Dying Light 2 has come an incredibly long way since its February 2022 launch, with developer Techland working tirelessly to update the game with new features. A New Game+ mode, vast improvements to combat and parkour, new end-game skill trees, some infinite side missions, and brand-new weapon types have all been added to Dying Light 2 over the last two years, and Techland isn't finished just yet.
When Dying Light 2's ambitious 5-year roadmap was originally unveiled soon after the game's 2022 release, two paid story DLCs were announced. The first of these – titled Bloody Ties – ended up releasing in November 2022 and was met with a fairly mixed reception. The second story DLC has just received a bittersweet update. During Gamescom, Techland announced that Dying Light 2's second story DLC had grown in scope and had turned into a fully-fledged standalone experience titled Dying Light: The Beast. Though this likely means Dying Light 2's second story DLC won't happen, there's one shining silver lining to the announcement, but it is time-sensitive.
What Kyle Crane's Return in Dying Light: The Beast Means For The Series
Original series protagonist Kyle Crane is back in Dying Light: The Beast, and it could have some interesting implications for the franchise's future.
Dying Light 2's Ultimate Edition Includes The Beast, But There's a Catch
Dying Light: The Beast Will Be Free for Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition Owners
Announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live, Dying Light: The Beast will be an 18-hour standalone adventure that puts players back in the well-worn boots of original series protagonist, Kyle Crane. This standalone spinoff will take players to a brand new region that's visually and functionally distinct from the previous cities of Harran and Villedor, and it'll arm players with an array of new weapons and abilities.
During Gamescom, Techland also announced that Dying Light: The Beast would be completely free for those who have purchased Dying Light 2's Ultimate Edition. Currently, purchasing Dying Light 2's Ultimate Edition will grant players access to the game's Bloody Ties story DLC, as well as bombard them with a plethora of in-game cosmetics and consumables, a digital artbook, comic, and soundtrack.
At retail, Dying Light 2's standard edition should cost $60, and the Ultimate Edition should be around $80. If players were looking to pick up Dying Light 2 anyway, then for an extra $20 they'd be able to get access to the game's first story DLC, and the upcoming Dying Light: The Beast standalone title, which itself will likely cost $40+.
It might be a good idea to buy a pre-owned copy of Dying Light 2's standard edition for cheap and purchase the Ultimate Edition add-on separately, which retails for $35.
Dying Light 2's Ultimate Edition Is Being Delisted
But there's a big catch to Techland's generous Dying Light: The Beast offer. Dying Light 2's Ultimate Edition is being delisted from all platforms on September 30, meaning that those who don't purchase the Ultimate Edition or upgrade their version by this date will not be able to claim Dying Light: The Beast for free when it eventually releases.
Based on Techland's social media comments following this announcement, it seems as though the developer intended for this Ultimate Edition offer to be primarily used by those who had purchased the game before Dying Light: The Beast's announcement, as a way to make up for Dying Light 2's lack of a second story DLC. That being said, those already planning to get Dying Light: The Beast at launch can still get a pretty solid deal if they're quick to get Dying Light 2's Ultimate Edition upgrade.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- C-Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Dying Light
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5
