Dead Island 2: Release date & time, platforms, setting, multiplayer coop, more

Joseph Pascoulis
dead island 2 zombie attacking player

Dead Island 2 is one of 2023’s most anticipated games, bringing back the hectic zombie-filled gameplay of the original, here’s everything you need to know.

2023 has been filled with great video game releases including Hogwarts Legacy, Atomic Heart, and even Sons of the Forest.

The year isn’t stopping there though, as we’ve still got one of the most iconic zombie franchises returning in Dead Island 2. The original was released over a decade ago, but publisher Deep Silver and developer Dambuster Studios have been working hard to bring the sequel to life.

If you’re a fan of the original, or you just love zombie games with an emphasis on hectic gameplay, Dead Island 2 could be right up your street, so here’s all of the information you need to know including the release date.

Dead Island 2 release date

Dead Island 2 is officially launching on April 21, 2023. The game was originally set for February, but the developers decided to postpone the release so that they could have more time to work on the game.

Dead Island 2 release time

Dead Island 2 will release at midnight across every region and time zone:

  • North America – April 21 at 00:00 PT / ET
  • UK – April 21 at 00:00 BST
  • Europe – April 21 at 00:00 AM CEST
  • Australia – April 21 at 00:00 AEST
  • Japan – April 21 at 00:00 AM JST

Dead Island 2 platforms

The iconic sequel Dead Island 2 will be available on all PlayStation and Xbox platforms, and the Epic Games store for PC. The game will not be available on Steam at launch.

Will Dead Island 2 be available on PS4 & Xbox One?

Dead Island 2 will officially arrive on both generations of consoles, meaning those on PS4 and Xbox One can also enjoy the title once it launches on April 21, 2023.

Dead Island 2 setting & open world

Set a few months after the first game’s events, Dead Island 2 takes place in an open-world Los Angeles called ‘Hell-A’ by the survivors, which is under full quarantine restriction due to a new and stronger zombie outbreak.

California is completely overrun with zombies, and players will have the freedom to roam around as they wish, killing zombies with guns and melee weapons, completing missions, discovering secrets, and more.

dead island 2 promo imageDead Island 2 will be set in a zombie-infested California.

Does Dead Island 2 have multiplayer coop?

Dead Island 2 will feature multiplayer coop just like the original. This means that you and two friends can form a party of three to have fun bashing zombie brains in or complete some of the tougher missions.

However, there’s no crossplay in Dead Island 2. Players on different generations of the same console can play together (e.g PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5), but there’s no way for an Xbox and PlayStation player to play together.

Dead Island 2 playable characters:

Deep Silver’s Dead Island 2 will feature six playable characters all with unique personalities, playstyles, strengths, and weaknesses.

Here are all six of the playable characters:

  • Amy
  • Bruno
  • Carla
  • Dani
  • Jacob
  • Ryan

Dead Island 2 trailers

It’s important to note that these trailers are age-restricted so you will have to watch them on YouTube.

Here is the initial announcement trailer, which shocked fans of the original across the world who had been anticipating Dead Island 2 for so many years.

Deep Silver then treated us to a gameplay reveal trailer, showing off the updated combat and more.

The extended gameplay trailer takes players through a Dead Island 2 mission while playing as Dani.

Finally, the devs revealed the launch trailer for Dead Island 2, which gives players a great overview of what to expect from the game in terms of story, gameplay, and more.


For more upcoming games, check out everything we know about the other major releases on the horizon:

Counter-Strike 2Grand Theft Auto 6 | Starfield | Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | CoD: 2023 | Diablo 4The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | EA SPORTS FC

Image Credits: Deep Silver

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About The Author

After graduating from the University of Southampton, Joseph joined CharlieIntel as a Games Writer after a short stint of freelance journalism. He enjoys most genres of games and will play anything that sparks his interest, but his expertise lies within the FPS category. If Joey isn't writing about games, then he's most likely playing them. You can contact Joseph at [email protected]