Dead Island 2’s Neighborhood Watch shifts the focus from Hell-A’s mighty slayers to a group of college students from VCLA (a fictional blend of UCLA and USC) scrapping to survive. Unlike the superhuman Slayers from the main game, these young heroes rely on each other to survive in a world overrun by the undead.


You’ll play as Rav, Dez and Bozzy of the VCLA squad, fighting to hold down their frat-house fortress against the ever-hungry undead. You might remember them from some of Dead Island 2’s most compelling side quests, as you helped Rav out with his Caustic-X-periments or tracked down Bozzy in Monarch Studios. However, the Bobcats were originally created specifically for Neighborhood Watch.

Fishlabs and Dambuster Studios, collaborating on Neighborhood Watch, initially struggled to agree on a Horde mode concept. That’s when a furious brainstorming session between designer PChan and the then art lead, Mickael Balloul, spawned a fusion of LA’s vibrant college sports scene and the classic apocalypse, where you and your crew are scavenging for food and guns, then hunkering down to survive.

“We had this very strong visual and gameplay narrative”’ says PChan, “where you have these college students, stuck in this shitty situation. They’ve survived, but what do they do now? These characters are younger than the slayers. They’re not immune and they’re not superhuman. They have to depend on each other.”


Each Bobcat brings unique skills to the table. Dez, a chemistry major, creates bombs and acid sprays; Bozzy, a mechanical engineering student, excels at setting traps; Rav, a medical student, provides healing and sets up medical stations. These characters are led by Hana, their NPC leader, as they navigate the streets of Hell-A.

Beyond their in-game roles, these characters were thoughtfully crafted to reflect the diversity of Los Angeles. Dez - inspired by the real-life friend of designer PChan - natural hair and pride in her heritage, were important aspects of her character. Dez is a top student, athlete and the group’s moral compass, wearing chemical protection gear in homage to Breaking Bad's Walter White.

Bozzy represents the survivalist archetype. A mechanical engineering student, he has always been a bit of a doomsday prepper, relishing the opportunity to live out his zombie hunter fantasies. His look—complete with a mask reminiscent of The Purge and a crossbow similar to The Walking Dead's Darryl Dixon— reflects his love for horror films. Though not a stellar student, his trap-making expertise is crucial for the team's success.

Rav, representing California’s South Asian subculture, is a medical student, balancing societal expectations with rebellion. His expensive gear contrasts with his love for street rebellion and hockey. His peaceful nature complements Bozzy's rough demeanor and their friendship strengthens the group.

Their leader, Hana Suzuki – a wheelchair user - offers the Bobcats critical guidance. Hana is the tactical genius behind the Bobcats’ survival, organizing their survival from the Venice Canals and contributing to the neighborhood's defense.

The Bobcats add a unique touch to Dead Island 2. While they might not have the epic storylines of the main slayers, they still have intriguing tales.

PChan suggests, "If players enjoy the Bobcats, there’s plenty of hidden lore. I encourage them to explore the menus and tutorial pages for more information."

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Dead Island 2’s new Neighborhood Watch mode spawned from one simple concept. ‘”We just thought... what would it be like to be stuck in this, just you and one or two of your best buddies. What the hell are you going to do?” says Fishlabs Design Director, PChan.

“You’re not going to go galivanting off on some Camelot quest to find out how the army is involved. What you care about is, how am I going to keep my house from getting overrun? Where am I going to get my guns, or my medical supplies and food”, he added.

This daily battle for survival lies at the heart of Neighborhood Watch. Across the first four days, your Bobcats heads out on missions selected from a semi-random list, dished out by the Bobcat’s leader Hana, or by your NPC neighbours, Sarah and Silent Nick.

In some missions, you’re charged with picking up vital supplies, medicine, or sent to slay a dangerous zombie. In others you’ll help Nick with anti-zombie prepping, or aiding Sarah’s sick child as they get ready to leave Hell-A. Each day you’ll have a mission out of three or four to choose fromthree, each with their own rewards in terms of weapons and XP.


Neighborhood Watch uses the main game’s dynamic zombie spawning systems to churn out ever-changing mobs of flesh-eating creatures, and they’ll keep coming until you’re back in Bobcats HQ.
These include some brand-new zombie variants, including the Storm Belcher, an electrified slobber puking shocking bursts of electrified bile and the Pyrocaustic Burster, prone to blowing up in a ball of fire.

“They’re very explosive and dangerous in packs” says PChan, “but also a lot of fun to kill, because when they explode they can cause a chain reaction.”

You’re going to need some mighty weapons, and you’ll find these spawning in crates at specific map points. What’s more, a bunch of mods unlocks at the start of every session, giving options to maximise the damage, which you can use at the end of each day. You’ll also unlock the mode’s new traps, which harness Dead Island 2’s environmental damage to keep the rotting hordes under control.

Things won’t always go your way, and while you can call on your Bobcat buddies for a quick revive, there’s always a chance that Team-Z will overwhelm you. Don’t worry. If Silent Nick doesn’t come and drag you to safety, some other survivor will. Even a total team wipe won’t end the session. All you’ll lose is your day’s rewards.


Pick missions carefully. Each day you’ll face waves of zombies, each day tougher than the one before. Finally, on day 5, you’ll face the biggest battle yet, as the Bobcats defend the HQ against five waves of zombies. Each comes down a series of lanes, enabling you to slow them with traps, or just blast into oblivion, before you get up close and personal.

“You’ll face a different pool of zombies every time, and they won’t all be your standard shamblers. ‘There are going to be elite zombies that spawn during each wave” warns PChan, “so it’s not just regular fodder that you can take down with a one-shot kill.”

If the zombies break down the door and get inside, the gig is up; but hold them at bay and you’ll end up with fresh rewards.

[h5]We’ll be back to cover how progression, skills and abilities work in our next Neighborhood Watch blog. [/h5]

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