Big developer studio acquisitions are all the rage at the moment, with Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda really kicking things off. Ever since then, fans have run rampant with speculation about what studio Microsoft will acquire next, who Sony could acquire as a counter, and the like. While most of this is in good fun, it seems one rumor got a little out of hand and prompted a response from developer Techland. The creator of Dying Light 2, Techland has recently been rumored to have already been acquired by Microsoft, but in a tweet posted just before Valentine's Day, the developer shut that idea down.

Techland is best known for Dying Light, a title which is now part of a franchise thanks to the currently ongoing development of a sequel in Dying Light 2. Though this may be its most recognizable property today, Techland has been developing and releasing video games since the 1990s, including titles like Dead Island and FIM Speedway Grand Prix 15.

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It's unclear where these rumors started, but the speed at which they spread was undeniable. In its tweet, Techland's Community Manager reveals that they've been receiving several DMs about the acquisition rumors, but goes on to deny them outright. In simple words, the tweet explains that "Techland is an independent studio and it was not acquired by another publisher." Of course, this doesn't name drop Microsoft specifically, but confirms that no other publisher has acquired Techland either. For the time being, independence seems to be a priority for Dying Light 2's developer.

Of course, this doesn't mean that speculation has died off entirely. This kind of outright denial helps to quell rumors to an extent, but there will always be those that cling on to the idea. Some posit that Techland wouldn't be able to say anything in public about acquisition if it wasn't finalized yet, but it still seems unlikely that its Community Manager would lie directly to the community. It's also theoretically possible that this tweet is true at the moment, but won't be after the acquisition is finalized.

Given the odd beginnings of this rumor and the fact that Techland denied it publicly, it's a safe bet to leave this one behind for now. Dying Light 2 is currently struggling with development as it is, with several delays caused by the Coronavirus pandemic setting it back to an unknown date. With any luck, fans will hear about an official release date when Techland reveals more news about Dying Light 2.

Dying Light 2 is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

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