The Beast Moving Opposite to DL2 is an Encouraging Sign

Before the anticipated release of Dying Light 2: Stay Human in early 2022, Techland laid out ambitious plans, promising fans two major expansions by 2027. The first of these, Dying Light 2: Bloody Ties, rolled out in late 2022, arriving not long after the game’s initial debut. However, details about the second expansion remained under wraps for quite some time. Techland dropped occasional hints during interviews but largely kept the project under the radar until now.

At Gamescom 2024, Techland surprised fans by unveiling a new chapter in the Dying Light saga, titled Dying Light: The Beast. Initially conceived as the second expansion for Dying Light 2, the project eventually evolved into a standalone game due to its growing complexity. This exciting addition to the franchise is set to bring back Kyle Crane, the hero from the first installment, in a fresh setting called Castor Woods. Early insights suggest a noticeable shift in direction from Dying Light 2, and this appears to be a promising sign for the franchise’s future.

The upcoming game, Dying Light: The Beast, is generating interest because it seems to pivot back towards a more intense horror experience, which excites many fans who might have felt that the scariness in Dying Light 2 did not quite match its predecessor. Techland’s decision to focus more on survival horror elements in the latest installment signals a return to the roots that made the original Dying Light such a hit among fans and critics.

Critics and fans alike found Dying Light 2 to be somewhat polarizing, despite generally favorable reviews. The game faced criticism, particularly for straying away from the survival horror genre that defined the original and its 2016 expansion, The Following. The shift towards more of an action RPG, combined with the reworked day/night cycle, left some players missing the tension-filled nights of the original game.

In the first Dying Light, nighttime brought a palpable sense of danger, with more aggressive zombies and formidable foes like the terrifying Volatiles appearing only after sunset. Players were often forced to urgently find shelter or risk deadly encounters. Conversely, the 1.0 version of Dying Light 2 offered less peril. Volatiles were notably scarce, and nighttime was more about exploration rather than survival. Even after updates added more Volatiles, the fear factor did not quite measure up to that of the original game.

Happily, Techland appears to have taken these criticisms on board. Tymon Smektala, the franchise director, recently discussed Dying Light: The Beast with Game Rant, revealing that this game will embrace its survival horror legacy. Set in atmospherically eerie environments of forests and swamps, the game promises to reinstill the dread of darkness. As night falls, players will find the ambiance and music contributing to a nerve-wracking tension that harkens back to the roots of the series.

As we look ahead, Dying Light: The Beast is poised to reignite the franchise’s profound horror essence. While Dying Light 2: Stay Human delivered a solid gaming experience, the community’s longing for a more horror-centric game seems set to be fulfilled. Guiding the series back to its unsettling survival horror beginnings is likely to resonate deeply with long-time fans, potentially steering future titles away from action RPG elements to preserve what truly set Dying Light apart.