With constant updates adding new Killers, Survivors, and maps, Dead by Daylight has been thriving for almost a decade. And the recent inclusion of Springtrap as part of the FNAF Chapter has proven to be one of the greatest moments in Dead by Daylight’s history. And I have no doubts that this is just the beginning for even greater things, considering this has been one of the most well-received and also well-balanced chapters in the game. Here are the reasons why this chapter has resonated so well among players and why we should be enthusiastic about the game’s future.
Influx of Players
There’s no doubt that Five Nights at Freddy’s changed the horror genre for video games. Like it or not, the younger audiences have a space in their hearts for the game that created the “mascot horror” subgenre that ended up inspiring other games like Poppy Playtime (which, now that I bring it up, doesn’t seem like a crazy idea to imagine it on DBD as well). The younger audiences who grew up watching the animatronics were eager to try the game, and the influx of new and returning players that the FNAF chapter created proves this to be true.
June 2025 represents DBD’s all-time player peak.
As you can see on Dead by Daylight’s Steam Charts, the game had a solid all-time peak of 120,430 simultaneous Steam players in June 2025 (just when the FNAF Chapter released). Even if this doesn’t count players on other platforms or stores, this is huge. It speaks a lot about the game’s current health and future endeavors, which takes me to the next important point.
What’s Next for DBD
With the FNAF Chapter being an absolute success in Dead by Daylight, the possibilities of getting more licensed content have drastically spiked. The Walking Dead Chapter has just been released, and this seems just the beginning for DBD’s future licensed content.
While it’s true that DBD has covered most of the important licensed franchises, there’s still plenty of room for more. To name a few that would count as personal hope: Slenderman, The Last of Us, the already mentioned Poppy Playtime… All of these and many more modern and classic horror IPs are more possible than ever now that licensed chapters have proven to be the most solid way to increase interest for the game. Dead by Daylight is the mainstream space for horror franchises to collide in one multiplayer experience, so I guess we should just enjoy it while we’re at it.
Make Slenderman a reality, BHVR!
Fun & Balanced
And most importantly, the fun, balanced experience that has come with it. We all know it, the game’s had its highs and lows. Some of the Killers have been introduced clearly unbalanced, either too overpowered, nerfed to the ground after a few weeks, among many other problems.
But, after having played dozens upon dozens of hours of the FNAF Chapter in Dead by Daylight as both Killer and Survivor, I believe the effort behind Springtrap is obvious. The doors that Springtrap uses to travel the map alter how each realm works, raising the fear factor of when and where it might appear. Springtrap’s axe is fun to use as Killer, and fun to dodge as Survivors. Even during the first week, when you’d only face Springtrap every single match, it was hard to hate on the guy. The Killer still feels like a fair experience, and I don’t mind playing against it or as it.
Not only fun, but also genuinely scary… The Glitchtrap skin is haunting.
The experience BHVR has gathered with this chapter will probably reap great results shortly. I’m eager to know what they have planned for next year’s 10th anniversary, so let’s stay tuned for more and see you all in the fog!
