Dead Island 2: All It Begins Journals & Locations

Wanna know what happened during the evacuations and their disastrous aftermath? Here's where to find all It Begins Journal entries in Dead Island 2.

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The journal entries in the ‘It Begins’ collection detail numerous happenings during the start of the outbreak in Dead Island 2. Many of the entries include the state of LA during the evacuations and their disastrous aftermath.

Below, we’ve detailed the number of It Begins journals you can collect from every category and where to find them. In this way, you can learn about the things that people left behind as they faced the zombie apocalypse.

The It Begins header consists of 5 categories, which are as follows:

  • Day 1
  • Containment
  • Dear Moms
  • GTFO
  • ZOMBIES ARE REAL?!
Day 1 Journal Locations - Dead Island 2 It Begins Journals

All 13 Day 1 Journal Locations

There are 13 journal entries to collect for this category that you can find in order:

  1. Emma’s Note – found in Bel-Air, inside Emma Jaunt’s closet on the second floor of her mansion.
  2. You Won’t Believe This Crazy Rumor – found in Bel-Air. ‘Staked out in the GOAT Pen’ Studio beside the party pool of the GOAT Pen Mansion.
  3. Speak Now – found in Halperin Hotel, on the table in the Wedding garden past the Hotel pools.
  4. Hot Feet – found in Halperin Hotel. Inside the bathroom, beside the tub of Room 304.
  5. Spacefox2250 Live Feed – found in Monarch Studios. Found on the meet-and-greet table next to the Monarch Studio gate.
  6. Close Shave – found in Venice Beach. On the folding table at the Northern checkpoint of the map.
  7. Deadlift – found in Venice Beach. On top of some military crates next to the container crates turned concession stands at the Strongman competition grounds. North of the map.
  8. You Made a Mistake – found in Santa Monica. On the floor of the Luigi’s Pizzeria bathroom along the stores behind the pier.
  9. Just Venting – found in Santa Monica. On the other side of a dark green shipping container next to the Santa Monica Police Station.
  10. Scamper the Dolphin – found in Santa Monica. Next to a mattress of a hidey hole at the back of the Aquarium Storage under the Pier. Midway through the tunnel.
  11. Commuting – found in The Metro. On the ground of the destroyed tunnel where the burning walkers were after catching up with Emma and Sam B.
  12. Portapotty Poltergeist – found in Hollywood Boulevard. On the counter of the concession stand of the Chinese Theater.
  13. Colt’s Swansong – found in Bel-Air. Colt Swanson’s Mansion, Wedged by the bed inside the panic room.
All 4 Containment Journal Locations - Dead Island 2 It Begins Journals

All 4 Containment Journal Locations

There are 4 journal entries associated with this category.

  1. Chump Dump Check – found in Halperin Hotel, on the wall at the back side of the acid pool of the Hotel.
  2. Major Malfunction – found in Halperin Hotel, on the intel table inside Room 307.
  3. Back Soon – found in Ocean Avenue, attached to a transformer in an outdoor storeroom at the side of the Giallo building.
  4. Shutter it Down – found in Hollywood Boulevard, on the counter of the Metro Ticket Office, Hollywood Metro Station.
All 3 Dear Moms Journal Locations - Dead Island 2 It Begins Journals

All 3 Dear Moms Journal Locations

There are only 3 journal entries associated with this category.

  1. Dear Moms – found in Halperin Hotel, on the locked side gate by the hotel entrance, next to the body of a fallen officer.
  2. The Dirtiest Job – found in Halperin Hotel, on the ground by the stacks of body bags leading up to the hotel pool.
  3. Shattered – found in Beverly Hills. Attached to a specimen freezer door inside the white mansion turned CDC disposal site.
All 9 GTFO Journal Locations - Dead Island 2 It Begins Journals

All 9 GTFO Journal Locations

There are 9 journal entries associated with this category that you can find in this order:

  1. Other Arrangements – found in Bel-Air. On a wooden stomp in the outdoor lounge beside the tennis court at Emma’s mansion.
  2. Children’s Letters – found in Halperin Hotel. On the table inside the open tents of the military checkpoint by the entrance of the hotel.
  3. Martial Law Incident Report – found in Beverly Hills. On top of a stack of containers at the blocked Northwest exit.
  4. Priority Evac – found in Beverly Hills. On the ground next to the ambulance accident sight in front of the white house with the dark blue roof.
  5. Happy Trails – found in Beverly Hills. Taped on the side of a red Bel-Air convertible near the entrance of the map.
  6. Chris Chat – found in Beverly Hills. On top of a blue plastic container near the checkpoint that leads to Monarch Studios.
  7. Breakdown – found in Venice Beach. On top of the access bridge at the most South point of the map. Besides the canal.
  8. Slippery When Wet – found in Santa Monica. On the ground next to a shuttered shop next to a Burger ’66 stall on the Pier.
  9. The Final Sprint – found in the Metro. On the grey canvas in the section of tunnel that has airlocks on both ends. Has a portable light shining on it.
All 13 ZOMBIES ARE REAL?! Journal Locations - Dead Island 2 It Begins Journals

All 13 ZOMBIES ARE REAL?! Journal Locations

There are 13 journal entries associated with this category.

  1. Just a Prank – found in Bel-Air. On the vanity table by the computer, GOAT PEN mansion Master Bedroom.
  2. Red Spider – found in Halperin Hotel. On the bench at the corner of Lacuna and Palms. Next to the giant sinkhole.
  3. Updated Guidance For Security – found in Halperin Hotel. On the wall of the security hut by the hotel parking lot.
  4. Crimson Penthouse – found in Beverly Hills. Found on the second floor of Nikki Gutte’s condo. (The hunting lady.)
  5. Escaped by a Whisker – found in Bel-Air. On the computer table inside the GOAT Pen Mansion’s master bedroom.
  6. In These Challenging Times – found in Bel-Air. By the computer at the back of the BWRP control room.
  7. Fresh Delivery – found in In the Brentwood Sewer tunnels. Past the Venice Storm Tank
  8. Alaska on My Mind – found in Venice Beach. On the ground next white building along the alleyway behind Marla’s Tapas & Tacos. Across from the parking lot.
  9. Terrors of the Deep – found in Venice Beach. On top of a beached windsurfer by the shoreline.
  10. Patton’s Kingdom – found in Ocean Avenue. Attached to a crate in the sewers’ fast travel point between Ocean Avenue and Brentwood Sewer.
  11. Note to All Employees – found in Ocean Avenue. At the backroom of the Epaules et Pieds store on the ground floor of the Serling Hotel.
  12. Romance is Dead – found in Ocean Avenue. On the table of the outdoor eating area of the Long Pork Grill restaurant.
  13. Gathering the Crew – found in The Metro. On the shelf where KIA CDC members were gathered. Second tunnel of the Metro past the first gas pressure puzzle.

And that’s all the ‘It Begins’ journal entries that we can find in Dead Island 2. We hope this guide was useful in your search for these interesting insights into the world of Hell-A. Good luck out there, Survivors.

If you’re looking for more Journal Entries guides by category, refer to the links below:

Dead Island 2 is available now on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Senior Editor