The chance to batter zombies with friends in a first-person perspective is one of the things that made Dead Island a cult hit, and for the upcoming sequel new developer Yager is making that aspect of the game even more important.
One thing we we really get from players of the original is how co-op play with friends was a big factor in why they stuck with it, senior gameplay programmer Isaac Ashdown has told VG247. Were taking the co-op aspects and really running with it. Weve got 8-player co-op in this big open world. Its totally seamless allowing you to jump in and out.
Unlike the first game, co-op won't be something you manually initiate but will be an automatic part of the game world so you'll be able to encounter other players trapped in the same undead nightmare and either team up or go your separate ways.
By default that will be how you play it, says Ashdown. Its co-op in that other players are there. You dont have to join together, theres no explicit party system or prompt. You can help with a quest or take down an enemy. What were trying to do is make it so other players are just one of many things that are going on in the world and help give it a sense of life.
Dead Island 2 is due in Spring 2015 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.