Dead Island 2 delayed into 2016 to ensure series is "taken to the next level"

Dead Island 2 has been delayed into 2016 by Yager in order to ensure the sequel "takes Dead Island to the next level."

According to a tweet from the developer, it set "big goal" for the game, and in order to deliver what fans expect, the team needs more time to reach development goals.

"We have always set ourselves a big goal for Dead Island 2: to create the sequel that takes Dead Island to the next level," reads the statement. "A game that takes what our fans tell us they love about Dead Island – multiple different characters to play with, co-op, and turning a paradise setting into a zombie slaughter melee – and a game that adds a ton more content and combat options on top of that.

"We have been looking at the game long and hard, and we have decided we didn’t reach that goal we set out to achieve quite yet. This is why we have decided to delay Dead Island 2 to 2016."

Yager said it originally planned to have the game completed for the previously announced spring release, but delaying the game will ensure "a better game to play as a result."

Earlier this month it was rumored Dead Island 2 had been delayed into September. It was announced at E3 2014 for a spring 2015 release on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

The game was originally set to be developed by Techland as a sequel to the studio's 2011 release, but the team went on to develop Dying Light instead. It was rumored Yager had been brought on to develop the co-op zombie shooter before being confirmed later by publisher Deep Silver.