Behaviour Interactive Acquires Red Hook Studios: The Team Behind Darkest Dungeon

In a significant move for the gaming industry, Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind the popular multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylight, has acquired Red Hook Studios, the developers behind the critically acclaimed Darkest Dungeon series. This acquisition marks a major step for Behaviour as they continue to expand their portfolio beyond their flagship game.

With the acquisition, all 29 members of the team will be retained and will continue to operate as they have been.

“It is a privilege to welcome a developer of Red Hook’s caliber,” said Rémi Racine, CEO and co-founder of Behaviour, in a statement. “Earlier this year, we set an ambitious goal for our future as a publisher: to make Behaviour synonymous with horror and to surround Dead by Daylight with a library of equally exceptional horror games. The acquisition of Red Hook is another important step toward that goal, and more will follow.”

Red Hook’s co-founder, Chris Bourassa, responded: “We’ve found kindred spirits in the Behaviour team. Both studios are Canadian, independent, and dedicated to fantastic horror games. What sets us apart is scale, which opens the door to new possibilities. Behaviour’s support will help us pursue our vision for Red Hook’s future and fully focus on transforming Darkest Dungeon into an absolute juggernaut of the dark fantasy genre.”

Thus, there is also a “conceptual” motivation behind the choice of Red Hook, as it fits into a production environment focused on horror titles.

What is Darkest Dungeon? Darkest Dungeon is a challenging, turn-based strategy game known for its gothic atmosphere, psychological horror, and punishing gameplay. Set in a dark, Lovecraftian universe, players must recruit and lead a team of flawed heroes through a series of dungeon-crawling expeditions. The game is unique in its focus on the mental toll that these dangerous adventures take on the characters, adding a layer of emotional depth and complexity to the experience. Heroes can develop various afflictions like paranoia, stress, and even madness as they battle horrifying monsters and otherworldly creatures. With the release of Darkest Dungeon II, the franchise has reached an impressive milestone, surpassing 7 million copies sold worldwide.

A Tough Time for Behaviour Interactive While the acquisition of Red Hook Studios is a huge win for Behaviour Interactive, it comes during a challenging period for the company. Recently, they announced the cancellation of Project T, a game that had been revealed just a few months earlier during their anniversary event. According to official statements from Behaviour, the decision to cancel Project T was made due to “strategic shifts” within the company, citing that the game was not progressing as envisioned. The project was aimed to be a narrative-driven experience, distinct from the fast-paced, multiplayer formula that Behaviour is known for, but ultimately, it didn’t meet their internal expectations for innovation and engagement.

Despite these setbacks, the acquisition of Red Hook and the continued success of Dead by Daylight show that Behaviour is still making bold moves in the industry. Fans of both studios will undoubtedly be curious to see how this partnership evolves and what future projects might emerge from the union of these two creative teams.