Dead Island 2 on Steam doesn't require the Epic Games Launcher for gameplay. However, the game does utilize Epic Online Services for connectivity. Accessing Epic Online Services is seamless and doesn't require the use of the Epic Launcher or any linking of Epic accounts.
Crossplay
The crossplay option is enabled by default.
For crossplay with random players on Steam or Epic Games, you don't need to link your account to an Epic Games account.
You will need an Epic Games account to sync your Epic friends list with your Steam friends list and to invite friends who own the game on the Epic Games platform to play with you on Steam.
If the Steam user’s Epic account is linked and signed in in-game, then:
- They can matchmake with any other user via quickplay just like an unlinked Steam account can, as long as crossplay is enabled.
- They will have 2 friends lists – Steam friends and Epic friends, they can invite and join players from either of these lists.
- They can bring up the Epic overlay and access their Epic friend list from there, in addition to the Steam overlay.
If the accounts are linked but they don't see any of the benefits mentioned above, they should ensure they are signed into Epic within the game. This option can be found in the online options menu.
Please note, that Epic Online Services is required to play the game, even in single-player, due to the way the game is coded; this happens automatically.
Unlinked accounts can still play with Epic players via quickplay if crossplay is enabled; they won’t have an in-game Epic friends list or the Epic friends list overlay.
Crossplay can be disabled in the online options menu.