Out of all the E3 2018 games to surface this year, Dying Light 2 is going to stand out as one of the highlights. It's a sequel that people have been clamouring for since the release of Techland's original Dying Light of 2015, which married an open world with parkour physics to create a truly unique form of undead immersion.
I'm sure you have a few questions about the studio's tantalising follow-up to that sleeper hit, but don't fret. We've got you covered with all the important information in one place, so keep this article bookmarked if you want to stay up to date on all things Dying Light 2.
Sorry to start off with some bad news, but it's best to get the frustrating reality out of the way first. No, we don't have any idea of when Dying Light 2 will be releasing, as Techland has given no information on the subject as of yet, not even willing to suggest the game will be out next year.
That means it could be a while before we'll be able to play Dying Light 2 from the comfort of our own homes, but hopefully Techland is just waiting for the right time to announce something more concrete in the near future. We do know, however, that it will be coming to PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, so at least there's that.
Dying Light 2 takes place 15 years after the first game
Techland has described the time period of Dying Light 2 as the "new dark ages", where the zombie apocalypse has dragged society back to a Hobbesian state of nature, and humanity is just as likely to kill itself than be eaten up by the hordes of undead parading the streets of what is presumably still Harran (the Turkish-set city from the first game).
As for who you'll be playing as, that's unclear, but it sure sounds like noted voice actor Troy Baker in those trailers, so hopefully this new protagonist will be somewhat more charismatic than Dying Light's archetypal snooze-fest Kyle Crane.
Dying Light 2 is much more of an RPG this time around
One of the most surprising things about Dying Light 2's reveal was the announcement that Chris Avellone - a famed games writer known for his work on multitudes of RPGs, from Divinity: Original Sin 2 to Fallout: New Vegas - has been assisting Techland with designing the game's story, which is now far more ambitious than Kyle Crane's linear tale in Dying Light.
In Dying Light 2, the plot is an organic, reactive entity that can weave in multiple directions, depending on how you decide to respond to situations in the zombie apocalypse. In turn, your actions will affect the world around you, from the threat level of its populace to the scarcity of its resources.
The Dying Light 2 gameplay demo is a sight to behold
Despite the absence of any release date, Techland was more than happy to show off several minutes of direct gameplay footage at E3 2018, which implies that the game is very much in the final stages of production.
Naturally, the updated visuals look stunning, and Techland seem to be making the most of the Xbox One X to show off all those rich colours and sharply drawn skylines. The demo also gives you a good idea of the game's updated parkour and combat mechanics, so it's well worth a watch for any interested fan.
Still hungry for more E3? Head over to our E3 2018 schedule to see what press conferences are on the horizon.
Dying Light 2 was announced during Microsoft’s press conference at E3 2018, and it looks dark. Both literally and figuratively.
The trailer focuses on how dire the situation of the survivors of the zombies has become, while also showing off the verticality of the game play.
The game is being helped along by narrative designer Chris Avellone, who has a long history as a writer and designer on games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 and Fallout 2. Avellone came onstage to demonstrate how important the players’ decisions are in impacting the world, as the way you go about the mission will change the city and raise or lower morale. It looks like the game is careful not to make things as easy as a good or evil choice, as everything you could help in some ways and make things difficult in others.
“It allows you to carve out your own world,” Avellone explained, before stating that things will get even darker during the night. All of those decisions will add up to make each player’s experiences unique.
Dying Light 2 is coming to the Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4.
