The producer of Dying Light, Tymon Smektala, has expressed that he would personally like to work on developing Dead Island 2.
Smektala made his remarks in an interview with Videogamer following news that the Berlin-based studio Yager is no longer developing the game for publisher Deep Silver. As we reported, the studio has been taken off development duties and has since parted ways with the publisher.
"For us, that was sad news," he said. "When something like that happens in the industry it's always sad news. You're never happy that some other developer failed, because it could have been us, basically.
"And another thing that added to the feeling of sadness and disappointment was the fact that Dead Island is our child. It's a title that we imagined, we developed. We made this game so we still have a very strong connection to that IP."
He added that he hopes that these events won't mean the end of the Dead Island franchise and that he hopes Yager isn't as affected by these developments too much.
Dying Light developer Techland was responsible for the original Dead Island.
"I really love [the first Dead Island]," said Smektala. "I don't know if there is a developer [attached to Dead Island 2] at all.
"I would [be interested in developing Dead Island 2]. As I said, I love Dead Island and I think there is a place for both franchises [Dead Island and Dying Light]. As long as someone would be able to find something that would make them different, that would draw a clear line … I think that's doable, then why not?"
Smektala later clarified that he was only speaking personally and not on behalf of Techland as a whole.
"I'd like to again clarify that all of the statements I made about Dead Island 2 were my personal opinions only and in no way represent the views of the studio," he said. "I am a huge fan of the original Dead Island as a gamer and would love the franchise to thrive, but any decisions regarding possible Techland's involvement in its franchise are not mine to make, and are never as easy as just "asking".
"At the moment I'm focusing on Dying Light: The Following hoping to deliver a great expansion to all the fans of the game."
Regardless of how things are, having Techland back at the helm of the Dead Island franchise doesn't sound like a bad idea at all considering the success of Dying Light and the caliber of its creators.
