Dead Island 2 is an action-packed survival horror game set in California, where players must fight to stay alive against hordes of zombies.
As with any modern game release, knowing the system requirements necessary to run the game at optimal settings is vital for having an enjoyable gameplay experience. In this article, we will explore the PC specs required to run Dead Island 2, as well as provide recommendations for those looking to upgrade their current setup.
So, whether you are a die-hard Dead Island fan or a newcomer to the series, read on to discover what hardware you will need to immerse yourself in this post-apocalyptic world.
But first, what is Dead Island 2?
Dead Island 2 is the third instalment in the Dead Island series, following the success of the first two games, Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide, and was in production for nearly 10 years.
Developed by Dambuster Studios and published by Deep Silver, Dead Island 2 is a survival horror game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, where players must fight off hordes of zombies in order to survive.
The game’s Epic page states that “combat delivers the most intense, visceral and gory first-person experience possible, with plenty of weapons and tactical (and brutal) options [for players] to chew their way through the zombie horde.”
Overall, it promises to offer a thrilling and immersive gameplay experience, complete with an engaging storyline and 6 unique characters to choose from, each with their own unique personality and dialogue options.
Dead Island 2 PC Minimum Requirements
| Component | Minimum |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | AMD FX-9590 / Intel Core i7-7700HQ |
| GPU | Radeon RX 480 / GeForce GTX 1060 |
| RAM | 10GB |
| Disk Space | 70GB available |
This table outlines the Dead Island 2 minimum PC requirements that Dambuster Studios claims will get the game up and running and should provide at least a 1080p experience at 30 frames per second.
However, the Intel Core i7 CPU suggested is more of a dedicated laptop and notebook chip rather than a desktop CPU. That’s not to say it’s not powerful enough to provide a decent gameplay experience, but as with any minimum specs, you may start to feel it lacking.
The graphics card options listed were also relatively low-range options when they launched seven years ago. Although that doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of playing modern games, as this game’s specs clearly show, it does suggest that just about any gaming PC from the past five(ish) years will have no trouble getting this game up and running.
If your PC just meets these specifications, however, you will need to be content with the lowest settings. You’ll only be able to reach the 1080p, 30 FPS threshold with pretty much all the settings on low, which is fine if you’re playing on a small monitor, but if you’re trying to play on a larger monitor or even a TV, it’s not going to look great.
What PC do we recommend?
None of the suggested components are available new, and the used options are costly for what they provide. Furthermore, there is no guarantee or warranty to safeguard you if such parts fail in the future.
However, if you buy new, you’ll have a much wider selection of options, including some extremely affordable, cutting-edge hardware.
Equipped to handle modern PC games, the Fusion Reaver is the ideal starter PC package to get Dead Island 2 up and running.
Albeit using a now-ageing GTX 1650 graphics card, it’ll still provide ample power. Whilst the much more modern Intel Core i3-12100F CPU capably handles the game’s many layers alongside photo and video editing plus any background tasks. This is further backed up by 16GB of RAM, which is much more than is required by the minimum specs, but will stand you in good stead for future tasks and more demanding games.
It’s a PC that is ideal for enjoying both the most popular mainstream PC titles like Minecraft, League of Legends, DOTA2, Hearthstone and CS:GO, but is also capable of running more demanding games like Dead Island 2 at full HD resolution.
All of this is backed up by a superb WiFi-enabled Gigabyte motherboard, 16GB of ultra-fast DDR4 memory and a stylish M-ATX case, complete with a tempered glass side panel so you can see all the goodness inside.
It’s also been rated 5/5 stars by PC PRO Magazine and branded as ‘PC PRO Recommended’.
“This PC is a hot contender if your budget is limited”
Tim Danton, PC PRO issue 332
Recommended PC requirements for Dead Island 2
| Component | Recommended |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | Ryzen 5 5600X / Intel Core i9-9900K |
| GPU | Radeon RX 6600 XT / GeForce RTX 2070 Super |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Disk Space | 70GB available |
Systems that fall within these recommended specifications should provide a great gameplay experience at 1080p, raising framerates to 60FPS, whilst maintaining visual integrity.
The graphical demand has definitely increased between the two specifications, with Dambuster Studios suggesting much more up-to-date GPUs in order to hit the 60FPS framerate.
Unfortunately though, as of the time of writing, there is not yet any official support for Nvidia’s DLSS technology but rather AMD’s FS2 tech, so those on Team Green may have to make some sacrifices.
What is interesting about this specs list though, is the Intel i9 CPU suggestion. It’s now a fair few generations old, but it’s still a high-performing CPU that still carries an expensive price tag. This is mostly due to it not being manufactured anymore, but still remaining a powerful chip for its particular socket so the demand is still there.
However, in our opinion, you’d be much better off getting a current-generation CPU for a similar price. With the tech improvements made over the years, the current gen selection easily outperforms the 9900K in both single and multi-threaded tasks. Plus, opting for a newer CPU will stand you in better stead for future game releases and will keep your system up to date for longer.
