Hitting store shelves in January 2015, the firstDying Lightpushed the open-world zombie genre forward in some pretty meaningful ways, adding a complex parkour system toDead Island’s hack-and-slash gameplay formula to create something fresh and exciting. Flash forward almost a decade and theDying Lightfranchise is still considered one of the top dogs when it comes tomodern zombie video games, withDying Light 2continuing to cement the series' legacy. And the franchise is only going to grow stronger with the release ofDying Light: The Beast.
Officially announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live,Dying Light: The Beastwill be a 20-hour standalone adventure that puts players back in the well-worn boots of Kyle Crane, theDying Lightseries' first protagonist. To any long-time fans ofDying Light, the return of Kyle Crane is a pretty big deal, and it could have a considerable impact on the future of the franchise.
What Kyle Crane’s Return Could Mean for the Dying Light Franchise
Dying Light: The Beast Is Going to Answer Some Big Questions
For the best part of a decade,Kyle Crane’s fate has been theDying Lightfranchise’s biggest mystery. The last time players saw Kyle Crane was in 2016’sDying Light: The Following, a story DLC that revolves around Crane’s quest to find a cure for the Harran virus in the countryside’s quarantine zone. Here, Crane finds a mysterious cult who allegedly has a cure for the virus. Upon meeting the cult’s leader, The Mother, Crane discovers the “cure” they’re administering actually turns people into a human-Volatile hybrid.
Kyle Crane is forced to take the concoction and is given one of two life-altering choices. As Crane, players can either choose to side with The Mother or kill her. Siding with The Mother sees Crane destroy Harran with nukes, while killing her has Crane stumbling back to Harran before seemingly turning into a Volatile for good. But fans still don’t know which of these endings is canon.
Set 22 years after the firstDying Light,Dying Light 2keeps Kyle Crane’s fate ambiguous. It’s briefly mentioned by some returning characters that Crane met a tragic end, but it’s never directly stated what happened to him. But withDying Light: The Beastnow officially announced, it seems fans will finally have answers. Based onDying Light: The Beast’s announcement trailer, it’s likely thatThe Following’s Volatile endingwas canon, as Crane seems to have some infected-like abilities, though fans should wait for the game’s release for full confirmation.
Dying Light: The Beast Could Tease a Kyle Crane-Led Dying Light 3
Fans have been wanting to see the return of Kyle Crane for years now, and whileDying Light: The Beastwill let players take control of the protagonist for another 20-hour adventure, that might not be enough to satiate some die-hard fans. IfDying Light: The Beast’s launchis a success, then it could prompt developer Techland to bring Crane back for another adventure in the near future.
Set 13 years afterthe firstDying Light, but 9 years beforeDying Light 2,Dying Light: The Beasthas a large stretch of the timeline it can play around with. And if it chooses to end its story quickly, then that only means there’s even more room for a potential sequel or another spinoff centered around Kyle Crane.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
WHERE TO PLAY
It’s been 20 years since the events of the original game. The virus won, and humanity is slowly dying. You play as Aiden Caldwell, a wandering Pilgrim who delivers goods, brings news, and connects the few remaining survivor settlements in barren lands devastated by the zombie virus. However, your true goal is to find your little sister Mia, who you left behind as a kid to escape Dr. Waltz’s torturous experiments. Haunted by the past, you eventually make the decision to confront it when you learn that Mia may still be alive in Villedor — the last city standing on Earth.You quickly find yourself in a settlement torn by conflict. You’ll need to engage in creative and gory combat, so hone your skills to defeat hordes of zombies and make allies. Roam the city, free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot in remote areas, and be wary of the night. With every sunset, monsters take control of the streets.
