Why Dying Light 2 Needs to Exhume Its Penchant For Crossovers

Why Dying Light 2 Needs to Exhume Its Penchant For Crossovers

Key Takeaways

  • Dying Light 2’s crossovers helped maintain relevance post-launch and may be the key to attracting a wider audience in the present.
  • Techland can integrate elements from other franchises to add content variety to Dying Light 2 without creating massive DLCs.
  • Revisiting the concept of crossover events can boost the game’s player count and generate excitement from those who don’t normally partake in Zombie games, helping Dying Light 2 stay relevant.

As a seasoned gamer with over 20 years of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Techland’s Dying Light franchise has been a rollercoaster ride of pure gaming joy. From the exhilarating parkour systems to the pulse-pounding combat sequences, Dying Light 2 stands out as one of the best open-world survival games in recent memory.


The Techland-developed Dying Light series has become one of the most captivating open-world survival game experiences in recent times, boasting several standout features. In terms of parkour mechanics, Dying Light 2 sets industry standards, inspiring players to think outside the box when navigating environments, and its innovative combat system for fighting off zombies has garnered critical acclaim. A key factor in the franchise’s success, especially in the original game, is its integration of crossovers – drawing from popular games and movies to gain an edge over competitors.

Creating an effective post-release campaign can be just as challenging as designing the core game itself. For Dying Light, collaborations offered an intriguing method to extend the game’s lifespan. Techland employed this feature to distribute new content and boost their Easter Egg collection, ensuring the game remained relevant even after its initial buzz subsided. However, Dying Light 2 has seen fewer crossovers in recent times. Given the increasing demand for diverse content, the developer may want to revisit their old crossover strategy if they aim to attract a broader player base once more.

Dying Light 2 Needs an Injection of Personality to Keep Up With Competition

Similar to many games released recently, Dying Light 2 didn’t start off smoothly due to technical issues and some players feeling that the characters and storyline lacked depth. To regain momentum after such a challenging sequel to the original, Techland devised a strategy involving collaborations with other popular franchises to attract new players to Dying Light 2. So far, there have been six of these events, with the most recent one, a collaboration with For Honor, launching in November 2023. Although the game has made significant progress since its rocky debut, there’s still potential for further enhancement, and future collaborations could be key to continued success.

Creating fresh content that fits within a game’s broader narrative can be quite challenging, but Dying Light 2 has a strategy to tackle this conundrum. Instead of undertaking the colossal task of creating entirely new downloadable content (DLC), Techland could mix popular and fitting components from other games into the existing structure. This method often piques the curiosity of fans who aren’t already part of the Dying Light community. For example, they might introduce weapons, accessories, or hidden references from other franchises, such as the well-known “Clicker” item from The Last of Us.

Dying Light 2 Should Revisit Crossover Events

It’s surprising that Dying Light 2 hasn’t introduced any post-launch events similar to those found in Payday 2, where players raid abandoned stores, given their popularity and success. The challenge for Dying Light 2, like many modern games, is keeping a substantial number of concurrent players engaged over an extended period after release. This issue has led to the creation of DLCs (Downloadable Content) in most cases, and in Techland’s situation, cross-over features that help maintain a steady player count.

Moving forward, it’s no surprise that new content is essential in today’s gaming world, even a second DLC for Dying Light 2 might not be enough to address this demand. Partnering with well-known franchises for themed events can generate excitement and free publicity for both parties, making this strategy mutually beneficial. Tymon Smektala (director of the Dying Light franchise) expressed interest in collaborations last year, suggesting that such partnerships are still being pursued. In an interview, he referred to a Mortal Kombat and Dying Light 2 crossover as a personal dream, while also mentioning Assassin’s Creed and Faith from Mirror’s Edge as potential collaboration partners.

In terms of style, games that heavily feature parkour align with the concept of Dying Light 2. It’s not unreasonable to expect fans of these series to be eager to experience potential crossover events if they are ever developed. While there’s no confirmed news about future collaborations, Techland should consider taking advantage of these opportunities to boost its player base in the long run.

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2024-09-06 22:05