Whether you loved or disliked Techland’s open-world zombie action concept in Dying Light, especially with the mixed reception of its sequel, one thing remains undeniable: the team’s unwavering commitment to supporting its games long after launch is commendable. Even as the studio prepares for its next major release in Dying Light: The Beast, Techland has not forgotten about the game that started it all.
In an official update, Techland announced a free Retouched update for the original Dying Light, which first launched a decade ago. Despite being ten years old, the first instalment is set to receive a significant visual and audio overhaul to enhance the player experience in 2025.
Techland clarified that this is not a full remaster. Instead, it is an optimisation effort that pushes the boundaries of the game engine they have been refining over the past ten years. The update will introduce improved and sharper texture resolutions, giving the game a more polished and refined look overall.
New Tech, Retouched Dying Light
A key highlight of this update is the introduction of PBR (Physics-Based Rendering) technology. This addition will enable more realistic lighting effects, where the behaviour of light is influenced by the surface material it interacts with. Techland shared several comparison screenshots that clearly illustrate the visual upgrades between the original and Retouched versions. Players with powerful PCs can also look forward to enjoying enhanced Level of Detail (LOD) settings.
Interestingly, the Retouched update doesn’t just focus on visuals. It will also upgrade the game’s audio. Original composer Pawel Blaszczak has returned to remaster the original soundtrack, incorporating new music tracks and ambient sound effects to further enhance the mood and tension. Techland also mentioned that combat audio has been improved, making zombie encounters sound more visceral and satisfying.
The Retouched update will be available for free on June 26. It will not be limited to just current generation platforms, as players on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will also benefit from the update. That said, some enhancements may be less pronounced due to hardware limitations.
This latest move once again underscores Techland’s dedication to its player base, offering a renewed experience for both longtime fans and newcomers alike, and sets things up nicely for what comes next.
