Dying Light: The Beast

{{Infobox video game

| title = Dying Light: The Beast

| image = File:Dying Light The Beast cover art.jpg

| developer = Techland

| publisher = Techland

| director = Nathan Lemaire

| artist = Katarzyna Tarnacka

| series = Dying Light

| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Xbox One|Xbox Series X/S}}

| released = Q2/Q3 2025

| genre = Survival horror

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

}}

Dying Light: The Beast is an upcoming survival horror video game developed and published by Techland. Originally envisioned as a downloadable content pack to Dying Light 2: Stay Human, The Beast is set to be released for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S in mid 2025 as a standalone game.

Story

Kyle Crane, the protagonist of the first game, returns as the protagonist of The Beast. After escaping captivity, Crane seeks revenge on the Baron, a mysterious villain who had experimented on him for 13 years.

Gameplay

Dying Light: The Beast is an action-adventure video game played from a first-person perspective. The game is set in Castor Woods, a popular rural tourist destination overrun by zombies. Players can explore this open world using Crane's parkour skills, or driving a 4x4 vehicle.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/dying-light-the-beast-announced/|title=Dying Light: The Beast is a standalone game starring Kyle Crane that started out as DLC, and will be free for owners of Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition|first=Christopher|last=Livingston|work=PC Gamer|date=August 21, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125042359/https://www.pcgamer.com/dying-light-the-beast-announced/|url-status=live}} Like the first game, the zombies are slow when exposed to sunlight, but they become more aggressive and hostile at night. Crane can use a variety of melee weapons and firearms to defeat enemies.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dying-light-the-beast-literally-brings-out-the-big-guns-for-a-shooting-heavy-spin-off-gamescom-2024|title=Dying Light: The Beast Literally Brings Out the Big Guns for a Shooting-Heavy Spin-Off|first=Matt|last=Purslow|work=IGN|date=August 23, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125042359/https://www.ign.com/articles/dying-light-the-beast-literally-brings-out-the-big-guns-for-a-shooting-heavy-spin-off-gamescom-2024|url-status=live}} After being subjected to years of experimentation, Crane can utilize superhuman abilities, allowing him to run and sprint faster than typical human beings. He can also enter "Beast Mode", which allows him to launch powerful bare-handed attacks and hurl environment objects at enemies to greatly damage them.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/preview/443640/dying-light-the-beast-is-more-of-the-same-but-with-superpowers|title=Dying Light: The Beast is more of the same, but with superpowers|first=Jordan|last=Oloman|work=Polygon|date=August 24, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125042359/https://www.polygon.com/preview/443640/dying-light-the-beast-is-more-of-the-same-but-with-superpowers|url-status=live}} As players progress, they will be able to unlock more skills for Crane to further boost his combat prowess. As with its predecessors, the game supports 4-player cooperative multiplayer.

Development

The Beast was originally intended to be the second downloadable content pack for Dying Light 2: Stay Human. After the pack's main story was leaked by hackers in 2023, the team pivoted to turn it into a separate game.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/techland-shorter-standalones-like-dying-light-the-beast-are-the-future-of-games|title=Techland: Shorter standalones like Dying Light: The Beast are "the future of games"|first=James|last=Batchelor|date=August 23, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125042359/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/techland-shorter-standalones-like-dying-light-the-beast-are-the-future-of-games|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/turns-out-dying-light-the-beast-started-out-as-leaked-dying-light-2-dlc|title=Turns out Dying Light: The Beast started out as leaked Dying Light 2 DLC|first=Justin|last=Carter|work=Game Developer|date=August 22, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=February 27, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250227011719/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/turns-out-dying-light-the-beast-started-out-as-leaked-dying-light-2-dlc|url-status=live}} Techland described the game as a compact experience, being shorter than both Dying Light and Dying Light 2. The game also had a linear narrative, as opposed to the branching structure introduced in Dying Light 2. According to Tymon Smektala, Techland's franchise director, the decision to bring back Crane as the game's protagonist was met with enthusiasm within the studio. Crane, who was "older, more haunted, and driven by a strong desire for revenge", was voiced by Roger Craig Smith. Smith added that he was surprised when Techland asked him to return to the role due to the character's fate in Dying Light and its expansion, The Following.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/adventure/dying-light-the-beast-dev-says-the-smaller-spinoff-is-a-dream-game-that-remotivated-us-to-work-on-the-dying-light-series/|title=Dying Light: The Beast dev says the smaller spinoff is a dream game that "remotivated us to work" on the Dying Light series|first=Jesse|last=Vitelli|date=September 24, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125042415/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/adventure/dying-light-the-beast-dev-says-the-smaller-spinoff-is-a-dream-game-that-remotivated-us-to-work-on-the-dying-light-series/|url-status=live}}

