Boy, that game sucked: Notorious Dead Island 2 delay lasted nearly a decade partly because its original developer ignored "horrific" player feedback

It's been over a decade since the sequel to the zombie-killing hit Dead Island was first announced, but it's still hard to believe how long it took for Dead Island 2 to finally hit shelves. After being initially slated for release in 2015, the game got delayed multiple times, with its release date slipping from 2016 all the way to 2023.

But what really led to the delay? According to a former Deep Silver communications head, Martin Wein, it was largely due to the original developer's inability to get on board with early feedback from playtesters. After Techland left the franchise to focus on Dying Light, publisher Deep Silver brought in Berlin-based studio Yager to take over development.

As soon as Deep Silver unveiled a popular Dead Island 2 trailer at E3 2014, they felt that the developer's efforts had outshone their actual game. The first version of Dead Island 2 "sucked," according to Wein, with playtesters delivering "horrific feedback." Just weeks after the trailer was released, another round of playtesters chimed in with similar sentiments, saying that the game wasn't fun, engaging, or true to the spirit of the original Dead Island.

"We could have, at that point, put out a shit game," Wein reminisced. "It might have made some money, but it would have killed the franchise." It's clear that Deep Silver knew something was amiss, and they were determined to find a new developer who could get it right.

So, what happened next? After years of searching, Deep Silver finally found a new partner in Techland, who took over development on Dead Island 2. And it seems like it was worth the wait – despite its long delay, the game received positive reviews from critics and fans alike when it finally released in 2023.

What's next for Dead Island 2?

With the game now out of the woods, what can we expect to see from Techland moving forward? Will they continue to support the game with updates and DLCs, or will they move on to new projects? Only time will tell.

A lesson learned

The notorious delay of Dead Island 2 serves as a cautionary tale for game developers. Ignoring player feedback can lead to disastrous consequences, both creatively and commercially. As Martin Wein so aptly put it, "Boy, that game sucked." But with the benefit of hindsight, it's clear that the delay was a necessary evil – one that ultimately led to a better game in the end.