Summary
As the release ofDead Island 2’s next DLC draws closer, the upcomingSoLA Festivalexpansion needs to set itself apart from the game’s first DLC,Haus. AfterDead Island 2’s cliffhanger ending, fans hoped that answers to unresolved questions would arrive in bothHausandSoLA, but theHausDLC didn’t bring any closure. However,SoLawill hopefully meet these expectations.
Dead Island 2proved to be one of the biggest surprises of last year. After the game was stuck in a long and grueling development cycle, 2023 was finally the yearDead Island 2saw the light of day. Fun, gruesome combat and anew location in Los Angeles, lovingly referred to as HELL-A, brought a fresh spin to the series, but the open ending left many questions unanswered. November 2023 saw the addition ofDead Island 2’s first DLC,Haus, but the finale of the expansion raised even more questions.
The story of theHausDLC was intriguing and sometimes confusing, but ultimately fell flat when delivering answers about where the series is headed.Dead Island 2was a sequel that many thought would never become reality, and now that it’s actually here, there are questions about what comes next. WithSoLAlaunching on April 17, the DLC should finally set the record straight about what lies in the franchise’s future.
Answers To Lingering Questions
The biggest cliffhanger remains in some dialogue shared between Konradt and the player character in the final events of the story. When the player character expresses that they chose to stay behind to find Tisha, Konradt remarks, “That the only reason?” This question from Konradt hints has much bigger implications for the player character and their motives. There were high hopes thatHauswould provide some insight into the player character’s overall motives, but this didn’t happen.SoLAis in a tricky spot now. The upcoming DLC should be the bridge betweenDead Island 2andDead Island 3, but if questions still remain unanswered, then there won’t be any clear road map for the franchise’s future, which is worrisome.
Moving The Series Forward
The setting of Los Angeles brought some exciting landscapes and situations to life, butSoLAneeds to be the last chapter of the HELL-A saga. TheSoLADLC will hopefully be focused on bringing the Los Angeles chapter to an end in order for the series to evolve. Staying in Los Angeles too long could feel stifling, and if the franchise wants to move forward, then SoLA needs to finally give some answers so that the stage can beset forDead Island 3.
Dead Island 2using Los Angeles as a metaphorical island makes sense in the confines of one game. However, it’s unrealistic to continue the series under this name and never move the story to another island, like the first game’s setting of Banoi.TheHausDLC was interesting, but it dropped the ball in terms of continuing the story.
Righting The Wrongs of Haus
SoLAneeds to correct whereHauswent wrong, and the first step in doing so is finally giving players some substantial answers to the main story’s cliffhanger.Dead Island 2was a huge surprise, and it would be unfortunate to see the franchise begin to flounder in concepts that draw away from the original story.Hausbrought some bold ideas to the forefront that raised a lot more questions, ultimately making for a confusing experience, soSoLAneeds to keep things straightforward and bring the main story back into focus. There arehigh expectations for theSoLA FestivalDLCafter the mixed reception toHaus, but the former will hopefully put the spotlight on some long-awaited answers, such as Tisha’s current whereabouts and the next step in Konradt’s plan.
