Dying Light: The Beast Director Believes it Will be Worth the Price Despite 20-Hour Runtime

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Techland’s developer has announced that playing through “Dying Light: The Beast” should take approximately 20 hours to complete its story. However, the franchise director, Tymon Smektala, views this game length as an illustration of the studio’s philosophy that “size isn’t everything.” In a conversation with GamesRadar, Smektala hinted at games like “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” potentially being excessively large.

It’s clear that the extensive scale of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” ensures that players receive a lot of content for their investment when purchasing it at its full price. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain if numerous players will persist playing the game for long enough to complete it altogether.

Smektala stated, “When I begin playing ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’, I am aware that I won’t be able to finish it. However, the enjoyment and satisfaction I get from the gameplay mechanics and the part of the story I engage with more than compensates for my investment.” In his view, these games offer a “return on investment” not by completing them, but through appreciation of the gameplay elements, the piece of the narrative I delve into, and the knowledge I gain.

Smektala likewise discussed the presence of games in the market that are “true AAA” and can be completed within 15 hours. Given this fact, he is “very certain that Dying Light: The Beast offers exceptional value for every penny, dollar, euro, or yuan you’ve invested in the game.

The main point of the conversation revolves around determining if a game’s cost is justified for certain players. Smektala points out that extensive games such as the latest installments in Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series eventually become more like a tedious task than an enjoyable experience. Paying extra for something tedious, he says, doesn’t seem reasonable, right?

Despite having a relatively short playtime for an open-world game, Dying Light: The Beast still packs a punch with numerous things for players to uncover. Previously in June, Smektala characterized the upcoming game as one of the densest open-world games available.

He pointed out that “open worlds” aren’t just about size, but rather about creating a sense of presence. This means we can develop an open-world game that might not be as vast, but if it’s carefully crafted to feel authentic and immersive, the player’s enjoyment and sense of being there will be significantly greater.

In terms of the franchise as a whole, he remarked that “Dying Light” is likely one of the most richly detailed open-world games currently available.” He went on to explain that the studio aims to create a world that keeps players engaged, encouraging them to always be alert and fully immersed in the experience.

As a devoted fan, I can share that earlier confirmations from Smektala reveal that “Dying Light: The Beast” won’t be overly somber, but instead, it will delve into profound questions about morality. However, the team at Techland has emphasized their focus on enhancing gameplay elements rather than a deep, philosophical narrative.

He clarified that there’s no necessity to delve into questions about morality and such matters. Instead, the focus is primarily on creating engaging gameplay and captivating characters. Given the nature of the Dying Light series, a heavy emphasis on seriousness might not be effective, so they plan to stick with their current approach. He believes this strategy aligns better with their goals.

Dying Light: The Beast is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 22.

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2025-07-24 17:41