Techland has unveiled Dying Light: The Beast, a standalone chapter in its beloved open-world zombie series, set to release on August 22, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions arriving later in 2025. Originally planned as a DLC for Dying Light 2: Stay Human, the project evolved into a full-fledged game after a 2023 narrative leak and a desire to bring back the series’ original protagonist, Kyle Crane. Here’s a rundown of everything we know about this thrilling new entry.
Story and Setting
Dying Light: The Beast follows Kyle Crane, the hero of the original Dying Light and its expansion, The Following. Set 13 years after the first game and chronologically after Dying Light 2, Crane escapes 13 years of captivity where he was subjected to brutal experiments by a villain known as “The Baron,” Marius Fischer.
Infected with zombie DNA, Crane is now part human, part beast, grappling with his rage-fueled powers while seeking revenge in the rural Castor Woods, a Swiss Alps-inspired valley with diverse biomes like a tourist town, industrial area, national park, farm fields, and swamps. The story, inspired by the South Korean film Oldboy, promises a linear, 18-20+ hour tale of vengeance and survival, moving away from Dying Light 2’s branching narrative to set a clear canon for the series’ future.
Gameplay and Features
The game retains the series’ signature first-person action, blending parkour, melee combat, and survival horror. Techland aims to recapture the intense, fear-driven feel of the original Dying Light, addressing fan feedback that Dying Light 2 lacked tension. Key gameplay elements include:
- Beast Mode: Crane’s zombie DNA grants him Hulk-like abilities, including a thunderous ground pound, extended leaps to bypass parkour challenges, and brutal moves like ripping zombies apart. A unique skill tree lets players upgrade these rage-fueled powers, balancing Crane’s human and monstrous sides.
- Day-Night Cycle: The series’ iconic day-night mechanic returns, with zombies being slower during the day but deadly at night, heightening survival tension.
- Combat: Unlike Dying Light 2, firearms are available from the start, including shotguns and assault rifles, alongside bows, shivs, throwing knives, and the series’ hallmark DIY melee weapons. However, weapons and vehicles have durability, and ammo is scarce, emphasizing strategic survival. A flamethrower adds a new lethal option.
- Stealth: Players can smear zombie guts on Crane to mask his scent, allowing him to walk through hordes undetected, a nod to The Walking Dead.
- Parkour and Vehicles: While the rural setting reduces rooftop parkour, Crane’s agility remains key for navigating landmarks. A 4×4 vehicle returns from The Following, letting players mow down zombies but requiring maintenance due to durability.
- Co-op: Up to four-player co-op is supported with shared progression, letting groups tackle the story, fights, and exploration together.
- Survival Focus: Safe zones return with barricading features, and resource scavenging is critical, echoing the hardcore survival vibe of the first game.
The game runs on an updated version of Techland’s C-Engine, delivering next-gen visuals with dynamic weather for immersive exploration.
Pricing and Editions
Dying Light: The Beast is priced at $59.99 for the Standard Edition. The Deluxe Edition, at $69.99, includes the Ultimate Survivor Outfit, Harran Combat Knife, The Follower Crossbow, In Jade’s Memory Pistol, and Castor Woods Patrol vehicle. Pre-orders include the exclusive Hero of Harran bundle, but its contents won’t be available post-launch. Owners of Dying Light 2: Stay Human Ultimate Edition get The Beast and the Hero of Harran bundle for free as a thank-you from Techland.
Development and Future of the Series
Initially a DLC for Dying Light 2, the project became a standalone title after a 2023 story leak prompted a development reset. Franchise director Tymon Smektala calls it “essentially Dying Light 3 in all but name,” noting its three-and-a-half-year development cycle, shorter than the seven years for prior games.
Techland sees it as a bridge to the series’ future, hinting at what’s next without narrative choices to establish a clear canon. Smektala admitted Dying Light 2 “lost the horror” and aims to restore the tense, survival-driven feel fans loved in the original. The game also responds to fan demand for guns, balancing them with melee and parkour to avoid becoming a generic shooter.
Dying Light: The Beast brings back Kyle Crane, voiced by Roger Craig Smith, in a darker, more focused adventure. With a compact yet content-rich experience, it aims to refine the series’ formula while addressing Dying Light 2’s shortcomings.
Fans on X are excited about Crane’s return and the horror-focused gameplay, though some worry it may feel too similar to Dying Light 2. With a massive open world, new zombie types, and a blend of vehicles, guns, and beastly powers, The Beast promises to be a brutal, thrilling addition to the franchise, available August 22, 2025.