In an intriguing disclosure, the developer behind Dying Light: The Beast shares the unusual source of inspiration for Kyle Crane's new abilities: viewing Pac-Man as a survival horror game.
Dying Light: Beast Mode Unleashed, Inspired by Pac-Man's Power Pellet Spree!
Get ready to unleash carnage with a side of nostalgia, as Techland's latest survival horror gem, Dying Light: The Beast, draws inspiration from a classic arcade game, none other than Pac-Man, for one of its signature mechanics.
Mark your calendars, zombie slayers, as Dying Light: The Beast is set to drop on August 22, 2025. The announcement came at Summer Game Fest 2025 after its initial unveiling at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. In that Gamescom demo, we were welcomed back with open arms (or fists) to the gritty world of Kyle Crane, a fellow survivor who's had a bit of an unfortunate vacation in captivity for over a decade. Having undergone some extracurricular experiments, our boy Kyle now possesses a special "beast mode" that turns him into an unstoppable force, bulldozing through the undead and launching environmental objects at their deserving heads.
In an exclusive interview with Famitsu (Translated via Automaton and machine translation), Dying Light's franchise director Tymon Smektala revealed, "Believe it or not, we got the idea for Beast Mode from the legendary game Pac-Man." He further elaborated on how he views Pac-Man as a survival horror game and compared the player's helpless chase by ghosts to the relentless pursuit of the zombie horde in Dying Light: The Beast. And when our hero Kyle Crane acquires his superhuman abilities, it's akin to the iconic Power Pellet moment in Pac-Man, where the tables turn, and Pete (or whatever you named that yellow blob) becomes the terrifying beast with the enemies fleeing in terror.
However, Smektala emphasized that he doesn't want the beast mode to be a one-sided affair, so the abilities will come with a hefty cooldown period. To make things even more challenging, giant Chimeras will be introduced to the already intimidating enemy roster specifically geared up to give players a run for their money while in beast mode.
In other exciting news, Tymon Smektala also confirmed that Dying Light: The Beast will finally address the complicated relationship the series has had with guns. The upcoming game will reportedly ensure that firearms are on par with the brute force of melee combat, putting an end to years of frustration.
So gear up, survivors, and get ready to dip back into the increasingly terrifying world of Dying Light: The Beast. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all the latest horrors, thrills, and more (wink, wink).
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- While browsing the latest tech gadgets, take note of the new console games list containing Dying Light: The Beast, a game that draws inspiration from an unlikely source – classic games like Pac-Man.
- The second season of Dying Light: The Beast, set to drop in 2026, promises even more action-packed, Pac-Man inspired gameplay, with reports of news on deals and exclusive features surfacing soon.
