Dying Light 2: All info on the zombie game with open world
For a long time it was quiet about Dying Light 2: Stay Human, but now the title has a release date and the developers are talking again. We reveal everything you need to know about the game.
At first glance, Dying Light 2: Stay Human may look to some like just another zombie game in which we shoot our way through hordes of onrushing undead with a lot of firepower. But the title is far more ambitious and aims to push the genre forward with ingenious mechanics in game world and gameplay.
After it has been suspiciously quiet around the title for a while, the developer Techland has not only revealed a concrete release date, but also news about the gameplay and the story. In this article we have prepared all the information about Dying Light 2 for you, so that you are always up to date.
Table of Contents
The most important information about Dying Light 2
Release: When will Dying Light 2 be released?
Dying Light 2 will be released on December 7, 2021. Originally, the game was supposed to be released in spring 2020, but the release was postponed indefinitely a few months before. Shortly afterwards, rumours even surfaced that the game was in development hell:
Then it became very quiet about Dying Light 2 until the developers finally came back in May 2021 with a new trailer and also announced the new release date.
Platforms: What is Dying Light 2 being released for?
Dying Light 2 will be released for the PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, as well as PS4 and Xbox One. On PC, you’ll have the choice between Steam and the Epic Store.
While owners of a home computer can look forward to the best possible picture quality anyway – provided they have powerful hardware – owners of the current consoles can also rejoice. Because Techland has promised a free NextGen upgrade for the PS5 and the Xbox Series X.
PS4 and Xbox One owners will also be able to enjoy the upgrade at no extra cost as soon as they upgrade. A quality mode including ray tracing and a performance mode with 60 FPS playback are to be available for selection.
Pre-Order: What editions are available of Dying Light 2?
Pre-Order Bonuses: You can already pre-order Dying Light 2 . Those who pre-order before the release can look forward to a pre-order bonus: the “Reload” skin pack, which gives your character as well as weapons and equipment a unique look.
Editions: Dying Light 2 is available both digitally and physically in three different versions, each of which comes with additional gimmicks and in-game content. The respective versions of Dying Light 2 differ as follows:
– Standard: Contains only the main game – Cost: 60 Euro
– Deluxe: Includes the main game and additional digital content: Another legendary skin, weapon talismans, a digital comic, plus artwork and the soundtrack. Buyers will also receive the first story DLC for free. The physical version comes as a steelbook – cost: 80 Euro
– Collector’s Edition: Contains the main game, all contents of the deluxe version and additionally more crafting items as well as free access to the second story DLC. The physical version is limited, comes as a steelbook and also offers physical gimmicks: The “Defender of the City” statue, A paper artbook, a UV torch, a map of the game world and three postcards that you can send to your family for Christmas – Cost: 100 euros (digital) / Physical: Not yet known
DLC and Season Pass: What happens after launch?
Techland has also already commented on the plans after the release. Like its predecessor, Dying Light 2 will also be provided with additional content for years to come. However, this does not mean content cut from the retail version, as lead game designer Tymon Smektala pointed out in an interview:
“Dying Light 2 is already full of content that we plan to deliver on release day. But we also plan to support the game long after that, as we did with Dying Light – every day we have new ideas!”
Story: What is Dying Light 2 about?
Not much is known about the plot of Dying Light 2 yet. No wonder, after all, you don’t want to give everything away in advance. In the course of an E3 appearance, however, they revealed a few details about the story of the protagonist and his motives.
A real family story: The main character of the game is called Aiden and was apparently born into a world afflicted by a virus. He has a sister named Mia. Together with her, Aiden was subjected to medical experiments as a child, as the two apparently showed special talents. A fire separated the siblings and Aiden lives with the guilt of leaving his sister behind.
However, in the year 2036, where the action of Dying Light 2 is set, Aiden comes across a clue that Mia is still alive and how he can find her.
Newcomers are also welcome, by the way. Techland already explicitly emphasised that players will not need any previous knowledge from the first part of the series to be able to understand the story of Dying Light 2. They don’t want to unnecessarily limit the target group, which would be the case if only connoisseurs of the first game could get through the storyline.
Game World: What do we know about the Open World?
Compared to the predecessor, the city in which the action takes place will be four times as large. In Dying Light 2, you will also move nimbly and gracefully across the rooftops and through the street canyons of the open world. The way you move is strongly influenced by the sport of parkour.
Within the city, there is supposed to be variation. While some areas have been overrun by the infected and every step there is extremely dangerous, in other places the various factions have gained the upper hand and restored a certain order.
Players can be particularly curious to see how the decisions they make will sometimes have a drastic effect on the game world. If you help a faction to conquer a water tower, for example, a dictatorship will arise in that part of town. The alternative: we’d rather help the bandits. Then a flourishing black market will develop in the same place.
By the way, these changes in the game world will not stop at the NPCs. According to Techland, even important characters will bite the dust if they are affected by one of your decisions.
Zombie types: What do we know about the opponents?
As in the first part, a wide variety of monsters will make your life hell in Dying Light 2. In addition to familiar adversaries, new zombie types were also introduced, which differ from each other not only in their appearance:
– Banshee: The graceful zombie lady is armed with fearsome clawed hands and wears a tattered evening gown. The new enemy type lurks mainly on rooftops to swoop down on unsuspecting survivors. In its bloodlust, the banshee can be interrupted by brief moments of lucidity and henceforth desists from you.
