NetEnt Announces Dead or Alive 2 – The Sequel to One of the Most Popular Video Slots in History

By Alex Smith, Last updated Mar 2, 2021

A couple of days ago, rumours started to appear on the forum that NetEnt had been developing a sequel to their incredibly popular ‘Dead or Alive’ – and a couple of days ago, the global game developer officially announced on their website that the sequel is due to hit online casinos on the 23rd April, 2019.

In their official press release, NetEnt stated:

‘Since the launch in May of 2009 Dead or Alive, also known as DOA, has been a favorite game for players that likes high volatile games around the world and is one of the true legendary slots. Set in a wild west theme it offers extreme volatility and the chance to really hit big wins. One of the features has become a holy grail among video slot players: The hunt for the full wild line.

Players have been asking for a sequel for quite some time and we have listened to our fans. So, buckle up, Dead or Alive 2 is coming out on April 23. We pride ourselves on being close to our players and listen to what our players think. Taking our philosophy one step further we have involved some true experts from the player community to ensure Dead or Alive 2 delivers just the kind of action, graphics, mechanics and sound that players love. As part of the game development process we’ve worked with famous video slot streamer LetsGiveitaSpin and Casinogrounds to get insights and live feedback from the player community.

Don’t worry, the DNA of Dead or Alive has been transferred to its sibling. But of course, with thrilling upgrades and twists. We are sure that this game will become a favorite for all players who enjoys high volatility games and awesome excitement.’

Why is Dead or Alive so Popular?

Dead or Alive has captured the attention of millions of players around the world, and, without a doubt, it’s become NetEnt’s most well-known and popular slot.

There’s a couple of reasons why Dead or Alive is so well-liked and received by players around the world, but perhaps the biggest reason is the incredible win-potential which can be found within the slot.

There are two ways to win big during the game, and the first way is the 5-scatter trigger. In order to trigger the main free-spins bonus, you need to land three or more of the bonus scatter symbols anywhere in view. However, if you manage to land all five, along with triggering the bonus, you’ll win an instant cash prize of a whopping 2,500X your stake!

Now, during the bonus, as mentioned above, there’s also something called a wild line. Landing a wildline awards five additional free spins, and also is where things start to get really interesting. If you manage a wildline, you’re pretty much guaranteed a win of at least 1,000X your stake – and it’s possible for multiple wild lines to be formed in one bonus round, which can see the bonus going for many thousands of times your stake!

What is Dead or Alive 2 Likely to Include?

At this point, it’s anyone’s guess. A consensus on the forum (which seems to be a relatively realistic one) is that the game will remain relatively similar, with the main difference being the addition of another row of symbols. This is entirely plausible, and could increase the game’s win-potential.

Another idea touted by a few players is that NetEnt may introduce a ‘Feature Buy’ mechanism, where players could buy directly into the bonus round. This would likely be met with some controversy, as feature buy slots are already getting enough negative attention as it is – but given their apparent popularity, it’s not too much of a far-fetched idea.

Some players have also touted the idea of a Megaways-like mechanic (something we’ve seen successfully used in Big Time Gaming slots (along with Blueprint Gaming, and Relax Gaming games), although it appears that this is the more unlikely option, given that – to our knowledge – NetEnt haven’t been licensed the Megaways engine from Big Time Gaming.

Thankfully, there’s only a few months to go until the game is released, and it’s fair to say that players – not just on the forum – but all over the world are eagerly awaiting this sequel. Here’s hoping that NetEnt can pull it out the bag, and create a more appealing sequel than they did with the likes of Twin Spin Deluxe – a game that went down pretty negatively in online gambling comminutes around the world.

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