How to unlock multiplayer co-op in Dead Island 2

You’ll unlock it fairly quickly into the campaign

The original Dead Island was better with friends. Duh, right? Well, it was arguably only playable with friends, but doesn’t that apply to pretty much everything? Thankfully Dead Island 2 has some advancements on the prior formula that help it stand on its own, but it can be better with friends all the same. Here’s how to unlock multiplayer/co-op in Dead Island 2.

You’ll unlock multiplayer after a really early campaign mission

• When you first gain control of your character in Dead Island 2, you’ll awaken in the wreckage of a crashed plane. From there you’ll move about the wreck in an obstacle course tutorial of sorts, learning how to run, jump, and duck. That quest is called Flight of the Damned and takes roughly 10-15 minutes to complete.
• After that you’ll start to get acclimated to the core game area of Los Angeles, making your way through Bel-Air mansions in Desperate Seeking Emma.
• The next mission is Bel-Air Brawl, where you’ll defend Emma’s house.
• The final mission you need to progress through to unlock co-op is Call the Cavalry. After a short workbench/crafting tutorial you’ll be asked to leave the mansion through the back door, and co-op will unlock. There are options for private, public, and friend-based sessions (as well as solo play).

This whole process took us roughly 30 minutes to complete but could take longer if you linger. Keep that in mind if you want to play c0-op with a buddy out of the gate!