Dead by Daylight recently unveiled its 37th Chapter, introducing one of its most chilling and captivating Killers to date: The Krasue, alongside a brand-new Survivor named Vee. However, as the game’s expansive roster of original and crossover characters continues to grow, signs of strain have become evident. Behaviour Interactive, the developers, recently postponed a licensed chapter to prioritize core game improvements and address a rising tide of bugs and balance issues. This fan-favorite horror game now stands at a critical juncture: it possesses immense popularity, ample resources, and creative talent, yet the constant addition of new elements invariably leads to more underlying problems. PCGamesN recently had the opportunity to speak with Dave Richard, Dead by Daylight’s creative director, who discussed Behaviour’s relentless pursuit of innovative ideas and their commitment to making future content more fluid and manageable.
The latest Dead by Daylight chapter draws inspiration from Thai culture and folklore, featuring a unique Killer and Survivor. The Krasue is a truly disturbing entity, capable of bursting from her human host’s body like a demonic parasite to hunt down players. The new Survivor, Vee, also hails from Thailand, marking a fresh exploration of global themes for the game’s characters. This demonstrates that captivating and terrifying Killer concepts, along with unique Survivors, can be found in every corner of the world, proving that Behaviour’s most impactful work isn’t always tied to popular IP crossovers. Richard shared that he maintains an annotated world map, highlighting various locations, myths, and cultures ripe for future Dead by Daylight content, expressing a desire to explore as many as possible (though he politely declined to let us peek!).
As one of Dead by Daylight’s most ambitious and graphic Killers to date, The Krasue has instilled in Behaviour a renewed confidence to pursue even more radical character concepts and themes, regardless of how challenging they may seem to implement.
Richard confidently states, “After ten years of Dead by Daylight, I’d say we’re unstoppable. The team consistently finds solutions to bring any idea to life, but we acknowledge there’s still so much more to explore. We can delve into countless different Killer archetypes and offer varied gameplay experiences.” He emphasizes that the possibilities are truly “infinite.”
However, this enthusiastic drive for new ideas and content can have unforeseen repercussions. Dead by Daylight is currently facing some challenges. As noted, Behaviour recently unveiled an action plan to improve the game’s overall health, which included delaying November’s highly anticipated licensed chapter. Given the community’s vocal concerns, this raises a crucial question: might we see a reduction in the frequency of new chapters, and consequently, a slower release of new characters, perks, mechanics, and other gameplay elements?
Richard acknowledges, “We are very aware that the game has become increasingly complex. It’s grown dense and presents a steep learning curve for new players, as there’s a vast amount of content to comprehend. We recognize this is becoming—or already is—an issue. Our goal is to re-evaluate many aspects of the game to make it more accessible and ‘porous,’ ensuring players can easily grasp necessary information, and that the Behaviour team can maintain it effectively.”
“Introducing a new chapter is vital for the game’s health and our community’s engagement. Every three months, players anticipate new characters and fresh experiences. We’ve started implementing other initiatives, like limited-time events (LTEs) and new game modes, to ensure our community always has something new and exciting to dive into. We’re actively exploring new ways to adjust our roadmap and manage this density. So, changes to our chapter cadence are definitely being considered. While I can’t provide specific details right now, rest assured, Killers, Survivors, and perks aren’t going anywhere. However, they will evolve over time to become more accessible to our players.”
The newest Dead by Daylight chapter, featuring The Krasue and Vee, is available to play right now.
Whether you’re returning to the game or just starting your journey, remember to keep our DBD codes guide handy for some free in-game goodies. Our DBD Killer tier list will also prove invaluable for mastering the game.
What are your thoughts on the new chapter and the current state of Dead by Daylight? Join the conversation in the PCGamesN Discord, or tell us which horror IP you’d love to see Behaviour incorporate next!
Additional reporting by Danielle Rose.