Annually, Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive hosts an anniversary live stream. Every year, the community highly anticipates this broadcast, as it contains big, exciting reveals about upcoming content and adjustments within the asymmetrical horror. This year, fans have been treated to plenty of content and some very special surprises, so here’s everything you need to know about today’s announcements.
Chapter 32: Vecna From D&D
Players have been speculating what the anniversary chapter could be for many months leading up to May 14th. In particular, the most widely accepted prediction was Vecna from Dungeons & Dragons. Finally, we have confirmation that he is, in fact, the killer for this year’s birthday celebration chapter. For further details, the official forums contain in-depth information about this chapter and the planned balance changes. Chapter 32 and Update 8.0.0 will be released on June 3rd.
A Dungeons and Dragons chapter introduces true magic to the realm of The Entity
Vecna is a lesser deity who ascended from humanity to become a God-like being. While originally from D&D, the character spiked in popularity when the kids from Stranger Things used this villain as an analogy to represent their most recent and greatest threat to Hawkins yet.
In-game, Vecna will be joined by Aestri Yazar, an elven bard survivor. A new map set in a dungeon called the Forgotten Ruins will also join the map rotation. DbD‘s new killer perks and new survivor perks also come with dice-rolling elements, tying in the tabletop experience.
Cross Progression
One feature that fans have been requesting for years now is none other than cross-progression. With this, players will be able to link their accounts across multiple platforms together and collect any stats, cosmetics and items unlocked all on one account, across multiple platforms.
The Year 9 Roadmap
Other titles such as Overwatch 2 and Fortnite have already made this step, prompting players of the asymmetrical horror to request this, too. If you decide to make the leap from console to PC gaming or vice versa, for example, you’ll be able to keep all previous progress on your new platform.
This will be available later this summer, and a Behaviour Account is required. This is also strictly cross-progression for Consoles and PC. Mobile is not part of this, as it’s essentially its own experience, separate from the core game.
Gameplay Improvements
Among various improvements, the Challenges System is one to look out for. Players complete these challenges passively over the course of their careers and earn rewards for doing so. An inbox-based system will also allow you to avoid unnecessary news pop-ups when starting up the game. You’ll be able to read news via this inbox.
One highly requested feature is Finisher Moris. All killers will have access to this by default soon. Currently, offerings are required to access the Mori feature. With update 8.0.0, any killer will be able to use this on the final survivor at the end of the match. Mori offerings will be adjusted to give extra blood points rather than allowing players to use the Mori feature.
New Game Mode: 2v8
After eight years of powering generators and opening exit gates, a new game mode has been announced. In this chaotic, party mode there will be 2 killers and 8 survivors, as the title indicates. There will be five maps which are much larger, with more generators and gates than before. Perks, however, will not be included. Instead, survivors will have a Class that dictates what their playstyle will be. From loop master to generator fixer, choose your Class to suit your playstyle.
Twice the players, twice the chaos
Only the five original killers will be playable in this mode upon release in July, but the developers will seek to add more in the future. Notably, killers won’t be downing and hooking in this mode. Instead, once a survivor is downed, they can be sent to a cage, mirroring an ability that The Pyramid Head has.
The Casting of Frank Stone
In collaboration with Until Dawn and The Quarry‘s Supermassive Games, this new title set in the Dead by Daylight universe has an official trailer. The trailer depicts 4 main characters investigating a serial killer in the town of Cedar Hills. It’s still unknown how and where this fits in with the characters in the trials, but we’ll catch some subtle hints throughout the story.
The Casting of Frank Stone brings a new experience to players
Supermassive Games are known for their immersive, narrative experiences. We can no doubt expect a great, gruesome story that respects and expands the world of Dead by Daylight. It’ll be interesting to see how much we’ll discover about the wider universe in this product, and we could even see the characters from this title playable in the trials later down the line.
Additionally, Project T is another new title set within the same realm in early development by BHVR. You’ll play as what the devs are calling Trespassers in a 1v4 PvE shooter. You can be an active participant in the development of this by becoming an Insider. This allows you to join Play Tests to give feedback and shape the future of Project T.
Castlevania
As one last surprise announcement, Castlevania was teased to be joining Dead by Daylight. No further details were given, but we can likely expect this licensed chapter to land in August, as per the Year 9 roadmap shown above.
Castlevania will be entering the fog soon
That just about sums up the biggest reveals from the livestream. Let us know what you’re most looking forward to down below, and if you’re a PC player, don’t forget to jump onto the PTB to playtest Vecna, available now!
SOURCE: Official Dead by Daylight YouTube Channel
