Is Dead by Daylight 2 Inevitable? A Developer Suggests It Might Be Necessary

A Dead by Daylight developer has strongly hinted that a sequel might be necessary due to the limitations of the game’s original code. When the game was developed in 2016, the original team was neither highly experienced nor particularly forward-thinking. They did not anticipate the massive success the game would achieve. As a result, the current developers—who are now far more skilled than the original team—are constantly facing challenges when creating new content. The game’s old code does not allow for major gameplay modifications without risking the stability of the entire system.

For example, when Capcom requested that Nemesis have zombies as part of his power (Nemesis initially had a completely different ability), implementing this feature nearly broke the entire game. Similarly, bringing Xenomorph into the game required overcoming significant technical hurdles. The same issue arose with Ken Kaneki in the upcoming Tokyo Ghoul chapter—developers had to ensure that Kaneki wouldn’t actually latch onto structures while using his power because the game’s old code simply wouldn’t allow it.

Another major limitation concerns floating killers: no killer in Dead by Daylight truly levitates. Due to the game’s code, it’s impossible to have a killer float without breaking the game. Even Vecna, despite appearing to hover, never actually leaves the ground in the game’s mechanics. His model was designed in a way that creates the illusion of levitation, but his feet remain technically in contact with the surface. Another technical issue applies to The Twins—Victor that was an extremely difficult character to implement, to the point where developers are now considering a complete rework of his ability.

All these technical struggles highlight why Dead by Daylight 2 is becoming more of a necessity than a possibility. It is evident that many killer abilities feel similar to one another, largely due to the restrictive game code that prevents significant gameplay changes.

The Challenges of a Dead by Daylight Sequel

Creating a sequel for a massively successful live-service game is incredibly difficult for two main reasons:

Live-service sequels rarely succeed. Games like Overwatch 2 and MultiVersus have shown that following up on a live-service hit can be risky. However, there are exceptions, such as Destiny 2, which remains highly successful.
Licensing complications. Rebuilding Dead by Daylight from scratch would require renegotiating all licensing agreements with various IP holders. This is a daunting challenge and could be a major obstacle for Behaviour Interactive.

Additionally, there is a financial aspect to consider. If players have spent money purchasing licensed characters like Ghostface, Vecna, or Leatherface in Dead by Daylight 1, they would expect those purchases to carry over into Dead by Daylight 2. Forcing players to repurchase content would likely kill the sequel before it even got off the ground.

Why Dead by Daylight 2 Would Be a Game-Changer

Despite the challenges, a sequel could be a massive opportunity for Behaviour Interactive. Dead by Daylight 2 could:

Introduce more diverse and creative killer abilities without being restricted by outdated code.
Feature gameplay beyond generators, offering fresh mechanics that would attract new players.
Create maps with verticality, allowing for more dynamic environments.
Provide an overall revamped experience, free from the technical limitations of a nearly decade-old game.

Right now, the developers are essentially working on a decaying foundation, trying to mask the underlying issues with new content. But how much longer can this continue? The fact that a developer publicly acknowledged these struggles suggests that even the team at Behaviour Interactive is growing frustrated with these constraints.

At some point, the echoes of Dead by Daylight 2 will become louder within Behaviour Interactive’s Canadian offices.

A Brief History of Dead by Daylight

Originally developed by a small team under Starbreeze Studios, Dead by Daylight quickly gained popularity, especially after introducing its first licensed chapter: Halloween, featuring Michael Myers, Laurie Strode, and Haddonfield.

Shortly after, Behaviour Interactive bought full rights to the game from Starbreeze, allowing them to retain 100% of the profits. This move paved the way for the in-game store and the numerous licensing deals that followed.

But with nearly 10 years under its belt, Dead by Daylight needs a refresh to attract new players. Modifiers and the 2v8 mode are strategies to diversify the gameplay, but the game has essentially remained the same since 2016.

Even seasonal events, like the Halloween ones, are often limited, and the reason is always the outdated code. Developers have to find creative workarounds every time they want to introduce a new ambitious killer power or new gameplay mechanics.

The Future of Dead by Daylight

At some point, Behaviour Interactive will have to make a choice. Will they continue patching up an aging game until it becomes completely unmanageable, or will they take the risk and build Dead by Daylight 2 from the ground up?

One thing is clear: whether it happens soon or years from now, a sequel seems more and more like an inevitability.