Dying Light 2, the sequel to 2015's parkour survival-horror game, is finally coming this year. The game was first announced back in 2018, with a trailer at the E3 Expo. Dying Light 2 was originally meant to be coming early in 2020, but it was delayed indefinitely in January of that year.
Reports from inside developers Techland have revealed that the zombie-survival sequel has had an extremely rocky development. This wasn't helped by the termination of key writer Chris Avellone following allegations of sexual misconduct in June 2020. With all these difficulties, it's not surprising that it took until May 27, 2021, for any significant information about the state of the game to be released.
Dying Light 2 Release Date and Title
After almost a year of near silence, fans of the original Dying Light were ready and waiting for the May 27 reveals. The first, and probably most important, is that Dying Light 2 now has an official release date. December 7, 2021. Although this is almost two years after its original release window, many fans are simply glad that the game is coming at all. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, a title which has also suffered from internal trouble and the Covid-19 pandemic, may be delayed indefinitely after being taken off its original developer.
To coincide with its new release date, Techland also revealed the game's full title, Dying Light 2: Stay Human. This subtitle is likely to be heavily tied to the game's theme, as players will fight to ensure that humanity doesn't devolve into anarchy in the wake of the viral outbreak.
Dying Light 2 New Setting
The original Dying Light was set in Harran, a real Turkish city on the border with Syria. Harran is the center of the zombie outbreak in the Dying Light universe, which is what leads protagonist Kyle Crane to be paradropped into the heart of it. Dying Light 2 moves the setting west into Europe itself, fifteen years after the events Dying Light. The new game will be set in The City, a massive urban open-world environment four times the size of Harran, and probably the last bastion of humanity in the world.
Techland has revealed that it wants The City to have a "modern dark ages" feel. This is a fairly standard post-apocalyptic society, as systems collapse and people are forced to make sacrifices to survive. However, Dying Light 2 seems to be taking the theme a little more literally. Several of the factions in The City look and act like medieval baronies, right down to the knightly armor of the Peacekeeper soldiers.
Dying Light 2 Narrative Features
Three major factions hold sway over The City, the Survivors, Peacekeepers, and Renegades. The Survivors are all about adapting to the new world, growing crops on the rooftops, and carving safe zones out of zombie-infested streets. The Peacekeepers want to see the return of law and order, and will go to any lengths to accomplish that goal. Finally, the Renegades are former prisoners who see the division within The City as an opportunity to take control.
Players will work with each of these factions throughout the game's story, and Techland has promised a lot of tough decisions over who to support. These choices have the potential to make drastic changes to both The City and the course of the story. Entire areas of the map will be unlocked or sealed off depending on what players choose, meaning that multiple playthroughs will be required to experience everything.
Dying Light 2 New Gameplay Features
The original Dying Light did well with its blend of zombie-survival and parkour gameplay. Kyle Crane used rooftops and clever traversal techniques to stay one step ahead of the zombie hordes, and Aiden Caldwell, the protagonist of Dying Light 2, will apparently be even more mobile. Techland claims to have doubled the amount of Dying Light parkour moves available to players, including sliding under tables, and using loose poles to vault over streets.
Dying Light 2 will also feature some new traversal gadgets, including pulleys that can be used to quickly access rooftops, a grappling hook, and a glider. Aiden Caldwell will need these systems to safely make it across Dying Light 2's new setting before nightfall.
Dying Light's classic day and night cycle mechanics will return in Dying Light 2: Stay Human. Infected prefer to roam the streets at night, which makes travelling much more dangerous. However, this means that the dark holes that they normally shelter in are easier to plunder. Virals and Volatiles will still be a threat however, relentlessly pursuing players through the night with their superhuman agility and speed.
Players can expect more information on the new features, setting, and narrative in Dying Light 2 as the game comes closer to release.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human is launching December 7 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.