Dead Island 3 Has a Release Window...And It's a Long Wait

Dead Island 3 might be a long way off, but it sounds like it’s not just a wish-list item anymore. A new report claims Dambuster Studios is working on the next game, and internal financial documents allegedly spell out a Q1/Q2 2028 target.

What the report says about Dead Island 3

A report from Video Games Chronicle (VGC) says Dead Island 3 is in the works, based on financial documents that reportedly name the game outright.

• Studio named: Dambuster Studios
• Source: financial documents (spotted via X)
• Status line: production “moving at pace”
• Target window: Q1/2 2028

It’s worth stressing what this is (paperwork referenced by a report) and what it isn’t (an official trailer, announcement post, or a date carved into stone). Still, a specific window like “Q1/2 2028” is the kind of detail you don’t usually see unless something real is being budgeted and scheduled.

How far along is it, according to the documents?

VGC says the documents claim parts of the project are already in “early production”, and even list the areas being worked on.

• Feature design: early production
• Character design: early production
• World design: early production
• Narrative: early production

That’s a broad mix, which usually means the team is shaping what the game is before going all-in on building content. It’s also a reminder that “in development” doesn’t mean “see you next year”. If 2028 is the aim, they’re clearly playing the long game (sorry).

The earlier tease that hinted “what comes next”

VGC also points to a Steam community post from earlier this year, where Dambuster hinted it was planning what comes after Dead Island 2.

• The post suggests the studio is “already carving out what comes next”
• It also says details were staying “under wraps”

That doesn’t confirm a title or timeline on its own, but it does match the general idea: Dead Island isn’t being left to rot. This new report is basically claiming the quiet part now has a project name and a target window attached.

Why a 2028 window lines up with Dead Island 2’s timeline

VGC notes that if Dead Island 3 lands in 2028, it would arrive five years after Dead Island 2, which launched in April 2023.

• Dead Island 2 was first announced in 2014
• It had delays and multiple developer changes
• Dambuster took over development in 2019
• Release was April 2023 on PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One, and PC (Epic Games Store)

Basically: Dead Island 2 took the scenic route. A clearer runway for a follow-up (even with a far-off date) sounds… healthier. Also, five years isn’t shocking for a modern action RPG, especially if the studio is being careful about scope.

If you’re tracking what’s actually landing sooner, here’s a handy calendar: The biggest game releases of December 2025.

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