– Howler: This zombie sees itself as the guard dog of the pack. If you meet a Howler, it will not attack you immediately. Its primary task is to alert other zombies with a loud cry.
– Revenant: This new enemy type has tentacle-like outgrowths on its back that it can use to catch its opponents. In addition, he is not particularly fast, but can buff other zombies with a yellow mist.
– Demolisher: The muscle-bound giants already existed in the first Dying Light, where they were protected by armour plates. The gigantic tanks could dish out a lot, but were extremely slow. In the new trailer for Dying Light 2, a demolisher could also be seen, but without armour.
– Sleeping Beauties: These are zombies that are in a kind of trance. Judging by the new trailer, these infected are very sensitive to loud noises and are best sneaked around.
– Volatile: The most dangerous zombie in the game. The Volatile embodies the most advanced mutation level and seems to be extremely dangerous. It is not yet known what abilities the new enemy type possesses. However, this type seems to be particularly agile and fast.
Gameplay: How does Dying Light 2 play?
Developer Techland itself describes the setting of Dying Light 2 as a “modern Dark Ages”, alluding to one particular feature of the game in particular: There are virtually no firearms! Instead, people once again resort to axes, hammers and, of course, bows and arrows. But if need be, a misappropriated heating pipe will also do!
Dying Light 2 is supposed to be a mixture of parkour challenges, action-packed battles against humans and zombies and unravelling your own past. It is up to you which of the factions you complete missions for. With every path you take, you advance the story. The story is supposed to be more complex than in the first Dying Light.
If it comes to a fight, as already mentioned above, you don’t have any big guns to defend yourself. Instead, you have to block with your melee weapon, counterattack and thus defeat your adversary. According to the developers, you should not underestimate the AI: Not only the zombies, but also the human opponents are supposed to persistently pursue you even across rooftops.
The time of day plays a particularly important role in your forays. For it is not only your decisions that define the world. A glance at the clock also tells you which urban places you should better avoid. While the zombies are not much of a threat during the day, at least outdoors, they pursue you relentlessly at night.
The problem with the undead’s preference for dark places: The particularly good loot can only be found there. Even during the day you will not be able to avoid visiting dark buildings or the underground metro – and you will not want to.
Scripted missions: In an interview with us, Techland revealed that there will always be scripted missions. More immersion is to be created through more options in the decisions.
The city alignment: These decisions influence the gameplay and determine which elements appear in different parts of the city. How exactly the “city alignment” works, the developers want to explain in more detail in a Dying-2-Know episode.
Multiplayer: Is Dying Light 2 playable in co-op?
Yes, Dying Light 2 will offer a co-op mode. As in the predecessor, all missions of the game will be playable with up to three friends. There is one decisive difference: you can also play the prologue and the final missions with friends and do not have to complete them solo.
One player as host: Since the story of Dying Light 2 will offer various decision-making options, one player must take on the role of host in co-op mode. The other players are not allowed to make any decisions, but they do not take the host’s story progress with them into their own score.
Dying Light 2: Engine and Graphics Info
Dying Light 2 is developed in the C-Engine created by Techland. It was fundamentally revised for the second part. There is a new world editor and the physics engine has been upgraded to improve the shooting physics.
Ray tracing effects: The new ray tracing effects in Dying Light 2 are said to include effects based on geometry and stable ambient occlusion. This is said to create correct dynamic shadows that take into account the size of the sun in the sky and allow for global illumination.
DLSS and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution: DLSS and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution are also expected to be available.
Direct Storage: As things stand, Direct Storage will not be available. According to Techland, this will require profound changes to the engine.
Audio system: The audio system will be WWise by Audiokinetic, one of the most well-known companies in the field of interactive media.
Trailer: What’s to see already for Dying Light 2?
During the long development period, several trailers and gameplay videos have already been released for Dying Light 2, all of which we will of course list for you.
In May 2021, the developers came back with a new gameplay trailer that offers an extensive look at the game world and the fast-paced melee combat. If you’ve always wanted to play Mirror’s Edge with zombies – here you go:
Another video is to show you the extensive changes to the game world, which will be based on your decisions. Entire city districts will develop differently, which should be especially beneficial to the replay value:
At E3 2019, the protagonist Aiden introduced himself in a trailer. Accompanied by his monologue, you get a glimpse of further locations and their inhabitants in the dangerous city:
More info & Trailer at Gamescom
On August 26, 2021 at 8pm, developer Techland will host its own showcase for Dying Light 2 as part of this year’s Gamescom. Lead game designer Tymon Smektala will host the show, which will include a new gameplay trailer and reveal more about Dying Light 2’s parkour, combat and factions.
In addition to new details about the protagonist Aiden’s melee combat skills and numerous new killing tools, there will also be new info on the story to see. In the course of the game’s story, you will have to choose between the factions Survivors, Peacekeepers and Renegades. These come into conflict with each other, as they want to rebuild society in different ways. At Gamescom, the developers will explain how the faction system works and what you can expect from it.
What questions about Dying Light 2 still remain open for you? What do you think of the information published so far? Let us know in the comments.
