Dying Light: The Beast Devs Go All-In on its Gameplay Direction

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In the upcoming action survival game titled “Dying Light: The Beast,” the central character Kyle Crane reappears, last seen during the series’ initial installment. While familiar elements from previous games are set to return, players should not anticipate identical gameplay in “Dying Light: The Beast.” The developers at Techland have invested an equal amount of resources into

Game Rant recently had a chat with game director Nathan Lemaire, franchise director Tymon Smektala, and executive producer Bruno Guerin to talk about how Dying Light: The Beast takes the gameplay of the franchise to new heights through its updates. (For the sake of clarity and conciseness, this interview has been edited.)

Breaking Down Dying Light: The Beast’s Core Gameplay Loop

Game Rant would like to understand the main gameplay mechanics in “Dying Light: The Beast.” Could you describe how these mechanics work and how they were imagined by the game’s developers for the gameplay loop?

In our game, players initially find themselves as a character named Kyle, who has been weakened by years of confinement and testing. Despite this, he’s the same Kyle who endured Harran, but now he must regain his strength. The fundamental concept behind our gameplay revolves around this starting point. Players will begin with makeshift weapons they discover in the surroundings, but as the game progresses, they’ll need to seek out more powerful weapons for survival. Simultaneously, exploring the world and gathering resources will expand their gameplay options and, gradually, enable them to confront increasingly perilous threats.

Game Rant: What role would you say vehicles serve in the overall gameplay loop?

In Dying Light, while parkour is well-known, there are times when traveling faster using roads or off-roads can be more beneficial. As you progress through the game, you’ll encounter abandoned Ranger vehicles littered about. These are ideal for covering long distances, escaping Volatiles, or transporting heavy items as needed. However, players should bear in mind that fuel can deplete at critical moments, cars can sustain damage by running over zombies… and a loud engine can attract unwanted attention. To keep moving efficiently, it’s wise to continually search for wreckage and fuel containers.

Check Out Parkour in Dying Light: The Beast

GameRant is interested in discussing the advancements in enemy Artificial Intelligence within games, and how these improvements influence overall gameplay experience.

In a fresh development, we’ve unveiled novel adversaries in the game. The first are the Chimeras, which are heavily transformed versions of our classic foes, each with distinct abilities and captivating play dynamics. Additionally, we’ve incorporated Firearms users, requiring players to stay vigilant against them.

In the game Dying Light: The Beast, we focused on enhancing AI in three primary aspects. Initially, we scrutinized our current enemy types, incorporating adjustments from our own insights and player feedback from past games. For instance, Volatiles’ sense capabilities have been rebalanced to ensure their roaming and sniffing are more equitable for players. Spitter’s attacks have also been improved for greater clarity, while Biters now exhibit increased resilience when struck. These modifications serve as just a few examples of numerous enhancements, all aimed at refining and elevating the player experience.

In the second step, we examined how firearms contribute to the gameplay experience. To enhance this aspect, we introduced more intricate behaviors in our adversaries, both zombie and human, ensuring their reactions are significant and well-balanced for players who prefer guns. Furthermore, we developed a sophisticated system for our human enemies that take into account aspects like group dynamics, seeking cover, and combining firearms with other weaponry such as grenades.

Thirdly, we present the Chimeras – imposing, bulky adversaries (with a few surprises!) crafted by Baron, serving as an addition to increase the number of boss fights in the game. The ensemble of Dying Light: The Beast enemies offers a well-balanced combination of established, enhanced, and novel entities.

The Beast.

In the universe of the franchise, guns have always been a sensitive subject. For Dying Light: The Beast, we view firearms as potent resources that come with their own challenges. One challenge is the limited supply of ammunition. Players must engage in specific tasks to find ammo; it’s not simply handed out. The second issue is noise. Firing weapons in open areas can draw more zombies, potentially leading players to use more ammo than intended during an encounter. Our goal is to let players have a wider variety of tools at their disposal, but we aim to ensure that the game remains about survival and strategy rather than becoming a shooter.

As a passionate gamer, let me share my excitement about our latest additions to the arsenal! We’ve been brainstorming ways to spice up combat, and instead of relying on the usual long-range weapons, we thought outside the box. So, here comes the flamethrower for those close-encounter zombie squashes – a timeless, iconic weapon from zombie lore that’s been missing in our game until now. We’re also introducing a grenade launcher to handle larger zombie swarms and run-ins with the Baron’s troops. Last but not least, we’ve got the sawblade launcher – a compact, grisly tool that lets you hurl spinning saw blades, instantly slicing through enemy limbs! Honestly, I can’t help but feel like we’re as eager for Half Life 3 as any other gamer on Earth!

Game Rant query: Can one effectively complete the DLC, “The Beast” in Dying Light, solely relying on melee weapons, or is it advisable to use firearms instead?

