It's official: Dying Light: The Beast is landing sometime during Summer 2025. The first-person upcoming horror game was unveiled by developer Techland as the explosive return of original franchise protagonist Kyle Crane at Gamescom 2024, presenting a tighter, more narrative-focused action experience to challenge even the best zombie games. A recent showing at The Game Awards 2024 revealed a new trailer, introducing a mysterious villain by the name of The Baron alongside a release window targeting a summertime release in 2025.
Dying Light: The Beast is the first new entry in the parkour horror franchise since 2022’s Dying Light 2 (aka one of the best horror games ever made). Set 13 years after Kyle Crane's first adventure, players will get to reunite with the hero following more than a decade of cruel experimentation at the hand of a militia intent on weaponizing the zombie virus that decimated the city of Harran - at least, that's what it looks like we can expect...
There’s a lot of information still unfolding about Techland’s new game, but here’s everything we know so far about Dying Light: The Beast. From its potential release window, gameplay, trailer, and more, you'll find all the details down below.
Dying Light: The Beast release date speculation
Dying Light: The Beast's release window has been set for Summer 2025 with the date yet to be set, according to a new trailer from developer Techland. Unveiled at The Game Awards 2024, the trailer confirms Techland's plan to release the game even sooner than you might have expected, though with "Summer 2025" encompassing 3-4 months, we're still waiting for details to firm up on when exactly the DLC-turned-standalone horror game will actually launch.
Dying Light: The Beast platforms
When it eventually launches, we know Dying Light: The Beast will be releasing on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
So not only will Dying Light: The Beast be available on current-gen platforms - you'll also be able to pick it up on last-gen consoles too. This continues Dying Light 2's trend, which launched across two consoles generations at once. If you fancy a refresher before the new game hits, check out our Dying Light 2 review!
Is Dying Light: The Beast DLC or a standalone game?
Now, here’s an interesting situation. Speaking to GamesRadar+ at Gamescom 2024, Dying Light franchise director Tymon Smektala explained that The Beast actually started development as a DLC expansion for Dying Light 2 but eventually morphed into a fully standalone game. This partly coincided with an expanded scope but also a pretty severe leak in which multiple story details for The Beast were circulated online.
However, there is a tie to Dying Light 2. It turns out that anyone who purchased Dying Light 2’s Ultimate Edition can get The Beast entirely for free at no additional charge. Techland is basically doing this as a 'thank you' to its supporters. Still, the developer has also announced that the Ultimate Edition of the horror sequel will be delisted from digital storefronts in the near future, so act quickly.
How long is Dying Light: The Beast?
We actually already know the answer to this question: Dying Light: The Beast will be over 18 hours in total length, according to a tweet from developer Techland shortly after the reveal.
While we were developing Dying Light: The Beast it has outgrown its original scope. We're now delivering a full 18+ hours standalone adventure instead of just a DLC. We will be honoring our promise to our long-time supporters and deliver Dying Light: The Beast to current Ultimate…August 23, 2024
Given that developers and publishers typically like to tout game length at the maximum possible value, it seems highly likely that the 18-odd hours won’t just include the main story content but also optional side content as well.
Dying Light: The Beast trailer
It’s the trailer just above that announced Dying Light: The Beast to the world at Gamescom 2024. The trailer sets up the overarching storyline of the new game as returning protagonist Kyle Crane embarks on a mission of vengeance against the mysterious people who held him captive for over a decade.
It turns out Crane has been infected with zombie DNA, which grants him the supremely powerful abilities we’re seeing in the trailer just above. Additionally, The Beast’s trailer makes it abundantly clear that Crane did, in fact, survive the events of both the original Dying Light and its DLC expansion, The Following.
The Dying Light: The Beast release window announcement trailer above, titled "Meet the Baron," debuted at The Game Awards 2024. In it, audiences are introduced to the undoubtedly evil Baron, most likely the game's main antagonist, and have a glimpse into how Kyle Crane managed to escape captivity. Along with new first-person combat and vehicle gameplay, the trailer ends with a splash screen confirming its targeted Summer 2025 release window. Better start those knee stretches, because it's almost time to parkour through another zombie-infested dystopia.
Can you pre-order Dying Light: The Beast?
Right now, it’s not possible to pre-order Dying Light: The Beast on either PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X/S digital storefronts, though it can be added to players' wishlists.
Additionally, it’s also not possible to pre-order the new Techland game at physical retailers, so we don’t yet know how much the new game will cost, or whether it’ll even be receiving a physical launch.
For more brand new titles set to launch next year and beyond, you can read up on our upcoming PS5 games guide for a list of Sony’s exclusives and our upcoming Xbox Series X/S games guide for a look at Microsoft’s titles.
