‘s footsteps, this will mean even more updates and post-launch support is to come. There is no indication that Dead Island 2 has been purposefully running itself parallel to Dying Light 2 with its post-launch content, but the comparisons are nevertheless warranted. Furthermore, Dead Island 2 hasn’t quite reached the same frequency as Dying Light 2, nor has it been confirmed whether it even plans to, but it has still set itself up for a big future — until Dead Island 3 arrives, anyway.

If Deep Silver and Dambuster continue this trajectory with Dead Island 2, fans can anticipate even more engaging content to be added to the game in the future. It would be especially nice if the developer chose to tie up the loose ends left in the wake of Dead Island 2‘s conclusion with an extra story addition, though that might be something it prefers to save for Dead Island 3. So far, the developer hasn’t confirmed whether post-launch support for Dead Island 2 will end in 2024, which means there could still be a road ahead for it. At the same time, the October 2024 arrival of the Dead Island 2 Ultimate Edition — which includes the base game, expansions, and multiple DLC packs — may signify the developer’s focus shifting to the next game in the series instead.

The open-world zombie slaying action RPG makes its long-awaited return. Dead Island is back, and with it comes a host of enhancements to its winning combination of creative first-person zombie slaying, pitch-black humor and open-world exploration.Welcome to HELL-A. The City of Angels has been transformed into a hellish sprawl, its populace now mutated into disgusting zombies with an insatiable appetite for humans. In this extensive, visceral RPG experience you’ll journey to iconic LA locations, taking on quests, meeting eccentric survivors and enjoying a joyously pulpy narrative along the way.The game’s brutal melee combat gives you access to an expansive array of inventive zombie-slaying weaponry that lets you slice, smash and tear through the hordes before they get the chance to do the same to you. Can you survive HELL-A?

Franchise: Dead Island
Released: April 21, 2023
Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer , Online Co-Op
Engine: Unreal Engine 4
ESRB: M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
How Long To Beat: 15 Hours
X|S Optimized: Yes
PS Plus Availability: Extra & Premium
File Size Xbox Series: 61 GB (February 2024)
Number of Players: 1-3
OpenCritic Rating: Strong