Dead Island 2’s SoLA Expansion Delivers New Zombie Variants

Key Highlights:

• Dead Island 2’s 2nd paid expansion SoLA is out now.
• Introduces terrifying new zombie variants, the Whipper and Clotter.
• Whipper wields self-mutilated intestines as weapons, while Clotter teleports around the battlefield.
• Expansion also includes new weapons like the Ripper and Sawblade Launcher.

Players are about to face their most gruesome challenges yet in Dead Island 2, as the game’s new SoLA expansion has arrived, introducing a pair of terrifying new zombie variants.

This is the second expansion for the horror title with the previously released Haus DLC that introduced new weapons like the crossbow, throwing saw blades and barbecue tool, a new cult faction and much more in November 2023.

Aptly titled “SoLA” – short for “Summer of Love Apocalypse” the expansion takes players to an all-American music festival that has been overrun by the undead.

Alongside the hordes of shambling, rotting partygoers, two powerful new Apex Zombie variants are poised to put even the most seasoned Slayers to the test.

Meet the Monstrosities, The Whipper and Clotter

First up is the Whipper, a fast-moving, mid-range enemy that has taken self-mutilation to the extreme.

Filled with frustration over the zombie infection ravaging their body, the Whipper has gouged out their own intestines and now wields them as deadly, flailing weapons, using the organic tendrils to lash out at players.

“We wanted the Whipper to thrash around violently and indiscriminately,” explained Dambuster Studios’ Associate Character Art Director, Richard Smith. “To add to the torment, we gave the character hands that are frozen in a rigor mortis, so they’re almost forced to thresh around.”

The Whipper’s grisly appearance and abilities are perfectly in line with the SoLA expansion’s blood-splattered, body horror aesthetic, with the team drawing inspiration from the boho fashion and social media imagery associated with big American festivals.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Clotter, a brutish zombie that can decompose and recompose at will, effectively teleporting around the battlefield.

This unpredictable enemy will keep players constantly on their toes, as they struggle to maintain visibility and control.

“We really wanted to find a way to use the F.L.E.S.H. system to make the Clotter completely disintegrate in front of the player’s eyes and then reassemble from a puddle of meaty goo,” Smith added.

New Tools for Survival in Dead Island 2’s SoLA Expansion

Alongside these horrifying new zombie variants, the SoLA expansion also introduces some powerful new weapons to help Slayers on their gory crusade.

The Ripper combines a baseball bat and circular saw, while the Sawblade Launcher provides a deadly ranged option, capable of piercing and decapitating multiple targets.

Upon initial release, the full version game didn’t get off to a good start when fans were fuming with a huge delay in receiving their pre-order items.

However, the Haus DLC success and the revelation that the horror title will be heading to Steam on April 22nd has got the community back on side for the time being.

Available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, the SoLA expansion promises to deliver a festival of undead carnage that will test the skills of even the most experienced Dead Island 2 players.

With these twisted new zombies and deadly new tools, Slayers are in for one hell of a wild ride.

Source – PlayStation Blog