Dead Island (series)

Dead Island is an action role-playing survival horror video game series published by Deep Silver[1] for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and mobile platforms iOS and Android. There are 3 installments in the series, with a 4^th initially scheduled for 2017. However, there have been no reports of this from the developers so far, apart from a trailer released in 2013. Dead Island is centered on the challenge of surviving a zombie-infested open world island with a major emphasis on melee combat.

Dead Island
Series logo
Genre(s)	Action role-playing, survival horror
Developer(s)	Techland, Dambuster Studios, Fatshark, Stunlock Studios
Publisher(s)	Deep Silver
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
First release	Dead Island September 6, 2011
Latest release	Escape Dead Island November 18, 2014

Dead Island was originally announced at E3 2006,[2] but was pushed back to 2011. It was initially released on September 6^th in North America, September 9^th in PAL regions, and October 20^th in Japan. A stand-alone expansion or DLC: Dead Island: Riptide, was released in 2013. A sequel, Dead Island 2, is in development.

A spin-off, Escape Dead Island, was released in 2014. A MOBA game based on the Dead Island series called Dead Island: Epidemic was cancelled during the open beta phase in 2015. The free-to-play title had been available on Steam early access since May 2014, but eventually never saw a full release and was completely shut down.

Dead Island: Survivors, a mobile platform-based game, was launched on iOS and Android in July 2018.[3]

Video Games

Title	Details
Dead Island Original release date(s): NA: 6 September 2011 PAL: 9 September 2011 JP: 20 October 2011	Release years by system: 2011 - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
	Notes: A first-person action role-playing survival horror video game. First game in the series, developed by Techland and published by Deep Silver. Utilizes Techland's in-house Chrome Engine.
Dead Island: Riptide Original release date(s): NA: April 23, 2013 AU: April 23, 2013 EU: April 26, 2013 JP: July 11, 2013	Release years by system: 2013 - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
	Notes: Last game in the series developed by the IP creator Techland. Acts as a standalone expansion to the original Dead Island
Escape Dead Island Original release date(s): NA: 18 November 2014 EU: 21 November 2014 AU: 28 November 2014	Release years by system: 2014 - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
	Notes: A third-person adventure video game with a cel-shaded art style. Acts as a spin-off of the series. Utilize the bitSquid Engine. Set between Dead Island and Dead Island 2 Developed by Fatshark and published by Deep Silver.
Dead Island: Epidemic (cancelled) Original release date(s): 8 December 2014[4]	Release years by system: 2014 - Microsoft Windows[4]
	Notes: A multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game Acts as a spin-off of the series Developed by Stunlock Studios and published by Deep Silver Shut down in September 2015[5]
Dead Island: Definitive Edition Original release date(s): May 31, 2016	Release years by system: 2016 - PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
	Notes: A high definition remaster that features Dead Island
Dead Island 2 Original release date(s): TBA	Release years by system: TBA - PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
	Notes: A first-person action role-playing video game. First game in the series to be released on the eighth generation consoles. Acts as the second main entry in the series. Formerly developed by Yager Development and Sumo Digital and development duties were later shifted to Dambuster Studios. Utilizing Unreal Engine 4.
Dead Island Survivors Original release date(s):	Release years by system: July 4, 2018 - Android, iOS

Related Media

Comic

A one-issue comic book version of the series was released by Marvel Comics. It begins with Roger Howard, an investigative journalist, as he looks into the illegal exploitation of Banoi Island's resources. He appeared in the game as a voice, leaving behind tape recordings.

The story begins just as Roger Howard arrives. He explains why he's at the Royal Palms Resort, and then begins to target Kenneth Ballard the Royal Palms' manager. After gaining access to his office, Roger finds detailed files on Xian Mei, Purna, Logan Carter, and Sam B. After going through the files, Roger hears a knock on the door. Before opening it, he tries to explain that he was looking for the bathroom. Unfortunately, after opening the door, he comes face-to-face with a zombie. The story suddenly ends, with Roger's fate unknown. In the video game, various audio logs of Roger are found, with him slowly going insane from being infected. When the survivors reach the prison, they find his last audio log, implying a prison guard had killed him once becoming infected, with the recording found next to (presumably) Roger's corpse.

The audio logs detail his journey. Revealing that he and a group of survivors tried to escape into the jungle, but had crashed. The driver and Roger were attacked by an infected Orangutan, with the driver dying and Roger escaping. Roger makes it to the prison, and states he's making this log for scientists to see the full symptoms of infection, but starts hallucinating about his son.

Film

On September 27^th 2011, Lionsgate announced that they acquired rights to develop a film based on the game's announcement trailer. As its portrayal of a family desperately fighting for their lives provided artistic inspiration.[6] The studio will join Occupant Entertainment (Producer Co.) and Deep Silver (Gaming Co.) with filming beginning in 2015.[7]

Novel

A novel based on the events of the first game, and written by Mark Morris was released concurrently with Dead Island in 2011.

References

1. Purchese, Rob (2011-02-17). "Dead Island published by Deep Silver". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
2. "E3 06: Dead Island Preshow Report". 10 May 2006. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
3. Sholtz, Matthew (7.3.2018) "Deep Silver finally gets around to releasing 'Dead Island: Survivors' on Android". (Retrieved 10.23.2018)
4. "Welcome to Open Beta". Steam. Valve. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
5. O'Connor, Alice (19 September 2015). "Dead Island: Epidemic MOBA Shutting Down". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
6. "Lionsgate Developing Dead Island Video Game Movie". WorstPreviews.com. Retrieved 2011-11-26.
7. "It's Alive! 'Dead Island' Vidgame Movie Rises Again". Deadline. 2014-08-01. Retrieved 2014-08-01.