Summary
The Game Awards currently has a total of 32 categories that all serve to highlight important parts of the gaming industry. Though cutting the number could streamline the show, a handful of Game Awards categories should never be removed, and itsCommunity Support categoryis one of those. At a time when some developers and publishers are not only using controversial practices to take advantage of players but their own workers too, it’s more important than ever to highlight studios that try their best to remain open and transparent.Dying Light 2’s Techland does just that.
The official description for The Game Awards' Community Support category in 2023 reads, “Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates/patches.” As things stand,Dying Light 2’s Techland ticks all of those boxes, making it a worthy pick for The Game Awards 2024’s Community Support trophy.
Dying Light 2 Is Worthy of the Community Support Award This Year
Dying Light 2’s Updates Have Been Extensive
First released back in February 2022,Dying Light 2has continued to receive updates and patches at a consistent rate. Initially, these patches helped to balance and refineDying Light 2’s already-solid combatand traversal mechanics, along with its enemy AI, and the game’s co-op feature. But after this initial wave of patches was done, Techland really started to go to work.
Over the course of the last couple of years,Dying Light 2has received over 10 major post-launch updates, all of which have significantly improved various aspects of the base game, and added a smattering of new content to keep fans coming back for more. Some of the more recent updates have completely overhauled combat inDying Light 2, adding new weapons, new enemy AI behaviors, new animations, and firearms, a feature that fans had been asking for since release. Techland’s dedication to makingDying Light 2the best possible game it can be is truly outstanding, but updates alone aren’t enough to give Techland that TGA Community Support award.
Techland’s Communication Has Been Clear and Responsive
AsThe Game Awards' official description of the Community Support category reads, “transparency and responsiveness” are vital prerequisites for winning this award. While getting consistent game updates and patches is an important factor in winning best Community Support, it’s equally important how these updates are presented to the player-base. It’s no good if a game is updated consistently but players are never told when they can expect them or what’s included in them.
Thankfully,Techland’s communicationhas been excellent over the last few years, and it’s only getting better as time goes on. As well as releasing several roadmaps over the years, Techland posts fairly consistent developer blog updates on its official website and on its X account, ensuring that the player-base is always up-to-date with the latest information on patch notes and new content drops. Techland even has a dedicated Community Ideas feature, where players can suggest new features or changes to the game and vote on each other’s to push them to the top of Techland’s to-do list.
When Techland originally said it’d be supportingDying Light 2for at least five years, many didn’t believe it. Two years in, it really seems as though Techland is determined to stand by its original promise, and it would be great to see the studio earn its flowers for doing so.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
WHERE TO PLAY
It’s been 20 years since the events of the original game. The virus won, and humanity is slowly dying. You play as Aiden Caldwell, a wandering Pilgrim who delivers goods, brings news, and connects the few remaining survivor settlements in barren lands devastated by the zombie virus. However, your true goal is to find your little sister Mia, who you left behind as a kid to escape Dr. Waltz’s torturous experiments. Haunted by the past, you eventually make the decision to confront it when you learn that Mia may still be alive in Villedor — the last city standing on Earth.You quickly find yourself in a settlement torn by conflict. You’ll need to engage in creative and gory combat, so hone your skills to defeat hordes of zombies and make allies. Roam the city, free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot in remote areas, and be wary of the night. With every sunset, monsters take control of the streets.
