Dead Island 2, the sequel to the 2011 open-world zombie game, has had a tumultuous development cycle, with the game changing hands multiple times and undergoing significant changes along the way. Fans have been eagerly anticipating the game’s release for years, and they recently received good news: Dead Island 2 has a new release date of April 21, 2023.

The announcement was made by publisher Deep Silver, who stated that the game will release on both current and next-gen consoles, as well as PC. This marks the fourth time the game has been given a release date, with the previous ones being 2015, 2016, and 2021. Fans were understandably skeptical when the news was first announced, given the game’s turbulent development history, but this time, Deep Silver seems confident in the release date.

According to Deep Silver, the development team has been hard at work, and the game is in its final stages of development. The team is said to be putting the finishing touches on the game, which has undergone significant changes since its initial announcement. The original developer, Techland, dropped the project in 2015 to focus on their other zombie game, Dying Light. Development was then handed over to Yager Development, who also dropped the project in 2016 due to creative differences with the publisher. Sumo Digital took over the project in 2016 and has been working on it ever since.

The game’s lengthy development cycle has been attributed to the significant changes it has undergone. Dead Island 2 was initially meant to be a direct sequel to the first game, but it has since evolved into a different experience. The game’s setting has changed from the tropical island of Banoi to the sunny state of California, and the game’s tone has become more comedic.

The game is also said to have a more reactive world, with the environment changing based on the player’s actions. The game’s RPG elements have been expanded upon, and players can now create their own characters with unique abilities and playstyles. The game’s co-op mode has also been revamped, allowing players to drop in and out of each other’s games seamlessly.

Fans of the series have been eagerly anticipating the game’s release, and it seems that Deep Silver is aware of this. The publisher has been releasing more information about the game in recent months, including gameplay footage and developer interviews. The game’s new release date has also been met with excitement from fans, who have been waiting for the game for years.

Of course, the new release date has also been met with skepticism from some fans, who are wary of the game’s development history. However, it seems that Deep Silver is confident that the game will release on the new date, and the fact that the game is in its final stages of development is a good sign.

The fact that the game is releasing on both current and next-gen consoles is also exciting news for fans. The game will be available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. This means that fans who haven’t upgraded to the next-gen consoles yet will still be able to play the game.