Summary
The opening night of Gamescom has already seen the announcement of many exciting projects, and not many fans could have predicted the reveal ofDying Light: The Beast. While the announcement for this upcoming title was understandably brief, it was more than enough to get fans of the zombie-survival corner of the gaming industry brimming with anticipation.
While details such as the intended release date forDying Light: The Beastare still yet to be provided, the core narrative gist of the standalone title is more than clear, with players once again taking control of the iconic franchise protagonist Kyle Crane. Throughout the life-cycle ofDying Light 2, many fans have been quite vocal in their desire to receive more insight into Kyle’s story following the events of 2015’sDying Light, andThe Beastis finally giving fans exactly what they want and more.
Dying Light: The Beast Gives the Spotlight To an Iconic Franchise Character
The announcement ofDying Light: The Beastwas one of the most memorable events from the opening day of this year’s Gamescom, withthe return of Kyle Cranebeing the highlight of the reveal. During its time in the Gamescom spotlight, Techland confirmed thatThe Beastwas originally intended to be an expansion forDying Light 2, but the scope of the experience grew so large in development that it warranted becoming its own standalone release.
Thankfully, Techland is offeringThe Beastfor free for players who purchased the Ultimate Edition ofDying Light 2, which itself only released in 2022. This means that fans of the franchise have received a huge amount of content recently following a seven-year drought of fresh experiences, but it appears thatThe Beastwill be the game to really pay narrative respect and further attention tothe story of the originalDying Light.
Kyle Crane was the star of the firstDying Light, immediately winning fans over with his selfless nature and impressive combat and exploration abilities. The end of the original game saw Kyle willingly stay in the overthrown infected hot-spot city of Haran, sacrificing his own freedom to continue aiding the location’s remaining survivors. Many were hoping that Kyle’s story would be continued in some form withinDying Light 2, although the beloved protagonist is only mentioned in brief passing references that are easy to miss.
Kyle Crane’s Story Deserves a Project Like Dying Light: The Beast
Fans have been wanting to know what happened to Kyle following the events of the first game ever since 2015, and the upcomingDying Light: The Beastwill finally provide an answer to this. One of the major plot points of this original release was that Kyle Crane was in a constant battle against becoming infected, having been bitten early on in the game’s story. This is clearly at the forefront ofThe Beast, as the name of the project suggests, with Kyle seemingly having a level of control over transforming into ahyper-lethal Volatile infected.
From the early reports ofThe Beast, it is confirmed that Kyle was taken captive and experimented on for a decade following the events ofDying Light, with the upcoming game detailing his escape from activity and his path for revenge against the GRE.A dedicated DLC forDying Light 2starring Kyle Crane would have been more than enough to excite long-term fans of the franchise, yet a standalone release likeThe Beastis something that has shattered these expectations even further. After a near-decade absence of Kyle Crane content,Dying Light: The Beastis finally delivering on one of the most highly-requested character revisits in the modern gaming landscape.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
WHERE TO PLAY
It’s been 20 years since the events of the original game. The virus won, and humanity is slowly dying. You play as Aiden Caldwell, a wandering Pilgrim who delivers goods, brings news, and connects the few remaining survivor settlements in barren lands devastated by the zombie virus. However, your true goal is to find your little sister Mia, who you left behind as a kid to escape Dr. Waltz’s torturous experiments. Haunted by the past, you eventually make the decision to confront it when you learn that Mia may still be alive in Villedor — the last city standing on Earth.You quickly find yourself in a settlement torn by conflict. You’ll need to engage in creative and gory combat, so hone your skills to defeat hordes of zombies and make allies. Roam the city, free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot in remote areas, and be wary of the night. With every sunset, monsters take control of the streets.
