Tymon Smektala, the longtime creative director and franchise lead for the Dying Light series, has announced his departure from Polish developer Techland. After more than a decade with the studio, Smektala stated he is beginning a “new chapter,” though he has not yet revealed his future professional plans. His exit marks the end of a significant era for the popular zombie survival franchise, which he helped shape from its inception. Smektala first joined the Dying Light universe during the development of the original 2015 game, serving as a producer. His role expanded significantly with 2022’s Dying Light 2: Stay Human, where he worked on design, and he eventually rose to oversee the entire franchise. In this leadership position, he guided the series through its most recent installment, Dying Light: The Beast, which launched in 2025.
In a farewell message shared on social media, Smektala expressed deep gratitude to the development and publishing teams at Techland. He highlighted the “passion, energy, and shared ambition” that drove the collective effort to make Dying Light what he called “the ultimate zombie experience.” He emphatically credited the community of players, stating their “love, engagement, and support have always been our North Star” and that fans actively helped shape the franchise’s identity. Most reassuringly for the community, Smektala concluded by affirming that the Dying Light series remains “in very good hands,” and he looks forward to experiencing its future growth purely as a player.
His departure follows the release of the substantial “Restored Land” update for Dying Light: The Beast earlier this year. This major free content drop introduced a suite of hardcore survival mechanics, including a New Gameaaa+ mode, an optional permadeath setting, hunger management systems, more limited resources, and new activities. The update represented a continued commitment to deepening the game’s survival elements, a core pillar of the franchise’s identity that Smektala helped establish. While his leadership will be missed, his statement suggests a confident transition for the IP he stewarded for so long.
