Dead Island 3 Officially Confirmed for 2028 Release; Entire Dambuster Studios Team Dedicated to Development

Official Confirmation: Dead Island 3 Slated for 2028 Release, Entire Studio Onboard

The highly anticipated continuation of the zombie-infested Dead Island franchise has received its first official confirmation, with reports indicating that Dead Island 3 is officially in development and targets a release window in the first half of 2028. This exciting news emerged from official financial documentation, where the game was explicitly named, shedding any prior ambiguity or coded language that might have clouded its existence.

From Financial Reports to Fan Frenzy

The revelation, first spotted by eagle-eyed social media users, originates from a Dambuster Studios financial report. Unlike previous veiled hints, this marks a definitive and unambiguous acknowledgement of Dead Island 3. The studio, having successfully navigated the complex porting of Dead Island 2 to Luna and Mac platforms, is now fully mobilizing its resources. Even the quality assurance team is set to join the development efforts for the next installment, signifying a unified studio commitment.

A Studio United for the Apocalypse

As of late March 2025, Dambuster Studios boasts a robust team of 194 employees, all of whom are now channeling their expertise and creative energies into the nascent stages of Dead Island 3. This comprehensive dedication underscores the studio's ambition for the project. Currently, the game is in its foundational development phases, with the team diligently working on crafting compelling characters, designing immersive game worlds, innovating core mechanics, and weaving an engaging narrative. This early-stage development is precisely why the report pinpoints an estimated launch for the first or second quarter of 2028, aiming for completion before the end of June.

Echoes of the Past, Promises of the Future

This official announcement is not entirely out of the blue. Dambuster Studios has previously hinted at the franchise's continued life. In September, a cryptic image was shared, accompanied by the evocative caption: "The outbreak is far from over." This subtle yet powerful statement served as a poignant reminder that fourteen years had passed since the original Dead Island's debut, and that the narrative tapestry woven in Dead Island 2 left ample room for further exploration. The image itself, a visual nod to Dead Island 2, served as a potent teaser for what was to come.

Anticipation Builds: What Lies Ahead?

While the report offers no concrete details regarding plot specifics or confirmed in-game locations, the projected release date of the first half of 2028 places a five-year gap between the main installments of the series. This timeline stands in stark contrast to the notoriously protracted development of Dead Island 2, which endured over a decade and multiple studio changes before its eventual release under Dambuster's stewardship in 2023. The subsequent year even saw the title offered as a free game via the Epic Games Store. Given the current early stage of development and the studio's meticulous approach, it's plausible that the first official glimpses of Dead Island 3, such as a trailer or a dedicated presentation, might not surface until 2026 at the earliest.