According to Techland, the game had a larger emphasis on survival when compared with Dying Light 2, with the team seeking to "recapture" the fear players may have experience when they first played Dying Light.{{cite web|url=https://gamingbolt.com/dying-light-the-beast-interview-story-map-parkour-and-more|title=Dying Light: The Beast Interview – Story, Map, Parkour, and More|first=Shubhankar|last=Parijat|work=Gaming Bolt|date=November 8, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125042416/https://gamingbolt.com/dying-light-the-beast-interview-story-map-parkour-and-more|url-status=live}} Weapons and vehicles were not durable in the game, forcing players to adapt to different combat scenarios.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/dying-light-the-beast/interview|title=Dying Light The Beast is “bringing survival back,” and I’m excited|first=Lauren|last=Bergin|work=PCGamesN|date=August 23, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025}} Castor Woods was described by the team as a "rural, forested valley" inspired by Twin Peaks.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/dying-light-the-beast-captures-techland-s-passion-for-games-players-will-finish|title=Dying Light: The Beast reflects Techland's passion for games players will finish|first=Bryant|last=Francis|work=Game Developer|date=October 1, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=February 27, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250227011725/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/dying-light-the-beast-captures-techland-s-passion-for-games-players-will-finish|url-status=live}} While the natural setting provided less opportunities for players to use parkour skills for transversal, landmarks and buildings in the game were designed to ensure players must use the agility of Crane to reach their objectives.

The Beast was officially announced by Techland at Gamescom 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dying-light-the-beast-announced-with-a-trailer-teasing-the-return-of-the-first-games-protagonist/1100-6525922/|title=Dying Light: The Beast Announced With A Trailer Teasing The Return Of The First Game's Protagonist|first=Phil|last=Hornshaw|work=GameSpot|date=August 20, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125042415/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dying-light-the-beast-announced-with-a-trailer-teasing-the-return-of-the-first-games-protagonist/1100-6525922/|url-status=live}} The game is set to be released for Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S in mid 2025. Players who owned the Ultimate Edition of Dying Light 2 will receive The Beast for free, as Techland "wanted to show appreciation for the community who patiently waited for the DLC".{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/dying-light-the-beast-is-a-new-18-hour-standalone-game-that-began-life-as-dlc|title=Dying Light: The Beast is a new 18-hour standalone game that began life as DLC|first=Tom|last=Phillips|work=Eurogamer|date=August 20, 2024|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125042415/https://www.eurogamer.net/dying-light-the-beast-is-a-new-18-hour-standalone-game-that-began-life-as-dlc|url-status=live}} The Ultimate Edition, however, was removed from sale in September 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/techland-removing-dying-light-2-ultimate-edition-from-sale-after-saying-dying-light-the-beast-comes-free-with-it|title=Techland Removing Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition From Sale After Saying Dying Light: The Beast Comes Free With It|first=Ryan|last=Dinsdale|work=IGN|date=August 28, 2025|accessdate=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125042359/https://www.ign.com/articles/techland-removing-dying-light-2-ultimate-edition-from-sale-after-saying-dying-light-the-beast-comes-free-with-it|url-status=live}}