Tue, Mar 22, 2011 | 09:09 GMT

Dead Island’s US release to feature toned-down cover art

Techland’s zombie survival title Dead Island will sport two different covers: one featuring a hanged figure, and the other the more acceptable upright-and-lurching zombie.

Publisher Deep Silver told IGN the change only applies to the game’s box art, and not the logo as it appears in game.

The original cover, which will be the version released in Europe, shows a humanoid figure hanging from a palm tree. It’s not clear whether this figure is a human or a zombie.

The version to see the light of day in the US, however, is almost definitely one of the undead, shuffling along unharmed. Well, beyond being a zombie.

Although multiple reports are citing ESRB intervention as the motivating factor for the multiple covers, the ratings body has issued no comment, and there has been no confirmed report. We’ve reached out to Deep Silver for clarification.

Dead Island roared back into consumer consciousness with a viral trailer, and is due for release on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this year.

Thanks, Kotaku.

5 comments

#1

KrazyKraut
22/03/11, 6:15 am

Publisher Deep Silver told the world that it will not release DI in Germany…because they dont want to censor the game.

#2

Phoenixblight
22/03/11, 6:23 am

@1

Good for them? Some Developers should stand by their work and not censor it so people don’t get butt hurt.

#3

SplatteredHouse
22/03/11, 10:12 am

Um…Dead Sland? It’s a TRAP! Or, Gameloft are at it, again.

#4

Nissanthen
22/03/11, 12:52 pm

I hope that this game doesn’t disappoint, it sounds so promising!

#5

Rosseu
22/03/11, 2:59 pm

The censored cover art looks stupid. The zombie doesn’t even look like an I.

And I think the humanoid in the uncensored cover art is probably human who hung himself in order not to become a zombie. I know it’s disturbing if I saw that in real life (or even in game) but it’s just a cover art. Why the censorship?

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