Rumours about the future of the Dying Light franchise are starting to gain momentum after dataminers reportedly uncovered Japanese themed assets hidden inside recent game files.
According to findings shared online and later highlighted by gaming outlet RespawnFirst, the leaked assets appear to reference Japanese streets, architecture, and urban environments. While Techland has not officially confirmed anything, fans are already speculating that the next major Dying Light game could take the series to Japan.
images below are AI representations of the leaks.
What has made the rumours even more interesting is the resurfacing of older leaked dialogue allegedly connected to Dying Light 2 Stay Human and protagonist Kyle Crane.
The leaked script snippet appears to reference Crane travelling to Japan to hunt down the GRE, the shadowy organisation heavily tied to the franchise’s outbreak and experimentation storyline. One line specifically states:
“So Crane is going to make his way to Japan, to find the GRE — and kill them all.”
Another line claims the GRE may have created a “safe-zone on an island, possibly off the coast of Japan,” which has led some fans to believe Techland may have been exploring the idea internally for quite some time.
However, it is important to note that none of this confirms Dying Light 3 is actually set in Japan. Datamined files and leaked scripts often contain unused concepts, cut content, or experimental ideas that never make it into the final game.
Still, many fans believe a Japanese setting would fit the series perfectly. Dense neon lit cities, rooftop heavy environments, underground subway systems, and abandoned entertainment districts could work extremely well with Dying Light’s fast paced parkour gameplay and nighttime horror mechanics.
Others are already imagining infected roaming through traditional villages, temples, and crowded city streets, giving the franchise a completely different atmosphere compared to the European inspired settings of previous entries.
At the moment, Techland remains focused on Dying Light: The Beast, which was recently revealed as a new standalone experience connected to the wider Dying Light universe.
Until the studio officially comments on the rumours, fans should treat the leaks as speculation rather than confirmation. Even so, the idea of a Dying Light game set in Japan has definitely caught people’s attention.
