Before it was known for the solid, action-packed Dying Light series, Techland made waves with Call of Juarez, an FPS franchise set in the Wild West. The first Call of Juarez game actually predates Red Dead Redemption—which many consider to be one of the early de facto Western gaming experiences—and the last entry in the series, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, was released in 2013. That means that it's been over a decade since audiences have seen hair or hide of the series, and it looks like Techland is trying to change that.
Indeed, according to a recent report from Insider Gaming, Call of Juarez could be making a comeback at some point in the near future. This news comes amidst much more unfortunate developments at Techland, specifically the announcement that the company recorded record losses in 2024, leading to the cancellation of two of its in-development titles. Insider Gaming claims that these two canned projects were the fantasy RPG Techland teased back in 2022, and an unannounced sci-fi game taking heavy inspiration from Star Wars. It would seem that this Call of Juarez revival is one of the few projects left standing after this reckoning at Techland, so it ought to be worth the trouble. Thankfully, it has all the potential in the world.
Why There Will Never Be a Better Time to Play Dying Light
The team at Techland have gone out of their way to make the first Dying Light worth revisiting in 2025 for several key reasons.
Why a New Call of Juarez Game Could Be a Dream Come True for Red Dead Redemption Fans
The Games Industry Could Use Another Western Like Red Dead Redemption
While the popularity of GTA prompted a number of copycats and competitors in the 2000s and early 2010s, the fight for the open-world western genre was ceded to Red Dead Redemption almost immediately. There are precious few ambitious, AAA western games on the market right now, and the genre space has been historically underserved despite its clear potential. If Techland is, in fact, developing a new Call of Juarez, then this might not be the state of affairs for long.
What's more is that Techland has accumulated invaluable experience in the years following the last Call of Juarez entry. The Dying Light games allowed the studio to hone its strengths, specifically when it came to world design, combat, traversal, and side content. Thus, a modern Call of Juarez game, one that has the visual fidelity and gameplay freedom of Dying Light 2, would be a boon for the genre, serving as a nice alternative to the Red Dead series. This is especially true if one assumes that a new Call of Juarez game would be more like "Western Dying Light" and less like an "FPS Red Dead Redemption," making it a familiar, but still exciting, prospect.
Techland Has a Chance To Do What Red Dead Online Never Could
Techland has demonstrated a willingness to commit to its IP in recent years, with Dying Light 2 still getting substantial new updates three years after its initial launch. Clearly, the studio has ambitions for long-term game development and live-service systems, and these goals could significantly benefit this rumored Call of Juarez sequel.
It's not at all unreasonable to speculate that Techland may want to include an online component for the next Call of Juarez game, as such long-term support would arguably work better in that context than in a game like Dying Light 2. For better or worse, Techland's lackluster financial performance in 2024 may serve as further motivation for such an endeavor: Call of Juarez could provide the revenue-generating evergreen multiplayer experience that Techland was aiming for with Dying Light 2. There's a massive demand for something like Red Dead Online, especially since Rockstar has seemingly abandoned it, so Techland could very well aim to capitalize on that demand with the next Call of Juarez.
- Released
- May 22, 2013
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Techland
- Engine
- chrome engine
WHERE TO PLAY
CAN YOU STAND AGAINST THE DEADLIEST GUNSLINGERS WHO EVER LIVED?
From the dust of a gold mine to the dirt of a saloon, Call of Juarez® Gunslinger is a real homage to the Wild West tales. Live the epic and violent journey of a ruthless bounty hunter on the trail of the West’s most notorious outlaws. Blurring the lines between man and myth, this adventure made of memorable encounters unveils the untold truth behind some of the greatest legends of the Old West.
Meet the legendary outlaws
Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, Jesse James… Face down the West’s most notorious gunslingers and live the untold stories behind the legends.
Dispense your own justice
With a gun holster tied to your leg, become a ruthless bounty hunter on a journey made of all-out gun battles.
Prevail in deadly gunfights
Master the art of blasting pistols, shooting rifles and dodging bullets. Unleash lethal combos to gun down multiple enemies in split seconds.
Become the West’s finest
Choose the specific gun-fighting skills you want to develop and acquire new shooting abilities to become the West’s finest gunslinger.
