It’s been some time since we last heard from developer Techland about Dying Light 2. Originally revealed during Microsoft’s E3 conference in 2018, Dying Light 2, the game quietly receded from public view following the loss of their art director Pawel Selinger and narrative lead, Chris Avellone. With fans fearing the worst for the game’s future, Techland has finally lifted the curtain to give players their first meaningful Dying Light 2 update in months.
Last week, Techland sent out posters and UV Lights to the press and influencers which revealed that there would be a stream showcasing the game today. Dubbed “Dying2Know,” this is the first in a multi-part stream created to show off new gameplay footage and reveal key information revolving around this title including the December 7th release date.
Set 20 years after the events of the original, Dying Light 2 is set in a city that’s described as the last bastion of humanity. You play Aiden Caldwell, a member of a group of outcasts who is searching for the truth about his past and who he actually is. Similar to the previous entry, Aiden is a proficient free runner who can traverse across the city’s rooftops with ease. Where the sequel differentiates itself from the first entry is the heavier emphasis on player choice in the story. Aiden will be able to directly impact the story and outcome of multiple warring factions in the new city. This was teased before during the game’s initial announcement in 2018 and is still a key aspect of how the campaign will unfold.
Techland also revealed a Platinum Edition of Dying Light, which will contain every single piece of DLC content rever released for this game. If you’ve never played Dying Light, this is definitely the best version of the game since there’s a comical amount of post-release content for this title. The Platinum Edition is available now on Xbox, PlayStation, GOG, and Steam.
The meat of the stream is the brand new gameplay trailer, which shows off the game’s current state along with the overall world of Dying Light 2. Just like the original, Dying Light 2 will feature a night/day cycle that determines when the majority of the infected are roaming the massive city’s streets. During the day, players will have a much easier time exploring the city but have a higher chance to run into bandits or other factions roaming throughout. Inversely, the evening is when all the terrifying monsters come out and Techland promises that nighttime will be “more intense” than the previous version. As for the city, it’s broken up into two core regions and several zones throughout.
Combat has been enhanced, with a more refined melee system that was sorely missing in the original. Players can specialize in different styles and once again users can craft wicked weapons to deal death. Parkour is still the core traversal method available, with Aiden being able to wall run, roll, use a grappling hook, glider, and other techniques to stay off the streets. If you do want to go exploring, players can find some of the best loot hidden away deep within buildings filled with infected. Techland wrapped the stream by revealing the game’s December 7th release date and teased that the next Dying2Know is all about the new type of Infected.
Dying Light 2 is set to release on December 7, 2021, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
