Marketing a 'Return to Form' for Disappointed Gaming Fanbases
The discussion highlights significant fan disappointment with the sequel (Dying Light 2) due to a perceived loss of core elements like horror and tension, along with a strong sense of nostalgia for the original game and its protagonist (Kyle Crane). A new standalone game, "The Beast" (evolved from a Dying Light 2 DLC), is being presented by the developers (Techland) as a return to form, directly addressing these criticisms and featuring the return of the original protagonist. This creates a clear marketing opportunity. This strategy involves:
- Openly Acknowledging Past Product Shortcomings: By admitting that Dying Light 2 "lost the horror, lost the tension," Techland validates fan sentiment and signals a commitment to addressing these issues.
- Positioning the New Product as a Direct Response and a Return to Successful Roots: Framing "The Beast" as a deliberate effort to recapture the beloved atmosphere and gameplay feel of the original, strongly reinforced by the return of Kyle Crane.
- Capitalizing on Strong Nostalgic Sentiment: The reintroduction of the original protagonist serves as a powerful anchor for fans of the first game, tapping into their positive memories and desire for a familiar experience.
This approach can help rebuild trust and generate significant hype within a community that felt let down by the sequel but remains loyal to the franchise's origins. However, managing skepticism arising from past disappointments and common developer hyperbole ("best we have ever made") will require transparent communication, tangible proof through gameplay showcases demonstrating the return of desired elements, and clear justification for its status and pricing as a standalone title evolved from DLC. This model of "acknowledged course correction and nostalgic return" is highly applicable to other entertainment franchises facing similar sequel-related discontent and looking to re-engage a core fanbase.
Origin Reddit Post
r/gamingnews
"For us, it really is Dying Light 3": Techland admits Dying Light 2 "lost the horror, lost the tension," but says The Beast is "the best Dying Light that we have ever made"
Posted by u/ControlCAD•06/10/2025
Top Comments
u/foreveraloneasianmen
You mean the ones that spit goos at you ? Those damage were ridiculous
u/SartenSinAceite
No, the first special one you find. Jumps into the air and dives at you. Near impossible to dodge because they home in on you.
Its like a bad version of the HL2 fast zombie
u/Funkydick
Tbh they already did MUCH more post launch support than they should have, respect to Techland but I never quite understood why they do it
u/Funkydick
Tbh they already did MUCH more post launch support than they should have, respect to Techland but I never quite understood why they do it
u/InflatedBatteryPoker
Techland is partially owned by Tencent now, so it will definitely have mtx. Hopefully it's just cosmetics
u/RecLuse415
What is The Beast and when the fuck is this coming out?
u/InflatedBatteryPoker
Techland is partially owned by Tencent now, so it will definitely have mtx. Hopefully it's just cosmetics
u/Frate27
The Beast was supposed to be a DLC for Dying Light 2, but they turned it into a full blown game instead.
Kyle Crane, the main character from the first game returns as the protagonist.
To su
u/SartenSinAceite
I gave up on that game as soon as the goddamn jumping homing missile infested started showing up. I heard the reloaded edition is better but eh...
u/woodelvezop
You can dodge them, it's just annoyingly difficult to time right and they just become an annoying enemy. Dying light 2 had a lot of annoying enemy types honestly
u/RolandTwitter
I didn't really like the game, but to their credit it did get years of updates
u/LuRo332
I never finished Dying Light 2 because of how boring the map was. Such a massive step down from the first game and The Following.
I pray that this one is gonna be better
u/tooboardtoleaf
I like the footage I've seen so far, but the same was true for DL2 before it launched. Definitely gunna wait for reviews and keep the hype in check but I'm optimistic.
u/SartenSinAceite
No, the first special one you find. Jumps into the air and dives at you. Near impossible to dodge because they home in on you.
Its like a bad version of the HL2 fast zombie
u/foreveraloneasianmen
You mean the ones that spit goos at you ? Those damage were ridiculous
u/DrBee7
The story was okay nothing out of the ordinary(in my opinion). But it was not the main draw the game. It was the world and the game mechanics.
u/InflatedBatteryPoker
Techland is partially owned by Tencent now, so it will definitely have mtx. Hopefully it's just cosmetics
u/RecLuse415
What is The Beast and when the fuck is this coming out?
u/swagmonite
I can only assume it's because avellone left halfway through production
u/InsertFloppy11
This is not an expansion.
