Dead by daylight eyes soulslike spin-off: elden ring meets horror

Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind the enduringly popular asymmetrical horror game Dead by Daylight, is reportedly toying with a radical new direction: a Soulslike experience. The revelation, dropped during a recent interview at the Game Developers Conference, suggests the franchise’s ambitions stretch far beyond its existing crossover successes and established spinoffs.

A dark vision: dead by daylight in the style of fromsoftware

Creative Director Dave Richard confessed a desire to see Dead by Daylight reimagined through the lens of the notoriously challenging, yet critically acclaimed, Elden Ring. The concept—a brutal, atmospheric action RPG firmly rooted in the Dead by Daylight universe—is a significant departure from the core game's 4v1 gameplay, but one that clearly excites Richard. “I want a DBD Souls game,” he stated plainly. “That’s all I want. I want like Elden Ring in the world of Dead by Daylight. That would be cool.”

This isn’t merely a passing fancy. Richard reiterated the idea when discussing the studio’s long-term vision for the franchise, envisioning a future where Dead by Daylight boasts a billion players—a lofty goal that necessitates expanding into diverse genres. The team, he explained, is keen to showcase the creative potential of its established lore and characters to audiences beyond the core multiplayer experience.

Head of Partnerships Mathieu Cote echoed this sentiment, highlighting the studio’s growing portfolio of side projects, including a film collaboration with Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, and a burgeoning comic series. While acknowledging the complexities of venturing into film production – “since I’ve never made a movie before, I don't know how long is a normal amount of time for one to take” – Cote expressed enthusiasm for seeing Dead by Daylight’s universe brought to life in new mediums. The studio aims to continually leverage the talent of creators outside of Behaviour Interactive to give new life to the DBD world.

The potential for a Soulslike Dead by Daylight is intriguing. The game’s existing atmosphere of dread, its grotesque creature designs, and its core mechanics of evasion and calculated risk already resonate with the tone and gameplay of the Souls series. Whether Behaviour Interactive possesses the resources and expertise to successfully execute such a complex project remains to be seen, but the ambition is undeniable.

With 70 million players currently engaging with the core Dead by Daylight experience, the pursuit of a billion players demands bold experimentation. A Soulslike is certainly a gamble, but it's one that could pay off handsomely, injecting fresh life into a franchise already renowned for its adaptability.