A major leadership change has hit Techland as longtime Dying Light director Tymon Smektala officially announced his departure from the studio after more than a decade.

Smektala had been with Techland since 2013 and most recently served as Franchise Director for nearly four years, helping guide the future of the Dying Light universe.

A Key Figure Behind Dying Light

Smektala originally joined Techland as a game designer before gradually taking on larger production and leadership roles throughout the franchise’s growth.

Over the years, he became one of the most recognizable faces behind the series, regularly appearing in developer updates, interviews, and community discussions.

“An Incredible Journey”

In a farewell message shared on social media, Smektala reflected on his time at the studio and thanked both the developers and the community for helping shape the franchise.

“It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m proud of what we’ve built.”

He also praised the Dying Light fanbase, calling their passion and feedback the “North Star” that helped guide the series over the years.

Dying Light: The Beast Was His Final Major Project

Smektala’s final major contribution to the franchise was Dying Light: The Beast, which recently brought back original protagonist Kyle Crane.

Interestingly, Smektala previously revealed that The Beast was internally viewed almost as a spiritual Dying Light 3, signaling the beginning of a new era for the series.

He also previously discussed scrapped ideas like Dying Light: Hellrunners, a project that ultimately never entered full production.

The Future of the Franchise

Although Smektala is leaving, he stated that the franchise remains “in great hands” and expressed excitement about seeing where the series goes next as a fan himself.

At this stage, he has not revealed what his next move in the industry will be.

Still, after thirteen years helping define one of gaming’s biggest zombie franchises, many fans will be watching closely to see where he lands next.