But im there with you, i enjoyed DL2 as well
u/LuRo332
I never finished Dying Light 2 because of how boring the map was. Such a massive step down from the first game and The Following.
I pray that this one is gonna be better
u/SartenSinAceite
I gave up on that game as soon as the goddamn jumping homing missile infested started showing up. I heard the reloaded edition is better but eh...
u/bu22dee
I will play it if it has no microtransactions.
u/InsertFloppy11
This is not an expansion.
But im there with you, i enjoyed DL2 as well
u/bbdabrick
Dying light 1 got an insane amount of post launch support so it does track
u/InflatedBatteryPoker
Techland is partially owned by Tencent now, so it will definitely have mtx. Hopefully it's just cosmetics
u/LuRo332
I never finished Dying Light 2 because of how boring the map was. Such a massive step down from the first game and The Following.
I pray that this one is gonna be better
u/testcaseseven
DL2 lost a lot more than that, including guns lol
u/ControlCAD
>Dying Light: The Beast isn't officially Dying Light 3, but it has evolved from Dying Light 2 DLC into its own standalone game, and the folks at Techland say it's meaty enough to constitut
u/ApprehensivePilot3
I don't know. I don't understand the hype around the Crane. Like as character he isn't that special.
u/testcaseseven
DL2 lost a lot more than that, including guns lol
u/CharlieTrees916
I enjoyed Dying Light 2 despite all the criticisms. Really looking forward to this expansion. Watched a 30 minute gameplay video and it looks tense.
u/bu22dee
I will play it if it has no microtransactions.
u/etriuswimbleton
DL2 was enjoyable despite its flaws. But yeah its pretty mid compared to DL1
I wonderif the Beast is just a big of a game as DL2 if they say it like that tho.
u/tooboardtoleaf
I like the footage I've seen so far, but the same was true for DL2 before it launched. Definitely gunna wait for reviews and keep the hype in check but I'm optimistic.
u/TheyStillLive69
2 also kind of loat its story that was replaced with straight trash.
u/bu22dee
I will play it if it has no microtransactions.
u/ControlCAD
>Dying Light: The Beast isn't officially Dying Light 3, but it has evolved from Dying Light 2 DLC into its own standalone game, and the folks at Techland say it's meaty enough to constitut
u/CharlieTrees916
I enjoyed Dying Light 2 despite all the criticisms. Really looking forward to this expansion. Watched a 30 minute gameplay video and it looks tense.
u/cypowolf
Literally what every developer says about their new game "it's the best we've ever made". The proof is in the pudding and I don't have any.
u/DrBee7
I don’t know why they leaned so heavy on the story when that was not at all what carried dying light 1. The fans of the first game didn’t care about the story.
u/bu22dee
I will play it if it has no microtransactions.
u/bbdabrick
Dying light 1 got an insane amount of post launch support so it does track
u/etriuswimbleton
DL2 was enjoyable despite its flaws. But yeah its pretty mid compared to DL1
I wonderif the Beast is just a big of a game as DL2 if they say it like that tho.
u/ControlCAD
>Dying Light: The Beast isn't officially Dying Light 3, but it has evolved from Dying Light 2 DLC into its own standalone game, and the folks at Techland say it's meaty enough to constitut
u/DrBee7
The story was okay nothing out of the ordinary(in my opinion). But it was not the main draw the game. It was the world and the game mechanics.
u/InsertFloppy11
This is not an expansion.
But im there with you, i enjoyed DL2 as well
u/DrBee7
I don’t know why they leaned so heavy on the story when that was not at all what carried dying light 1. The fans of the first game didn’t care about the story.
u/bu22dee
I will play it if it has no microtransactions.
u/amazingmrbrock
Honestly it looks more like first game nostalgia bate than anything else. The guy from the first game isn't what the second game was missing. Anyway I'll just wait for reviews and uncurated g
u/CentralAdmin
>Kyle Crane, the main character from the first game returns as the protagonist.
