Deep Silver announces closed beta for Dead Island: Epidemic

It's been almost three weeks since Deep Silver announced the world's first official ZOMBA (Zombie Online Multiplayer Battle Arena), Dead Island: Epidemic, but the developer has offered little information on the new title. Now, announcing that applications for entry into a closed beta for the game are now being accepted, we have a little bit more to go on the online zombie basher from Deep Silver.

Those who signed up for the game's official newsletter recently received the offer at a "chance to be one of the first to slice zombies, grab supplies and dominate your rivals during closed beta," as well as a little bit more information about the title. Unfortunately, there's nothing exactly riveting, but news is news:

"The terrifying virus that swept the islands of Banoi and Palanai has spread to become an unstoppable epidemic. While chaos spreads across the globe, pockets of resistance form. On the nearby Amaia islands opportunists, mercenaries, and adventurers are discovering new ways to survive and thrive in a world at the edge of collapse. You are one of them. ZOMBA [/ˈzɒm.bɑ/] - "Zombie Online Multiplayer Battle Arena" - a team-based action game centered on the struggle for control points and scarce supplies between opposing player factions on a map crawling with zombies. A game that makes it easy to jump straight into the action: there are no preset towers, bases or minions - to defeat the opposing teams, players must rely on their skills, their teammates, and the lethality of their own crafted weapons."

Much like Riptide, Epidemic seems to be just another expansion on the traditional Dead Island formula - Bludgeon the living hell out of the walking dead, scavenge items and equipment, make unique and custom weapons, and all with a crew of buddies online. 

Epidemic is retaining the mutated virus concept introduced in Riptide, which could allow for some more character customization options, but all Deep Silver has detailed on that is, "Harness the powers of the virus, strengthen yourself through mutations and unleash them against your enemies."

Instead of working together, players are split into "three competing teams of survivors. Find friends and allies to combat the undead hordes side by side as you war over limited supplies."

What platforms the game will be released on hasn't been provided yet, but in order to sign up for the beta, a Steam ID is required, so PC seems like where things are set to start out. We'll keep you posted as more info is released.