Dying Light 2 Stay Human “Sacrificed Some of the Dying Light DNA” – Franchise Director

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In an interview with GamesRadar, franchise director Tymon Smektala shared that when they released the original Dying Light, Techland didn’t anticipate it would gain such widespread popularity and affection. Being a relatively small studio back then, Techland considered themselves as an underdog in the industry.

As a proud member of Techland back then, I remember our underdog status as we unleashed Dying Light 1. The gaming world didn’t anticipate us crafting such an awesome game like Dying Light. In a recent interview, I acknowledged that while working on Dying Light 2 Stay Human, we perhaps neglected some elements that made the first one so beloved among gamers.

In his discussion, Smektala acknowledged that although Dying Light 2 Stay Human achieved commercial success, there were areas where they may have erred. One such mistake was broadening the game’s appeal by making it more accessible, but this approach came at the cost of some essential elements from the original Dying Light.

According to Smektala, fans were expressing that something was missing, that it wasn’t what truly set you apart. He was referring to the studio’s initial intention of delivering a more refined AAA experience with Dying Light 2 Stay Human. However, he clarified that the studio now intends to offer a balance – a blend of polish and the essence of the original Dying Light gameplay.

He stated that they aim to achieve two goals. Firstly, they strive for top-tier quality in their delivery, similar to AAA standards. Secondly, they want to demonstrate that their creativity and unique style, which defines Dying Light, remains intact. If players express appreciation for the game’s resemblance to Dying Light 1 and praise its polished appearance, then they will consider their mission a great success.

These more current remarks mirror the thoughts expressed by Smektala earlier this month regarding certain choices made in the production of Dying Light 2 Stay Human. “With [Dying Light 1], we were able to craft a game where every component seamlessly fit, and perhaps we didn’t fully acknowledge it,” Smektała remarked.

In my perspective as an ardent fan, “Dying Light 1” truly resonated with our dedicated community. It was a hard-hitting survival horror, set in an open world, offering a thrilling action-adventure experience, with an emphasis on survivability that was second to none. However, when it came to “Dying Light 2”, I feel we might have strayed from the path. Despite its commercial triumph, those who should be dearest to our hearts expressed concerns that we had lost some of the grit, the danger, the fear, and the tension that defined the original game.

Additionally, he mentioned that the studio views “Dying Light: The Beast” not just as a spin-off but as a full-fledged sequel, although its initial conception was as an expansion for “Dying Light 2: Stay Human”.

Initially, the project might have had more modest goals, but when Kyle Crane reappeared, our enthusiasm surged,” he explained. “Our excitement stemmed from the potential of this updated engine and our confidence in the gameplay mechanics it offers.

Dying Light: The Beast is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on August 22.

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2025-06-26 18:11