Whaaa?! How? Wasn't he...y'know?
u/swagmonite
I can only assume it's because avellone left halfway through production
u/bbdabrick
Dying light 1 got an insane amount of post launch support so it does track
u/RecLuse415
What is The Beast and when the fuck is this coming out?
u/foreveraloneasianmen
You mean the ones that spit goos at you ? Those damage were ridiculous
u/ControlCAD
>Dying Light: The Beast isn't officially Dying Light 3, but it has evolved from Dying Light 2 DLC into its own standalone game, and the folks at Techland say it's meaty enough to constitut
u/Frate27
The Beast was supposed to be a DLC for Dying Light 2, but they turned it into a full blown game instead.
Kyle Crane, the main character from the first game returns as the protagonist.
To su
u/RolandTwitter
I didn't really like the game, but to their credit it did get years of updates
u/swagmonite
I can only assume it's because avellone left halfway through production
u/foreveraloneasianmen
You mean the ones that spit goos at you ? Those damage were ridiculous
u/ControlCAD
>Dying Light: The Beast isn't officially Dying Light 3, but it has evolved from Dying Light 2 DLC into its own standalone game, and the folks at Techland say it's meaty enough to constitut
u/RecLuse415
Oh ok so they basically wanna cast 2 aside cuz they knew it sucked?
u/Undeity
Kind of a middle ground for me, personally. The actual plot wasn't anything special, but between the deep atmosphere of the setting, and the nuanced interactions/character writing... it reall
u/tooboardtoleaf
I like the footage I've seen so far, but the same was true for DL2 before it launched. Definitely gunna wait for reviews and keep the hype in check but I'm optimistic.
u/Bhavan91
It did have a great story though. I was invested. Only the final boss sucked.
u/mezdiguida
I loved the first Dying Light, it was one of my favorite games of the PS4 generation. I was so hyped about the sequel and then we got... That... Half assed story and factions; weightless game
u/Funkydick
Tbh they already did MUCH more post launch support than they should have, respect to Techland but I never quite understood why they do it
u/etriuswimbleton
DL2 was enjoyable despite its flaws. But yeah its pretty mid compared to DL1
I wonderif the Beast is just a big of a game as DL2 if they say it like that tho.
u/CharlieTrees916
I enjoyed Dying Light 2 despite all the criticisms. Really looking forward to this expansion. Watched a 30 minute gameplay video and it looks tense.
u/SartenSinAceite
I gave up on that game as soon as the goddamn jumping homing missile infested started showing up. I heard the reloaded edition is better but eh...
u/Frate27
The Beast was supposed to be a DLC for Dying Light 2, but they turned it into a full blown game instead.
Kyle Crane, the main character from the first game returns as the protagonist.
To su
u/testcaseseven
DL2 lost a lot more than that, including guns lol
u/Huge_Insurance_2406
DL2 was "the best you've ever made" when it came out and pricing a DLC turned stand-alone game at $60 doesn't help
u/bbdabrick
Dying light 1 got an insane amount of post launch support so it does track
u/Undeity
Kind of a middle ground for me, personally. The actual plot wasn't anything special, but between the deep atmosphere of the setting, and the nuanced interactions/character writing... it reall
u/Quadraxis54
Is this one going to be pretty short since it was originally a dlc? Doesn’t seem right to call it a full game now
u/DrBee7
The story was okay nothing out of the ordinary(in my opinion). But it was not the main draw the game. It was the world and the game mechanics.
u/CharlieTrees916
I enjoyed Dying Light 2 despite all the criticisms. Really looking forward to this expansion. Watched a 30 minute gameplay video and it looks tense.
u/RecLuse415
Oh ok so they basically wanna cast 2 aside cuz they knew it sucked?
u/tooboardtoleaf
I like the footage I've seen so far, but the same was true for DL2 before it launched. Definitely gunna wait for reviews and keep the hype in check but I'm optimistic.
u/RecLuse415
What is The Beast and when the fuck is this coming out?
u/foreveraloneasianmen
You mean the ones that spit goos at you ? Those damage were ridiculous
u/testcaseseven
DL2 lost a lot more than that, including guns lol
u/etriuswimbleton
DL2 was enjoyable despite its flaws. But yeah its pretty mid compared to DL1
I wonderif the Beast is just a big of a game as DL2 if they say it like that tho.
u/RolandTwitter
I didn't really like the game, but to their credit it did get years of updates
u/testcaseseven
DL2 lost a lot more than that, including guns lol
u/swagmonite
I can only assume it's because avellone left halfway through production
u/DrBee7
I don’t know why they leaned so heavy on the story when that was not at all what carried dying light 1. The fans of the first game didn’t care about the story.
