Hey there, gaming buddy! I know you‘ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Dying Light 2 Stay Human. As a fellow zombie survival fan, I totally get the excitement!
A common question I‘ve been getting is whether Dying Light 2 will be available for free on Xbox Game Pass.
I‘m here to give you a detailed breakdown of everything you need to know about playing Dying Light 2 through Game Pass. I‘ll also share some tips to help you get the most out of the game, whichever way you decide to play it!
So grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and let‘s jump right in.
The Short Answer
I‘ll start by answering the key question plainly:
Unfortunately, no, Dying Light 2 is not free to play on Xbox Game Pass at launch.
The Standard Edition of the game is not included in the Game Pass library on day one. So the only way to play Dying Light 2 on February 4th is to purchase it outright.
I know, I know…that‘s not the news you were hoping for as a Game Pass subscriber. But don‘t worry, I‘ve got all the details below on your options and why the game isn‘t on Game Pass yet.
Why Isn‘t Dying Light 2 on Game Pass at Launch?
As eager as we are to parkour across the zombie-infested city, there are some logical reasons Dying Light 2 isn‘t free on Game Pass right away:
- It‘s a major third-party AAA release, not a Microsoft first-party exclusive
- Techland wants to maximize initial sales revenue after years of development
- Techland likely negotiated a separate Xbox console exclusivity deal
Unlike Microsoft first-party games, third-party releases rarely launch directly into Game Pass. Studios want to recoup costs by selling at full-price on release.
Dying Light 2 has been in development for over 5 years with a team of over 500 people working on it. That‘s not cheap! Techland naturally wants to capitalize on excitement and drive pre-orders and day-one sales.
Microsoft may have worked out a broader deal to make Dying Light 2 a console exclusive on Xbox for a few months. If so, that agreement probably did not include free Game Pass access at launch.
But there‘s still hope it could come later…
Could Dying Light 2 Still Come to Game Pass Post-Launch?
The door isn‘t permanently shut on Dying Light 2 joining Xbox Game Pass in the future. Here are some possible scenarios:
- Techland negotiating to bring it to Game Pass 3-6 months post-release once initial sales have slowed
- Microsoft paying a large sum for Game Pass rights as a deal sweetener
- Driving Game Pass subscriptions by adding a big third-party zombie game
Game Pass has over 25 million subscribers as of January 2022. Bringing a title as anticipated as Dying Light 2 into the catalog could potentially attract new sign-ups after launch.
Not to mention it would allow Microsoft to heavily promote both the game and Game Pass. That‘s great exposure for Techland!
Of course, nothing is guaranteed, and any post-launch plans are pure speculation right now. But I‘d say a future Game Pass addition has odds around 50/50 if I had to put a number on it.
We‘ll just have to be patient and keep our eyes peeled for any official announcement down the road.
What You Get on Game Pass If Added Later
If Dying Light 2 does get confirmed for Xbox Game Pass in the future, here‘s what subscribers would likely get access to:
- The full Standard Edition of Dying Light 2
- Any free content updates or patches released by that point
- Multiplayer access with an Xbox Live Gold subscription
However, the Game Pass version probably wouldn‘t include:
- Pre-order bonuses or in-game items from special editions
- Paid DLC expansions and story content
This is the typical model we‘ve seen with major third-party games joining Game Pass post-launch like Back 4 Blood, Outriders, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
So you‘d get the complete base experience but not all the extras or bonuses available separately at launch. Still a pretty sweet deal though if Dying Light 2 does make it into the catalog down the road!
Estimated Game Pass Release Window
It‘s impossible to know for certain if/when Dying Light 2 could come to Xbox Game Pass. But based on previous examples, here are some plausible timeframes:
- 3-6 months post-release – May to August 2022
- 6-12 months post-release – August 2022 to February 2023
- 12+ months post-release – Sometime in 2024
Many major third-party games have joined Game Pass within 3-12 months after launch once sales cool off at retail.
A few examples:
- Outriders – 6 months after launch
- Back 4 Blood – 6 months after launch
- Guardians of the Galaxy – 12 months after launch
Given Dying Light 2‘s size and hype, my guess would be within 6-12 months after release, roughly August 2022 to February 2023.
But again, this is just an educated guess until Techland or Microsoft give us official word!
Top Zombie Games on Game Pass Now
Even if we need to wait a bit for Dying Light 2, Xbox Game Pass already has an amazing selection of zombie games available right now:
- State of Decay 2 – Open world survival game with base building
- Dead Island Definitive Edition – Remastered classic FPS zombie RPG
- Dead Rising 4 – Fight zombies with crazy DIY weapons
- 7 Days to Die – Voxel-based survival with crafting/exploration
- The Walking Dead – Narrative adventure game based on the comics
So if you want to get your zombie slaying fix, be sure to check out these great options on Game Pass while you await news of Dying Light 2‘s possible arrival.
Should You Buy Dying Light 2 Now or Wait?
As much as I‘d love to play Dying Light 2 for free on Game Pass, I think I‘ll still be buying it at launch.
Why? Well for me, I‘ve been looking forward to the game for years now. I‘m a big fan of the first Dying Light and have confidence in Techland to deliver an amazing sequel.
Playing on day one allows me to:
- Avoid spoilers from those playing early
- Dive into the experience while excitement is at its peak
- Provide feedback to help the developers
- Show my support for Techland and the franchise!
However, if you‘re on the fence, waiting could be a viable option:
- Get the chance to play on Game Pass for just a subscription
- See reviews and player feedback first
- Play after more patches/updates
- Potentially get it cheaper down the road
So in summary, while Dying Light 2 isn‘t on Game Pass at launch, I hope this breakdown gave you a comprehensive look at your options as a subscriber. Let me know if you have any other questions!
For me though, I‘ll see you in the city on February 4th. Time to go bust some zombie heads!
