Deep Silver and Dambuster Studios revealed today that Dead Island 2 has surpassed 20 million players worldwide. This achievement follows the game’s record-breaking debut as Deep Silver’s fastest-selling title, moving over two million copies within its initial two-month release window. Subsequent expansions to platforms like Xbox Game Pass and a free distribution during the Epic Games Store 2025 MEGA Sale significantly contributed to its growing community.

In tandem with this milestone, the teams confirmed a new installment is underway. Visual clues in promotional materials suggest a shift from Los Angeles to an undisclosed location, signaling a potential reinvention for the series.

Dead Island 2’s journey to release was fraught with challenges. Initially developed by Yager, the project faced cancellation in 2015 before shifting to Sumo Digital, which also failed to finalize the game. Dambuster Studios ultimately took over in 2019, navigating pandemic-related delays to launch the title in April 2023. Despite skepticism due to its turbulent development cycle, the final product garnered praise for its engaging core gameplay.

In Wccftech’s evaluation, Francesco De Meo awarded the title a 7.5/10, stating:

While games stuck in development limbo often falter, Dambuster defied expectations with Dead Island 2, though it’s not without flaws. Early combat mechanics shine, but repetition sets in due to linear progression and limited depth. As a budget-priced experience, it would excel, but at full cost, its value proposition narrows.

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