With the official announcement that Dead Island 2 has delayed its release from February 3, 2023 to April 28, 2023, there has been a great deal of speculation about the cause of the delay and what it might suggest about the current state of the game. While there is some cause for concern, given that development troubles are nothing new for Dead Island series, delaying major game releases is more often than not a good sign for the state of development. From Breath of the Wild to God of War: Ragnarok, delays can signal a studio is committed to good quality control and better workplace conditions for developers. Especially considering that the delay is only by two months, the game is likely near completion but requires additional QA and polish.

The original Dead Island, despite its longstanding popularity, was well known to be a frustratingly buggy experience, particularly at launch. The critical reception of the game upon release was mixed, with as much praise for the games ambitious scope and novel approach to the zombie survival genre as there was anguish over game-breaking glitches. In spite of its flaws, the enduring influence of Dead Island can be seen in games such as Dying Light, which have flourished in recent years. Deep Silver clearly recognizes the money-making potential of Dead Island 2, but while it could rush the game to market, the decision to delay the game is a reassuring sign that it doesn’t intend to repeat the mistakes of the…