Video Games
‘Dying Light 2’ in “the Last Stretch” of Development, Devs Say
Despite the delay from earlier this year, and rumours that developer Techland was experiencing troubles with its team, the game is still very much in development. In fact, according to Senior PR Manager Ola Sondej and Lead Game Designer Tymon Smektala, the title is headed towards the final stages of development.
In an interview with The Escapist, the two members of the team sat down to explain the game’s status, as well as to refute some of the rumours that were surrounding the developer. “Development of Dying Light 2 is moving forward according to our internal schedule we revised at the beginning of the year,” explains Sondej. This is in contrast to the claim that Dying Light 2‘s current development is “chaotic”, with the game’s vision having changed “multiple times” with “no vertical slice” demonstrating an overview of the game.
Sondej also addressed the rumour that Microsoft was in talks to acquire Techland, with Sondej stating that “wrong dots were connected in late 2019”, and that the rumours took on a life of their own. Sondej claims their relationship with Microsoft was “misinterpreted”, and that Techland works with Microsoft “on a regular basis since Dying Light 2 is also being developed for Xbox One”.
Smektala chimed in when asked about the difficulties of making Dying Light 2, saying that “[Techland] still need some extra time to fully deliver on our ambitious vision — that we have built a very complex game that requires a lot of work in terms of polish, balancing, etc.”
Lastly, when asked about if the game is still on track for 2020, Smektala stated that “it’s the last stretch” for the project. “There’s a whole team at Techland that works on the announcement of the release date for the game and every piece of info that accompanies it, and I know they want to surprise players, so I don’t want to spoil it for them or our community.”
Dying Light 2 is currently in development for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, as well as Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
When Season 7 “Project Boneyard” arrives for The Outlast Trials on July 14, players will be greeted with the return of Prime Asset Sergeant Leland Coyle. And he’s not alone. Launching for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation, and Xbox, Project Boneyard will include a new Trial, two fresh MK-Challenges, major updates to Escalation and Invasion, new customization features, and a new Ex-Pop enemy stalking the Prison Farm known as The Biter.
Season 7 will see Reagents sent into Murkoff’s latest correctional nightmare in the Prison Farm. At the center of it all is Sergeant Coyle, returning in a prominent new role for the season’s new Trial, Locksock the Warden.
The American prison is a meat grinder, taking in sociopaths and criminals and extruding functioning members of society. But strict routine, severe conditioning, and close quarters create a crucible for power dynamics built on violence, contraband, and flesh.
With the new Trial, you are freedom. The indefinable promise that keeps prisoners at the grindstone that turns authority to profit and back again. Don’t let false authority stand in the way of real capital. Kill the Warden, and set yourself free.
Season 7 also brings with it two new MK-Challenges. In “Bribe the Judges”, you are the master, whose property is the purpose of the law. Salary reminds enforcement that their monopoly of violence only exists for your monopoly of capital. Collect the bribes in order to pay the judges. Meanwhile, “Cancel the Broadcast” has you sabotaging the broadcast and defiling the faithful with blood in order to be let out.
Then there’s the new Ex-Pop stalking the Prison Farm in The Biter. Having had its arms removed to prevent further self-harm, Biters are universal sadists, still capable of grievous harm with their mechanically enforced jaws. Though Biters are kept chained by the neck for safety, you should approach them with caution, as their augmented legs grant them unexpected velocity.
If that’s not enough content for you, from July 14 to August 11, Twitch users who tune in to participating The Outlast Trials Twitch streams can earn rewards through the latest Twitch Drops campaign. You can read up on the full details from the FAQ on developer The Red Barrels’ website.
Lastly, Project Boneyard also introduces a range of new features and improvements for The Outlast Trials, designed to “expand player expression, streamline preparation, and improve the overall experience” across key modes. That includes the introduction of Rig Customization, Knife Customization, Loadout Presets, and Mastery Tasks, giving players new ways to “prepare for therapy” and personalize their approach before entering the Trials. The update will also bring major reworks to both Escalation and Invasion, with significant changes designed to improve the flow, structure, and overall player experience of both modes.
More details on these features, and the full contents of Project Boneyard, will be revealed closer to launch.