Summary
Dead Island 2was perhaps one of the biggest success stories of 2023, primarily because expectations were set rather low for it after continual reports of a rocky development cycle. Gamers everywhere were pleasantly surprised by the overall quality ofDead Island 2, including its gameplay, story, and characters. Developer Dambuster Studios then went on to releaseDead Island 2: Haus, a DLC expansion for the game that garnered plenty of attention, even with what many have considered a rather abnormal ending. Now, with its second DLC expansion,SOLA Festival, just around the corner, one wonders what’s in store for the franchise beyond that.
A sequel toDead Island 2has yet to be announced. However,Dambuster previously confirmed that it is prepared forDead Island 3, so fans should expect the franchise to move in that direction, especially in light ofDead Island 2’s success. Since there were twelve years betweenDead IslandandDead Island 2, despite that being due in large part to development issues, fans will likely still have to wait years before another sequel arrives. As such, Dambuster may want to consider moving a bit further withDead Island 2in the process — namely, in the way of offering a second expansion pass with even more content for the game.
Dead Island 2would be missing a big opportunity if the game receives no additional content after the release ofSOLA Festival. SinceDead Island 2’s launch, many fans have consistently expressed their desire for more endgame content in the game; even playing through the story with each of its six Slayers can leave one wanting more. WhileHausprovided a few hours of extra content for players to enjoy, it still hasn’t proven enough to keep them back in the game long-term. The hope is thatSOLA Festivalwill accomplish that to some degree, but that’s unlikely if it functions similarly toHAUSboth in terms of length and gameplay.
While expectations are high forSOLA Festivalto wrap up the main story’s massive cliffhanger, continuing to leave it open-ended after the next DLC could be an opportunity for even more story expansions to be added to the game. Simply giving players a reason to return to and remain in the world ofDead Island 2afterSOLA Festival’s credits roll could be enough, but something more substantial in the form of additional story content may be a better route to take. As such, a second expansion pass might be the best option for Dambuster to consider, both to satisfy the requests ofDead Island 2’s loyal fans and to increase the overall value and lifespan of the game in the process.
There are currently no known plans by Dambuster to continueexpanding uponDead Island 2’s storyafter the release ofSOLA Festival. However, as many fans have expressed their enjoyment ofDead Island 2and their want for more content, Dambuster would be leaving money on the table without obliging them, especially ifDead Island 3’s release won’t be happening for several years. At the very least, providing players with a worthwhile reason to dive back intoDead Island 2and remain there for an extended period of time would keep the zombie survival game at the forefront of everyone’s minds and continue to pave the way for a sequel.
Dead Island 2
WHERE TO PLAY
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?
