The games industry has been facing a ton of big changes lately, as companies like Microsoft seem to be on a shopping-spree for studios and others are shifting around like Blizzard’s Vicarious Visions merger. While undoubtedly the biggest acquisition right now is Microsoft’s purchase of Zenimax/Bethesda, there have been plenty of speculations and rumors about what some gaming giants could be planning on next.
In the swing of things, rumors spread that Techland, the developer behind Dying Light, was in the talks of an acquisition by Microsoft. However, things calmed down as the studio was quick to put an end to this, with a tweet denying such a deal and stating that the studio is independent. That being said, its insistence on being independent could have huge implications for its upcoming project Dying Light 2.
Dying Light was one of 2015’s biggest surprises, and its mass appeal quickly called for a sequel. Techland proved kind to its fans by giving a sizeable expansion to the base game in the form of Dying Light: The Following but many fans clamored for a full-blown sequel, a Dying Light 2. Expectations took the form of reality when the world was treated with Dying Light 2‘s first gameplay trailer during E3 2018.
From the looks of it, the sequel seems to be taking forward the spirit of the original with a new-formed focus on weaving together emergent gameplay with the narrative. Choices are touted to be an integral part of Dying Light 2, and a playable demo was shown off which had positive reactions.
Most of it wasn’t just talks though, the meaty 25-minute gameplay demo really showed a lot of promise, with a bunch of elements and gameplay possibilities existing cohesively in a post-apocalyptic open-world. However, much hasn’t been heard about Dying Light 2 ever since. Almost 2 years in, nothing is known about the game’s release date, and it really seems stuck in limbo. Thus, the question becomes: how does Dying Light 2 get out of limbo, which may in turn have fed the acquisition rumors. Having that sort of backing can be a good thing, but for Techland, it’s clearly something that’s undesired.
Although the buzz regarding Techland’s acquisition was purely based on rumors, a possibility of this helping the game is considerable nevertheless. Techland is neither a mammoth nor an Indie studio, so budget constraints could be a pivotal factor in deciding the game’s fate. The first game was a mostly linear experience, albeit with well-executed ideas, but the second game seems to be more ambitious.
The choices seem to have a lot of impact on the narrative as well as the game world. While this is a bold statement from the developer, constructing such systems in a massive open-world is no easy feat. With the fandom losing hope with every passing day, Dying Light 2 could benefit a lot from an acquisition. If a giant like Microsoft could eventually acquire the studio, it could very well receive a lot of resources, both in terms of money and manpower. Acquisitions generally are beneficial, but they key word there is generally. Microsoft has been described as the type of company that sits back and lets these others do what they do best, which would be the best case scenario, but acquisitions can also lead to dissolutions, changing ideas, and more.
It’s a hard pill to swallow, and assuming Dying Light 2 is anywhere close to actual release, the best case scenario seems like a short shelf-life situation in regard to this particular game. Overall, Techland knows what it needs best. It seems determined to stand or fall on its own, and that’s an admirable trait.
Dying Light 2 is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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