October is here, and for many, it’s the perfect time to dive into eerie games. There’s no better way to celebrate the season than with a thrilling match of Dead by Daylight. We recently spoke with DBD Creative Director Dave Richard about the game’s latest and most strikingly grotesque killer, the Krasue, discussing her unique role, her perfect fit for the game’s roster, and what the future holds for this terrifying title.
For those unfamiliar with her, the new Dead by Daylight killer, the Krasue, draws her terrifying essence from Thai folklore. Richard describes her as a ‘generally beautiful woman’ who, after making grave choices, is cursed to wander the night as the Krasue. This horrifying curse transforms her into a disembodied head, with her entrails trailing beneath as she glides through the darkness, eternally seeking prey.
As Richard elaborated, the Krasue relentlessly hunts the living, consuming ‘trash, corpses, dead animals, anything,’ driven by an insatiable hunger. This makes her a perfect fit for The Entity’s chilling realm. However, her grotesque nature wasn’t the only aspect that captivated the development team.
Watch the terrifying Krasue in action!
The stark contrast between beauty and brutality was particularly captivating for the team. During initial user research, the monster was introduced as a duality, a concept that immediately resonated with focus groups. Players were excited by the prospect of a beautiful killer capable of stealthy approaches and surprising survivors. More profoundly, they expressed a desire to be ‘disgusting in their face,’ even if it had no direct gameplay advantage. This strong emotional response signaled that Behaviour had found a truly compelling design.
This ‘disgusting’ transformation refers to the Krasue’s signature power, which shifts her from a seemingly beautiful singer into a gruesome predator. Upon activation, Burong Sukapat sheds her human facade, tearing away her skin, muscles, and skeleton to reveal her true form: the iconic disembodied head.
Richard admitted that perfecting the transformation was quite a challenge. The team was determined to implement two distinct character models, each offering unique gameplay elements for the Krasue’s dual forms. This transition had to be swift, visceral, and horrifyingly effective. He believes the team delivered something truly remarkable, pushing their technical and creative boundaries with each new chapter and killer, striving to innovate beyond their previous work.
He proudly stated, ‘We wanted it to be the goriest killer we’ve ever made.’ Achieving the desired effect, ensuring the entrails and organs appeared lifelike and moved realistically to maximize the ‘gross’ factor, presented a significant hurdle. However, the team excelled, delivering a truly visceral experience. Now, the challenge will be to surpass their own high bar in future creations.
To enhance the Krasue’s dual nature, she was given two distinct voices. Richard explained that her human form, Sukapat, is portrayed as an opera singer, while the Krasue’s voice embodies the corruption of beauty and society. Two different voice actresses were brought in to capture these contrasting aspects, creating a truly compelling character experience.
In her human persona, Sukapat’s singing voice is provided by the talented Thai opera singer Dr. Organ Prawang. Remarkably, Dr. Prawang also holds a PhD, making her an exceptionally fitting choice for the role. For the killer’s voice, the team sought a sound that, while still impactful, diverged from conventional beauty. They collaborated with death metal singer Roxana B.L., renowned for her versatile vocal techniques. Roxana, the frontwoman for the death metal band Your Last Wish, leveraged her skills to become a creature voice specialist and vocal stunt performer, creating a truly unforgettable and diverse vocal performance.
Richard emphasized the boundless creative potential within Dead by Daylight, drawing from a rich tapestry of global folklore, characters, and horror traditions. The choice of the Krasue, he revealed, was directly inspired by the game’s dedicated fanbase. ‘We built our game to be diverse and to include a lot of different people from all over the world. Horror has always been a concept that’s global for us,’ he stated. Given Dead by Daylight’s significant popularity in Thailand, the team recognized the wealth of compelling monsters within South Asian culture. Internal colleagues also contributed ideas, and while many options existed, the Krasue stood out as an ‘ultra popular’ and widely recognized figure, not just in Thailand but globally.
Its inherently striking design—a floating head with dangling entrails—made it the undeniable choice. ‘If we’re going to do something for our Thai community that will fit Dead by Daylight,’ Richard concluded, ‘this is it. This is the monster we need to make.’
Brazil also hosts a massive community of Dead by Daylight players, a region already honored with characters like the twins, Renato and Thalita. While Richard couldn’t pinpoint specific future locations for character inspiration, his enthusiastic ‘Oh, yeah, for sure’ confirmed their global ambitions. He stressed that this worldwide approach isn’t merely about ‘ticking boxes,’ but about genuinely engaging with the fascinating cultures and diverse horror narratives found across the globe.
Richard proudly mentioned having a global map where they mark off regions represented in the game. He noted that regardless of origin, these horror stories possess a universal appeal, tapping into shared human fears. While he couldn’t disclose specifics about future plans, he confirmed their unwavering intent to explore many more cultures and their unique terrifying tales.
Regrettably, Richard declined a request for a glimpse of this intriguing map, leaving us to ponder the countless shadowy secrets it undoubtedly holds.