Dying Light: The Beast will ditch player choices for a fully linear story. Here’s why Techland’s risky move might be the smartest play for the franchise’s future.
Dying Light: The Beast Says “Nope” to Choices—And That’s a Bold Move
Alright zombie slayers, here’s a twist you didn’t expect: Dying Light: The Beast is going full linear story mode. No more “choose your path” moments. No multiple endings. No agonizing over whether you saved the right NPC or doomed an entire faction. Just one narrative, one canon, one wild ride.
Game director Tymon Smektala spilled the guts to GamesRadar+, confirming the next entry in the parkour-meets-post-apocalyptic-slasher series won’t let you steer the ship. And get this—it’s not a downgrade. According to Smektala, it’s all about crafting a stronger, more focused story that won’t collapse under the weight of a million possible outcomes.
Why Ditching Choices Might Actually Make Sense
Let’s be honest: branching narratives are awesome… until they aren’t. Smektala dropped the Gears 5 dilemma as a cautionary tale—where devs had to pick one ending to be canon in the sequel, inevitably snubbing a chunk of the playerbase. Dying Light’s own lore has been in debate limbo ever since the first game’s ending.
So instead of doubling down on multiverse confusion, Techland is aiming for clarity and consistency. A fixed storyline means:
- No second-guessing what’s canon
- Easier world-building across sequels and spin-offs
- Tighter, more polished narrative beats
- And fewer plot holes the size of Old Town
But Is It Still Dying Light Without Player Choice?
That’s the real question. Dying Light’s whole vibe has been “make the call, live with the consequences.” But let’s not panic just yet. The core of the franchise—parkour, visceral combat, and horror-soaked exploration—isn’t going anywhere. It’s just that this time, your character has a destiny, and you’re along for the bloody, emotionally-scarring ride.
Instead of crafting your own version of Kyle Crane 2.0, you’ll experience Techland’s full vision, unfiltered. For fans of cinematic FPS storytelling (think The Last of Us or Metro Exodus), this could be a major win.
The Risk and the Reward
Going linear isn’t just a gameplay change—it’s a tonal shift for the whole franchise. It signals that Techland wants Dying Light to grow up, step out of the shadow of sandbox decision trees, and become a story-first experience.
Here’s what this could unlock:
- More complex character arcs
- Better voice acting and mocap consistency
- Streamlined DLC and story expansions
- A unified franchise timeline (finally)
Of course, there’s always a flip side. Fans who loved replaying the game for different outcomes might feel left out. But hey—not every evolution feels cozy at first. Sometimes you gotta break a few zombie skulls to rebuild a franchise.
Mark the Date: September 19
Curious to see how this shift plays out? Dying Light: The Beast launches September 19, and it’s shaping up to be Techland’s biggest narrative gamble yet. Whether it’s a clean headshot or a swing-and-miss remains to be seen—but one thing’s for sure: the days of debating “which ending is canon” are dead and buried.
Summary:
- Dying Light: The Beast will not feature player choices—it’s fully linear
- Devs want a unified, canon story for the franchise
- Might sacrifice replayability but promises stronger storytelling
- Launches September 19
- Could be a turning point for the series (for better or worse)
Hot Take: If Techland nails the pacing and characters, a linear Dying Light might hit harder than ever. Just give us tight dialogue, solid world-building, and plenty of ways to creatively decapitate the undead—and we’ll be good.
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