In the course of play, you’ll encounter traditional tools of combat such as the reliable machete or robust two-handed weapons that have been fan favorites. However, we aimed to go a step further in our design. Although melee weapons remain the primary focus, firearms are one of the game’s unique features. They’re more integrated into the game than before, appearing earlier and with an increased variety.

In Dying Light: The Beast, the essence of survival is deeply embedded. This ideology is clearly seen in the creation and distribution of weaponry. Melee weapons, being a key part, possess durability, meaning excessive usage may lead to their eventual breakdown. Yet, fear not! You can mend them directly from the weapon wheel or inventory, given you have the required resources at hand. Weapons with lower rarity have a higher propensity to break but are easier to fix, while the premium ones endure longer but need more resources for upkeep.

How Dying Light: The Beast Balances Action With Survival Horror

The Beast” manages this balance effectively.

In Dying Light: The Beast, every encounter requires careful consideration since they’re all unique and situations can escalate rapidly, leaving you in a tricky spot. Even the simplest horde of Biters can become a challenging scenario if additional zombies are drawn during combat, potentially overwhelming you more than anticipated. This is why we instruct players to consider when and how to engage in combat. Sometimes, it’s smarter to dodge a group of zombies using Parkour or find an alternative route. This presents an opportunity to discover new items, as evading zombies in the city often involves navigating quiet interior areas. When combined with our crafting and weapon systems, it results in a well-balanced experience where each fight is intense, but not without consequence.

Discussion on Game Rant: In the latest edition, we find Kyle Crane releasing his inner ferocity through the gameplay element. Let’s delve into the thought process behind crafting this gameplay aspect.

In simpler terms, the Beast Mode might seem straightforward since it’s similar to a rage mode found in various other games. However, it’s more than that. While players charge it by dealing and taking damage, there are hidden mechanisms that enable its activation in unexpected yet impactful scenarios, such as during a chase. Despite being classic elements, things get intriguing because at the start of the game, you have minimal control over when the Beast triggers, making its sudden appearances all the more surprising.

In the game, later on, players take control of the Beast, allowing for smoother utilization of its unique abilities. You’ll find many of these abilities are focused on movement, aiding in solving environmental puzzles and accessing locations that would be difficult to reach while in human form. However, that’s not the only surprise. Dying Light: The Beast aspires to offer a survival experience, although it might not be the most extreme on the market, it does tackle the subject with seriousness. To integrate these instances of raw, exhilarating power into gameplay, we spent considerable time balancing the parameters of the Beast Mode so that the experience remains challenging yet provides players those empowering moments of relief.

Discussing the Progression of Kyle Crane’s Character, The Beast, in the Game: Could you provide some insights on the special abilities that Kyle Crane’s character, The Beast, can access when enraged during gameplay?

This paraphrased sentence maintains the original meaning while using more natural and easy-to-read language.

In layman’s terms for gaming, Kyle eliminates Chimeras to earn Beast skill points that he can utilize to acquire new Beast skills during his Beast Mode. These abilities align with our fundamental aspects. We offer both combat and parkour skills to emphasize the core pillars. Players’ control over Beast Mode also progresses. Initially, it is beyond Kyle’s grasp. However, as he taps into Chimeras’ DNA, he will eventually gain mastery, altering the way players utilize this feature entirely.

Check Out This Takedown in Dying Light: The Beast

The Beast includes a cooperative mode (co-op) alongside its single-player option. From my point of view, integrating co-op enhances the gaming experience compared to a solely single-player campaign for several reasons.

Firstly, cooperative play allows players to share their experiences and strategies with one another, fostering a sense of community among gamers. Secondly, working together can make the game more challenging and exciting as players must coordinate their actions to overcome obstacles that may be too difficult to tackle individually. Lastly, cooperative gameplay offers opportunities for players to learn from each other’s mistakes and improve their own skills in a supportive environment.

Overall, including co-op makes Dying Light: The Beast more engaging and sociable, offering players the chance to have fun together while also providing an opportunity for personal growth through collaboration.

As a die-hard fan, I’ve got to say that Dying Light: The Beast is like a massive, exhilarating playground that’s just begging to be explored! Playing with my buddies turns this already thrilling experience into something truly extraordinary, filled with hilarious anecdotes and unexpected stories unfolding along the way. And let’s not forget about the awesome co-op feature – it lets me join forces with friends or fellow gamers, extending our shared adventure beyond what we ever thought possible!

In analyzing historical player data, it’s apparent that approximately 25-30% of Dying Light players prefer to play cooperatively. While we prioritize the engaging, story-driven, single-player survival horror aspect of the game, it’s clear that a substantial portion of our player base enjoys a more casual, social experience – playing together for fun on Friday nights, much like the multiplayer experiences we enjoyed from the X360 era such as Army of Two. We wholeheartedly support this approach, as many of us have fond memories of battling hordes of zombies with friends.

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2025-08-23 20:07