Dying Light 2 Stay Human releases December 7, preorders now live

Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2 (Image credit: Techland S.A.)

What you need to know

  • Dying Light 2, now titled Dying Light 2 Stay Human, has remerged, targeting a December 7, 2021 release date on console and PC.
  • Publisher Techland has also announced multiple editions of Dying Light 2 planned for launch, with preorders now live across the globe.

Dying Light 2, the second installment in Techland's apocalypse-bound role-playing series, has made its return with a reworked name and release date. The upcoming title, first unveiled in 2018, has laid low in recent years, with development steadily underway on piecing together its zombie-infested open world. The project has remerged, coupled with more gameplay, and now gunning for December 7, 2021 debut.

Dying Light 2, now formally titled Dying Light 2 Stay Human, expands on events in the original 2015 game, considered one of the best RPGs of the era. The sequel surfaced a few years later, promising a vastly expanded scope, doubling down on its previous role-playing triumphs. That included a branching narrative, pitched with an ambitious world-changing scale, and added depth over its predecessor.

Techland has shared its latest on Dying Light 2 Stay Human through a dedicated stream, dubbed "Dying 2 Know," the first of a multi-part series exploring various facets of gameplay. The featured trailer provides an insight into recent progress, including its story and how the world ties into the broader ambition of the next entry.

Preorders for Dying Light 2 Stay Human have also gone live via the Dying Light website, available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and Windows PCs. Techland has four separate versions headed to shelves, with Standard, Deluxe, digital-only Ultimate, and a physical-exclusive Collector's Edition available in limited supply. Preorders also score a limited-edition in-game bonus, the Reload Pack, featuring a unique outfit, weapon, and paraglider skin.

The latest iteration of Dying Light retains the same fundamentals unveiled three years prior, with Techland stating additional time has helped deliver its vision. The newest gameplay closely mirrors previous gameplay demos, retaining its open-world, larger and denser than the last game, with the same meeting of combat and slick movement and parkour mechanics.

The news marks the latest milestone for Dying Light 2, making its reappearance after several years out of the spotlight amid numerous hurdles. Techland previously announced the title wouldn't make its once-forecasted spring 2020 launch window, but pushing back on reports of troubled development. However, the COVID-19 pandemic later delayed releases industry-wide, followed by writer Chris Avellone departing the project amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Dying Light 2 now looks set to hit the market this December, spanning PC and two console generations.

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Matt Brown

Matt Brown was formerly a Windows Central's Senior Editor, Xbox & PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Microsoft's gaming efforts. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.

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