Dying Light: The Beast – Censorship Concerns in the German Release

The German release of Dying Light: The Beast has sparked controversy due to censorship. Players report significant limitations on violence, blood, and ragdoll physics. Developer Techland remains silent on the issue.

Those who purchased *Dying Light: The Beast* in Germany via the PlayStation Store may be surprised. The version is labeled “LV” for “Less Violent,” and this is not merely a cosmetic designation. While PC players on Steam enjoy the uncut experience, console players in Germany are subjected to noticeable restrictions. Techland has yet to issue an official statement but has indirectly acknowledged the existence of a separate German version.

User-Reported Censorship:

Player reports consistently indicate the following limitations:

No Dismemberment of Human Enemies: Heads and limbs remain attached even when using heavy weapons.
Restricted Corpse Manipulation: Dead humans cannot be further “dismembered.” Reports regarding zombie dismemberment are contradictory, with some players reporting reduced capabilities while others report it as still partially functional.
Reduced Blood and Gore: Zombies bleed less, and splatter effects are significantly toned down.
Pixelated Cutscenes:Brutal scenes involving humans are obscured with pixelation effects, disrupting the gameplay flow.
Less Realistic Ragdoll Physics: Dead bodies react less realistically, falling less convincingly than in the uncut version.

Uncertainty and Lack of Transparency:

A major problem is the scarcity of concrete comparisons and the absence of official information from Techland. Many players are therefore opting for the AU or UK versions, which appear to be uncut. I personally played the UK version and immediately noticed the game’s significantly higher level of brutality. The difference is markedly more pronounced than in the German version of *Dying Light 2*, which, while cut, was far less noticeable. The level of violence in the uncut version is considerably higher.

A second point of criticism concerns the technical aspects. No specific optimizations for the PS5 Pro have been implemented, despite previous suggestions. While the game runs stably, the hardware is not noticeably better utilized. This is particularly concerning given Sony’s requirement that all new games support the PS5 Pro.

Germany appears to once again be receiving a “light” version of the game. The fact that violence against zombies is partially retained hardly mitigates the issues of pixelated cutscenes and unrealistic enemy physics. Without an official statement from Techland, much remains speculation, but one thing is clear: those who want to experience *Dying Light: The Beast* without compromise should opt for the international version.