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How to pre-order Dead Island 2: retailers, editions, and bonuses

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Some of us out there have been waiting on Dead Island 2 since 2014, when it was first revealed with a cinematic trailer. Little did we know at the time that the game would not only be delayed but that the original developers would leave the project. And then, the second team picking up where they left off would also be removed, and the game would finally land with its final team at Dambuster Studios. There are few games that can survive this long of a development cycle, and even fewer that can somehow still make it to market after passing hands so many times, and yet Dead Island 2 refuses to die.

With its re-reveal at Gamescom 2022, Dead Island 2 was quick to slap a solid release date of February 3, 2023, on the game to build some goodwill and trust among fans who have been waiting for close to a decade already. Not long after, pre-orders were launched, further cementing the fact that, yes, this game is actually coming out. Whether you’ve been waiting since 2014 or are just hearing about the franchise now, here are all the details on how to pre-order Dead Island 2 and what each edition comes with.

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How to pre-order Dead Island 2

Dead Island 2 is coming to every major console (except the Switch) as well as PC via all their respective digital storefronts. Physical editions appear to only be available to pre-order on Amazon at the moment but may also pop up at other chains soon. The easiest way to pre-order, no matter which platform or format you want the game on, is through the game’s official website, where you can select your platform, physical or digital, and version all in one spot.

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Standard and Day One Editions

A man sitting on a chair in a pool.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Standard and Day One Editions are exactly the same, except, for whatever reason, it is called the Standard Edition for the digital version and Day One for the physical. This version costs $70 for all platforms, including the last-generation PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, except for PC, which is just $60. Here’s what you get in these versions:

  • The base game
  • Memories of Banoi Pack: Banoi war club, memories of Banoi baseball bat, Balanced weapon perk, personal space skill card

Deluxe Edition

A man sitting on a chair in a pool.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Deluxe edition is the middle-tier edition that is only available digitally. This one is only marginally more expensive than the previous editions at $75 for all PlayStation and Xbox systems, again including last-generation systems, or $65 for PC. Here’s what that extra $5 will get you:

  • Everything included in the Standard/Day One Edition
  • Golden Weapons Pack
  • Character Pack 1 and 2

Pulp Edition

A man sitting on a chair in a pool.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Unfortunately, the Pulp Edition doesn’t seem to be available just yet, so we can’t say how much this version will cost, though we suspect it will also be $75. Since it is a physical-only edition, there’s no PC option at all, either. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t know what is included:

  • Everything included in the Standard/Day One Edition
  • Pulp weapons pack: The homewrecker hammer and eye opener pitchfork

Gold Edition

A man sitting on a chair in a pool at night.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is your most expensive and expansive option if you’re going for a digital version of Dead Island 2. This is the largest price jump yet, going up to $90 for all consoles but just $80 for PC. If you know you’re going to be living in this game for a while, it may be worth the extra cash to grab this edition, which includes:

  • Everything included in the Deluxe and Standard Editions
  • The expansion pass, which will give players access to two new story chapters released sometime after launch

Hell-A Edition

The dead island 2 collectors pack.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Love or hate the pun, this is the most expensive edition you can get for this zombie-slaying sequel. Thankfully, this edition doesn’t have anything as garish as the original’s zombie bust statue but actually does come with some cool physical collectibles. You can pick this edition up only for PS4, PS5, or Xbox Series X for a cool $100. Here’s what’s inside the box:

  • Everything from the Pulp Edition
  • Everything from the Gold Edition
  • Exclusive steelbook
  • Venice beach travel map
  • Six slayer tarot cards
  • Two pins
  • One patch

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Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox has been a writer at Digital Trends for over four years and has no plans of stopping. He covers all things…
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Believe it or not, Dead Island 2 is not only still real, but it's actually coming out. For those who've been following the troubled trajectory this title has had, you know this is a story almost 10 years in the making. Originally revealed in 2014, Dead Island 2 has died and been resurrected no less than twice, with a new development team taking up the project each time. The average person probably assumed the game was scrapped years ago, but for those who never gave up hope, your faith has been rewarded.

Leaks did take some of the excitement out of Dead Island 2's big re-reveal during Gamescom 2022, but it couldn't stifle what looks to be a game far better than its beleaguered history would lead you to believe. Since so much has changed over the course of development, let alone with the entire gaming landscape, plenty of people may be wondering what all the excitement over this zombie game is all about. Grab yourself a blunt object and get ready to smash some zombie skulls as we run through everything we know about Dead Island 2.
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Dead Island 2, a game that never seemed like it was going to come out, has gone gold and even had its release date moved up by a week. Originally slated for April 28, Dead Island 2 will now be released on April 21. That means it'll launch one week before Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which just had its release date pushed to April 28.
The developers of the LA-based zombie game revealed the news via a tweet with a video that highlights a bunch of comments asking if the game was polished and if it will actually ever be released before it confirms that Dead Island 2 has gone gold and is coming out a bit earlier than we currently expected.
https://twitter.com/deadislandgame/status/1625147886643150852
Release dates moving up instead of being delayed are a rarity, with one of the only recent examples being Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Still, the delay makes sense now that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is coming out on April 28. This announcement also feels cathartic after Dead Island 2's rough development. The zombie sequel has notoriously been delayed significantly more than most games. Originally announced in 2014 with a Q2 2015 release window, Dead Island 2 got pushed back again and again, switching developers multiple times and slowly seeming more and more likely to become vaporware.
Deep Silver Dambuster Studios' new version of the game finally reemerged as the big final reveal of Gamescom Opening Night Live 2022, but even after that, the game got delayed one more time to April 28. Even if it's moving its release date up by just a week, the fact that Dead Island 2 has gone gold and even moved its release date up a bit feels like the satisfying end to an excruciatingly long journey. Whether it's good or not, we finally don't have to wait much longer to actually play Dead Island 2.
Dead Island 2 will be released for PC, PS4, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on April 21. 

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Dambuster studios and Deep Silver have announced that Dead Island 2 has been delayed to April 28, 2023, from its original February 3, 2023, release. The game is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

"The irony of delaying Dead Island 2 is not lost on us, and we are as disappointed as you undoubtedly are," Deep Silver explained in a statement on Twitter. The delay is just 12 short weeks and development is on the final straight now; we’re going to take the time we need to make sure we can launch a game we’re proud to launch."

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