Dead Island 2 Developer “Never” Used Yager’s Original Trailer as Inspiration

Dambuster Studios says the original reveal trailer for Dead Island 2 wasn't really much of a reference point for the final product.

Posted By | On 23rd, Apr. 2023

Dead Island 2_0004

Dead Island 2 is finally out, but the road to launch has been a long and bumpy one for the zombie action RPG. It was first announced nearly a decade ago, back in 2014, and at the time, prior to multiple delays and developer changes, it was set to be developed by Spec Ops: The Line developer Yager. That, of course, didn’t pan out, and Dambuster Studios would go on to take the project’s reins- and the final project, according to the studio, ended up deviating from Yager’s vision quite a bit.

Speaking in a recent interview with GamesIndustryDead Island 2 game director David Stenton said that though the game does indeed have a little but in common with that original 2014 trailer in terms of tone, Dambuster Studios didn’t really use that as inspiration for the final product, and instead wanted to craft its own vision of the game.

“It’s interesting to look back on that Yager trailer that everybody enjoys,” Stenton said. “And, frankly, there are some similarities between the tone of that trailer and our own version of Dead Island 2. But we never used that as inspiration. We didn’t sit down and say: ‘Oh, we really like this trailer, so we’re going to carry along the spirit of that’. There are significant differences between what we’re doing and what Yager were doing back then.”

In our review of Dead Island 2, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “Dead Island 2 isn’t ground-breaking, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun. With its vibrant yet bloody take on the undead streets of LA, its brutal and enjoyable combat, and its gleeful excess of gore, it delivers a solid experience that’s well worth your time.” Read the full review through here.

Dead Island 2 is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.


Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out!

Keep On Reading!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Reveals Modest PC Requirements

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Reveals Modest PC Requirements

Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive's turn-based RPG will release for PC and current-gen consoles in A...

Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Accessibility Features Detailed

Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Accessibility Features Detailed

UX director Jonathan Bedard says the open-world action RPG's accessibility options aim to "elevate [the] exper...

DOOM: The Dark Ages Will Also Launch for Nintendo Switch 2 – Rumour

DOOM: The Dark Ages Will Also Launch for Nintendo Switch 2 – Rumour

The shooter's announcement for the upcoming console is being withheld by Nintendo, a prominent leaker has clai...

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake Will Launch Late Spring/Early Summer – Rumour

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake Will Launch Late Spring/Early Summer – Rumour

The open world action RPG is rumoured to be in development for PC and current-gen consoles at Virtuos and Beth...

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak 2 Battle and Story Demos Out Now on PS4 and PS5

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak 2 Battle and Story Demos Out Now on PS4 and PS5

The Battle demo allows you to play through the Märchen Garten with two unique parties, while the Story demo c...

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Will Not Have a Point of Interest “Every 50 Meters”

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Will Not Have a Point of Interest “Every 50 Meters”

Visiting Japan for researching the game had the developers realise that Assassin's Creed Shadows doesn't need ...