It seems as though every new video game release promises to keep the game alive with free updates for years to come, and while most fail to live up to their promise, the same can’t be said forDying Light 2. Releasing in February to a fairly solid critical reception,Dying Light 2came out of the gate swinging, promising players that new content would be heading to the game consistently for at least the next five years. While many players were rightfully quite skeptical, Techland has begun the impossible, already releasing a slew of new content for the game, all of which has been completely free.
In the few months sinceDying Light 2’s release, the game has been updated significantly a good few times. Along with some technical fixes and balancing patches,Dying Light 2has received new parkour trials, a host of new unlockable gear, new missions, and even an entire New Game+ mode, equipped with its own set of unique challenges and enemy placements. AlthoughDying Light 2’s first story DLChas been pushed back, the game continues to receive new, free content, with the latest, called “In the Footsteps of a Nightrunner,” bringing a new economy system to the game.
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In the Footsteps of a Nightrunner Explained
Released on June 14,In the Footsteps of a Nightrunneristhe latest free update forDying Light 2. The whole aim of this update is to add a handful of live-service elements to the game. For most gamers, the term “live-service” rings some instant alarm bells, with big corporations like EA tarnishing the genre with its greedy practices. However,Dying Light 2’s new live-service elements are far from greedy or money-grubbing, with every new feature being completely free to unlock and use.
Thebiggest live-service additionin this update is the new economy system, which encourages consistent play through the introduction of new daily and weekly missions. After meeting Harper at the Fish Eye, players will unlockIn the Footsteps of a Nightrunner’s new missions. These missions task the player with collecting a series of bounties. Players will be able to participate in three bounties a day, with a tougher bounty being available once per week.
Once a player has tracked down their target and eliminated them, they’ll have to report back to Harper, where they’ll receive a handful of Mission Tickets, and earn a healthy boost to their Reputation. Earning enough of these Mission Tickets, and leveling up Reputation, will allow players to access one of the game’s new Time Trials. These Time Trials are even tougher than the base game’s parkour challenges, as they combineDying Light 2’s stealth, combat, and parkour mechanics into one, incredibly difficult challenge.
Completing these Time Trials will reward the player with a massive Reputation increase. And with every new Reputation tier that’s unlocked, the player is given a Chapter Token. These Chapter Tokens can then be used in the brand new Agent Shop, where a range ofexclusive practical and cosmetic itemscan be purchased. None of these new currencies can be bought with real-world cash, so players will need to grind away to earn the game’s best loot.
Techland intends for this new economic and mission system to last for the rest of the game’s duration, with the developer planning on releasing a consistent stream of free content as time goes on. This first chapter sees players hunt down some ofthe new Volatile infected types, which only appear in the dead of night. There’s been no word on what future updates will bring to the game, butIn the Footsteps of a Nightrunneris a great starting point forDying Light 2’s live-service career.
Dying Light 2 Stay Humanis available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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