What PC do we recommend?
The Recommended hardware for Dead Island 2 is still available secondhand, although graphics cards of this calibre are a red flag when it comes to used components.
These cards were released at the height of the graphics card pricing crisis, which only grew worse in the years that followed. Any cards that match these specifications are likely to have been used in Bitcoin mining, which can dramatically degrade their performance and shorten their lifespan.
You are far better off buying something new unless your PC simply requires a modest upgrade to meet the suggested system requirements.
As a result, we’d recommend the Chillblast Jumbo Gaming PC. It’s a well-balanced all-rounder and is a great option to hit the recommended specs for Dead Island 2.
It’s built around AMD’s 6-core, 12-threaded Ryzen 5 5600 processor and 16GB of ultra-fast DDR4 memory, while graphics duties are handled by NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card – a potent combination for those looking for a PC with great performance today and upgradeability for the future.
A quality motherboard from Gigabyte provides plenty of USB 3.2 ports, and a 500GB M.2 Solid State Drive reduces Windows and other applications’ load times, alongside a 1TB HDD with the capacity to store all your games. All of this is wrapped up in the stylish white Montech Air 1000 Premium Gaming Case giving this gaming PC a clean and cool look.
1440p PC Requirements for Dead Island 2
| Component | Recommended |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | Ryzen 7 7700X / Intel Core i5-12600KF |
| GPU | Radeon RX 6750 XT / GeForce RTX 3070 |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Disk Space | 70GB available |
Dambuster Studios have claimed that these PC specifications should be enough to play Dead Island 2 at 1440p at a smooth 60FPS.
Unsurprisingly, it’s clear that running a modern game at this level now requires a modern and high-performance PC, with components from some of the most recent generations.
Both GPU options are only a generation old and are regarded as a great baseline for 1440p gaming. Combined with the CPUs listed (the AMD option being of current gen), you’ll find yourself with a great system for playing at 1440p.
As carried over from the recommended specs lists, 16GB of RAM should be held as the absolute minimum here but if you have the extra budget, upgrading to 32GB wouldn’t hurt. In fact, it will likely serve you better in the long run and won’t hold you back should you decide to go down the content creation route.
What PC do we recommend?
To hit these suggested specs pretty much spot on, we recommend the Chillblast Chronos Gaming PC.
To help achieve that 1440p sweet spot, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is ready for action. With 8GB of VRAM and 5888 CUDA Cores, it is a force to be reckoned with.
The CPU is Intel’s Alder Lake 10 core i5-12600K which is coupled with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and the exceptional Gigabyte Z690 UD AX Motherboard forms the backbone of the system.
A 1TB PCIe Samsung M.2 Gen 4 SSD sends your OS into warp speed and houses your entire Steam collection. All of this is housed within the stealthy Fractal Meshify 2 Tempered Glass case and powered by a Corsair’s Gold-rated 750W PSU.
4K PC Requirements for Dead Island 2
| Component | Recommended |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | Ryzen 9 7900X / Intel Core i7-13700K |
| GPU | Radeon RX 6950XT / GeForce RTX 3090 |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Disk Space | 70GB available |
According to Dambuster Studios, systems that fall within these recommended specifications should provide a great gameplay experience at 4K whilst maintaining a framerate of 60FPS.
Not all of the components listed are the most expensive top-of-the-line options available right now, but it’s still clear that a powerful PC is needed to get the most from Dead Island 2.
Both processors are only a step down from the flagship offerings, with only a few other slightly more powerful options you could consider.
For graphics, the recommended options are still great picks, even if they are last-generation.
If you want higher frame rates than 60 FPS or to set FSR and DLSS to higher quality settings, then something like the RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX would be a big upgrade. Alternatively, if you have deeper pockets and want the best Dead Island 2 experience possible, there’s still nothing quite like the RTX 4090.
The 7950X is AMD’s strongest processor to date, even on an older platform with limited upgrade potential. A more modern alternative would be the 7700X, or on the Intel side of things, the 13600K or 13700K are absolutely killer gaming processors.
If you’re buying that, too, make sure you get yourself 32GB of DDR5 memory so that you’re maximizing system performance and ensuring no background tasks hold back your game.
What PC do we recommend?
A PC that we think will provide the best 4K Dead Island 2 experience whilst also being the best value for money is the Chillblast Fusion Torrent Nano.
As suggested, it houses the excellent Intel Core i7-13700K CPU but it does so alongside an even better graphics card: the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti. Not only this, but it also contains a massive 32GB of super-fast RAM plus a whopping 1TB of SSD storage, drastically reducing load times.
To make things even better, all of this is housed inside the awesomely tiny Fractal Torrent Nano case, which is roughly half the size of a standard PC. It’s not every day that you find a 4K gaming beast inside such a small package.
