As a full-stack developer and gaming enthusiast, I have been closely following the development and release of Dying Light 2. Now that we are in 2023, it‘s a good time to provide an expert review on whether Dying Light 2 is still worth playing this year based on the gameplay, updates, and community reception.
Overview of Dying Light 2
For those unfamiliar, Dying Light 2 is an open-world action RPG developed by Techland and released in February 2022. It‘s the sequel to the popular 2015 game Dying Light and continues the zombie apocalypse theme with a story set 20 years later.
You play as Aiden Caldwell, an infected survivor seeking a cure, while navigating a post-pandemic world overrun by zombies that become extremely aggressive at night. Gameplay involves melee combat, crafting weapons, parkour movement, and making choices that impact the in-game world and story.
Initial reviews of Dying Light 2 upon release were generally positive, with praise for the immersive open world and fluid parkour movement. However, critics cited issues with the narrative, technical bugs, performance problems on console, and questionable design choices.
State of Dying Light 2 in 2023
Over a year later in 2023, Techland has released many patches, updates, and improvements to address concerns while adding new content. Here’s an overview of where Dying Light 2 stands today:
Patches & Performance
Numerous patches have squashed bugs, improved stability, and enhanced performance – especially on consoles. While some issues remain, the game runs much smoother now even on base PS4 and Xbox One.
Free DLC Chapters
Two free DLC chapters have been released adding new story content, enemies, weapons, and more. This includes “In the Footsteps of Nightrunners” and “A Huntress and a Hag". More free DLC is planned for 2023.
Additional Updates
Updates brought new enemies, a New Game+ mode improving replay value, new events like zombie hunting grounds, cosmetic packs, community rewards, and more. The game has come a long way since launch.
Clearly, Techland has shown a strong commitment to support Dying Light 2 long-term rather than abandoning it as a live service game. This brings us to…
Is Dying Light 2 Worth Playing in 2023?
In my expert opinion as a seasoned gamer and developer:
Yes, Dying Light 2 is absolutely still worth playing in 2023 based on the vastly improved state of the game today.
For those who‘ve been holding off due to the rocky launch, now is a great time to give Dying Light 2 a chance. The added content and ongoing updates have enhanced nearly every aspect.
Key Reasons to Play Dying Light 2 in 2023
Here are the most compelling reasons I recommend checking out Dying Light 2 this year:
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Much More Stable & Optimized – Patches fixed the majority of technical issues and bugs making it far less crash-prone now. Framerates and performance, especially on PS4/Xbox One, are significantly improved.
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Additional Story Content – The free DLC chapters added meaningful narrative content helping to flesh out the backstory and world more.
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More Enemy Variety – New zombie types like the armored heavy Rhodes keep you on your toes even in familiar areas helping the world feel more dynamic.
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Expanded Progression & Builds – Higher legendary levels let you take weapon mastery even further opening up more creative combat builds to try out.
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Ongoing Support – Techland remains highly engaged with the community and keeps pumping out new updates showing long-term commitment to the game.
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Co-op Still Thriving – Joining co-op games is quick and easy thanks to the large active player base. Co-op amplification also spices up the experience.
Of course, there is still room for improvement as the game continues evolving…
What Could Be Improved Further
While I firmly believe Dying Light 2 has gotten to a great state in 2023, a few areas have additional room to grow further such as:
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More Infected Variety – The existing infected types are well-designed but more variety would keep the undead threat feeling fresher after dozens of hours venturing out at night.
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Expanded Nighttime Threats – Nighttime zombie encounters are thrilling but still feel too scripted. More emergent scenarios would nurture the unpredictability and tension that nightfall is meant to evoke.
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Ambitious Narrative DLC – Additional story content has helped but a full meaty narrative expansion could take the premise further and deliver the sci-fi flavored twists fans may crave.
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Less Buggy Co-op – Playing co-op is fun but still exhibits sporadic bugs and glitches. Further optimization has room for improvement.
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More Meaningful Choices – The choices and multiple endings were touted prior to launch but ultimately felt inconsequential. Deeper branches based on player decisions could offer better roleplaying potential.
As you can see, even despite how far Dying Light 2 has come there remains room for growth in areas like narrative, co-op, and infected variety where Techland could knock it out of the park with ambitious future updates.
The Road Ahead in 2023
Dying Light 2‘s first year content roadmap is now complete. So what possibly lies ahead in 2023? Based on the post-launch support so far, I predict 2023 will bring:
- At least 2 more free narrative DLC chapters expanding the story
- New zombie types adding fresh wrinkles to nighttime play
- More community events and rewards to engage players
- Cosmetic item packs and outfits
- Further co-op and technical improvements
- Potential teases of eventual paid expansions
I base these predictions on Techland‘s track record of post-launch support for the original Dying Light spanning years. I fully expect them to take a similar long-view approach with Dying Light 2‘s live service model.
The development team remains highly active on social media gathering player feedback and suggestions to help shape updates. As they continue supporting Dying Light 2 throughout 2023, the future looks bright.
Final Verdict – Well Worth Playing in 2023
In closing, as a gaming expert and programmer keeping tabs on Dying Light 2‘s evolution, I can firmly recommend jumping in if you have yet to take the plunge.
For those who tried it last year, I encourage revisiting the improved and expanded experience Techland has crafted since then based on community feedback.
While some technical quirks and content gaps exist, Dying Light 2 has transformed into an excellent open-world action-RPG brimming with gripping gameplay and fantasy fulfillment, especially for parkour and zombie fans.
And with Techland continuing full-steam-ahead delivering meaty updates, I only see it getting better in 2023 making now the perfect time to either check it out for the first time or give it a second chance.
So if you crave first-person urban exploration against the backdrop of a virus-fueled apocalypse, equip your grappling hook and get ready for a wickedly fun time. See you out there in the zombie-infested streets of Villador, survivors!