u/SartenSinAceite
I gave up on that game as soon as the goddamn jumping homing missile infested started showing up. I heard the reloaded edition is better but eh...
u/RecLuse415
Oh ok so they basically wanna cast 2 aside cuz they knew it sucked?
u/etriuswimbleton
DL2 was enjoyable despite its flaws. But yeah its pretty mid compared to DL1
I wonderif the Beast is just a big of a game as DL2 if they say it like that tho.
u/RecLuse415
What is The Beast and when the fuck is this coming out?
u/woodelvezop
You can dodge them, it's just annoyingly difficult to time right and they just become an annoying enemy. Dying light 2 had a lot of annoying enemy types honestly
u/DrBee7
I don’t know why they leaned so heavy on the story when that was not at all what carried dying light 1. The fans of the first game didn’t care about the story.
u/tooboardtoleaf
I like the footage I've seen so far, but the same was true for DL2 before it launched. Definitely gunna wait for reviews and keep the hype in check but I'm optimistic.
u/Undeity
Kind of a middle ground for me, personally. The actual plot wasn't anything special, but between the deep atmosphere of the setting, and the nuanced interactions/character writing... it reall
u/SartenSinAceite
No, the first special one you find. Jumps into the air and dives at you. Near impossible to dodge because they home in on you.
Its like a bad version of the HL2 fast zombie
u/woodelvezop
You can dodge them, it's just annoyingly difficult to time right and they just become an annoying enemy. Dying light 2 had a lot of annoying enemy types honestly
u/woodelvezop
You can dodge them, it's just annoyingly difficult to time right and they just become an annoying enemy. Dying light 2 had a lot of annoying enemy types honestly
u/InsertFloppy11
This is not an expansion.
But im there with you, i enjoyed DL2 as well
u/Frate27
The Beast was supposed to be a DLC for Dying Light 2, but they turned it into a full blown game instead.
Kyle Crane, the main character from the first game returns as the protagonist.
To su
u/Bhavan91
It did have a great story though. I was invested. Only the final boss sucked.
u/Frate27
The Beast was supposed to be a DLC for Dying Light 2, but they turned it into a full blown game instead.
Kyle Crane, the main character from the first game returns as the protagonist.
To su
u/Funkydick
Tbh they already did MUCH more post launch support than they should have, respect to Techland but I never quite understood why they do it
u/HappyAd6201
Still surprised how people got scared of the first game.
Like I’m a *massive* pussy, the most „horror” game I completed was RE4, but DL1 is very very very tame
u/SartenSinAceite
No, the first special one you find. Jumps into the air and dives at you. Near impossible to dodge because they home in on you.
Its like a bad version of the HL2 fast zombie
u/InsertFloppy11
This is not an expansion.
But im there with you, i enjoyed DL2 as well
u/TheyStillLive69
2 also kind of loat its story that was replaced with straight trash.
u/Undeity
Kind of a middle ground for me, personally. The actual plot wasn't anything special, but between the deep atmosphere of the setting, and the nuanced interactions/character writing... it reall
u/SartenSinAceite
I gave up on that game as soon as the goddamn jumping homing missile infested started showing up. I heard the reloaded edition is better but eh...
u/RecLuse415
Oh ok so they basically wanna cast 2 aside cuz they knew it sucked?
u/DrBee7
I don’t know why they leaned so heavy on the story when that was not at all what carried dying light 1. The fans of the first game didn’t care about the story.
u/RecLuse415
Oh ok so they basically wanna cast 2 aside cuz they knew it sucked?
u/Funkydick
Tbh they already did MUCH more post launch support than they should have, respect to Techland but I never quite understood why they do it
u/Bhavan91
It did have a great story though. I was invested. Only the final boss sucked.
u/Bhavan91
It did have a great story though. I was invested. Only the final boss sucked.
u/CharlieTrees916
I enjoyed Dying Light 2 despite all the criticisms. Really looking forward to this expansion. Watched a 30 minute gameplay video and it looks tense.
u/RolandTwitter
I didn't really like the game, but to their credit it did get years of updates
u/DrBee7
The story was okay nothing out of the ordinary(in my opinion). But it was not the main draw the game. It was the world and the game mechanics.
u/Bhavan91
It did have a great story though. I was invested. Only the final boss sucked.