Techland, the company behind the popular Dying Light games, had an interview with MP1st, where they spoke about live service. Techland feels it has found success with its approach to supporting the games after their release. Rather than using a full live service model, Techland combines elements of standard game releases with ongoing Games as a Service features. The company feels this approach worked well for the first Dying Light game, and it helps Dying Light 2: Stay Human.
In a recent interview, Dying Light Franchise Director Tymon Smektała discussed the studio’s approach to the GaaS model. Techland recognizes industry trends but remains dedicated to its current ‘games as a service elements’ model. This decision reflects Techland’s confidence in the formula, contributing to its significant success.
“We’ve settled on a very unique formula with the original Dying Light – premium game with additional GaaS elements – and so far it works and is successful for us, so we don’t intend to change it. But of course we’re closely monitoring all of the most current industry trends, which is needed considering how difficult game development becomes with each subsequent year.”
Tymon Smektała
Techland’s approach is all about maintaining a strong connection with its community. According to Smektała, the focus is on mutual respect and open communication between developers and players. This mindset creates a win-win situation, encouraging player loyalty and sustained engagement with the Dying Light franchise. The active user numbers for Dying Light continue to impress, especially considering it’s not classified as a traditional live service title.
It’s arguable whether Dying Light 2 is doing well overall. It’s not the biggest game, but apparently, it’s good enough to make the company feel secure. If future games come out, we may not see them take similar steps.
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