Surely, my initial reaction to the Summer Game Fest was not what I anticipated. The demo for Dying Light: The Beast exceeded expectations, especially after Techland’s previous title, Dying Light 2: Stay Human, received mixed reactions.
This upcoming title is a direct follow-up to the original Dying Light, reintroducing Kyle Crane as the protagonist, marking a significant shift from the chaos of Dying Light 2. During an interview with PC Gamer, Director Tymon Smektała openly acknowledged the mistakes made with the sequel:
“With [Dying Light 1], we really managed to create a game where every piece fit together, and maybe we didn’t appreciate it enough.”
The feedback from players was clear: while Dying Light 2 was commercially successful, it lost the tension and horror elements that made the first game resonate with its community. As Smektała pointed out:
“The game was a commercial success, but the players who should be closest to our hearts said we lost the edge, we lost the threat, we lost the horror, we lost the tension.”
To address these shortcomings, Techland decided to model The Beast after the original, intentionally evoking the sense of isolation and fear seen in Dying Light 1.
Notably, The Beast offers a vast gameplay environment, boasting new characters and storylines that extend beyond a mere expansion and positioning it as the next significant installment in the series.
“For us, it really is Dying Light 3,” Smektała shared. “We got so excited about Kyle Crane returning and the possibilities with our new game engine and gameplay mechanics.”
The developers are committed to ensuring that players re-experience the sense of peril inherent in the Dying Light franchise, enhancing combat dynamics with new mechanics such as upgraded stances and early access to ranged weapons.
Ultimately, Dying Light: The Beast promises to be a refined, substantial game rather than a mere side project, revealing on August 22, 2025.
