Free-To-Play Dead Island: Epidemic Announced, Will Launch As PC Exclusive

Like the tireless reanimated corpses that serve as the franchise’s raison d’etre, the Dead Island series shows no signs of slowing down. And today, Deep Silver announced the third iteration in the infested franchise: Dead Island: Epidemic. Launching as a PC exclusive, this new title will be built as a free-to-play MOBA game – Massive Online Battle Arena – and gives players the ability to duke it out in a “desperate fight for survival.”

According to the official statement, gamers will be co-ordinated into three teams and will partake in a battle that is said to incorporate “all the trademark elements that are part of the Dead Island experience.” Whether or not you will be able to play as the undead remains to be seen, but it’s worth noting that Techland – the studio behind the first two games – haven’t been confirmed as the developer for Dead Island: Epidemic – they are working on the next-gen release of Dying Light, after all.

While the first two titles in the franchise – namely Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide – were available on PS3 and Xbox 360, Deep Silver’s decision to launch the forthcoming threequel as a PC exclusive is an interesting approach. A MOBA version of the bloodthirsty RPG is certainly a departure from the norm and given how the studio refer to the property as the ‘Dead Island Universe’ suggests that they have big plans for the future of the franchise.

Ultimately, we’ll have to wait patiently until this month’s Gamescom to find out more about Dead Island: Epidemic.

With DOTA 2 and League of Legends ripping up a digital storm in the genre, the MOBA category of games is quickly becoming a fertile ground for gaming developers. However, do you believe there’s room on this conceptual pasture for Dead Island: Epidemic? Let us know what you make of this below.