INTERVIEW: Roger Craig Smith On His Return To Dying Light

As a longtime fan of the Dying Light series and a proud owner of Kyle Crane’s sarcastic quips etched into my memory, I can hardly contain my excitement for Dying Light: The Beast! It’s been an absolute joy to witness the evolution of this game franchise, from its humble beginnings in 2015 to the epic standalone title it has become today.

Techland has unveiled a brand-new game titled Dying Light: The Beast, which originated from the development of the second expansion for 2022’s Dying Light 2. Due to its massive scale, Techland opted to transform it into an entirely separate game. This new title offers players a chance to explore a fresh landscape, incorporates innovative mechanics, and reintroduces a beloved character from the series.

In “The Beast,” players take up the character once more, that of Kyle Crane, the lead from the game launched in 2015. Recently at Gamescom, I had a chat with Roger Craig Smith who shared his experience reprising the role of Kyle Crane for Dying Light: The Beast.

Unleash The Beast

“Dying Light: The Beast is a separate game, longer than a typical expansion but shorter than a full Dying Light release. It offers a new location filled with various terrain types, reintroduces vehicles, enhances certain gameplay features, and introduces new weather systems, among other additions.”

The story features Kyle Crane, who’s managed to break free from years of experiments and embarks on a quest for vengeance, driven by his newly acquired ‘bestial’ powers.

I had a chat with Roger Craig Smith, who voices Kyle Crane, about returning to his character’s role after being away for quite some time.

Ten long years have passed since I last encountered Kyle Crane, yet his return feels nothing short of an honor. It’s quite remarkable, really – the game that seemed to materialize out of thin air, gaining momentum like a snowball rolling downhill and leaving fans spellbound with its enduring appeal. I find myself reflecting, ‘Who could have imagined this journey would continue?’ It’s incredible how deeply we’ve delved into the world created around him, making time fly by as we revisit it again and again.
It’s a blast – it’s absolutely surreal, it’s an honour, and it also makes me feel old.

A point we discussed earlier is the transformation or maturation seen in Kyle Crane’s character over time. Initially, he was quite jovial and sarcastic even amidst a zombie apocalypse. However, after enduring numerous hardships for years, he has become much more weathered and somber in the latest game.

But how did this translate into Roger’s acting of Kyle Crane?

In a more straightforward manner: This new character named Kyle has undergone significant hardships at the hands of the villain, which we must reflect in his development. It’s essential to maintain the connection between the original Kyle Crane from Dying Light 1 and this newer version, who is living in a different time period.
It was quite an enjoyable task – I truly relished it… In the first Dying Light, Kyle’s character is quite sarcastic, so I thought it would be amusing to incorporate a bit of that wit as well.

Playing the transformed character, Kyle Crane, with the freedom to express creativity and immersed in what we call a ‘cathartic’ experience, as he takes on a more primal and growling persona, promises an exceptional performance from Roger Craig Smith.

In case you’re wondering, we don’t have a specific launch date for Dying Light: The Beast as of now. However, rest assured that we will provide updates on our platform, TopMob, once it becomes available. Stay tuned!

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