With over nine years and an iconic roster of 39 Killers and 46 Survivors under its bloodstained belt, Dead by Daylight has officially released its most requested Chapter ever with Five Nights at Freddy’s. Not only does it speak volumes about the popularity of the world’s deadliest party venue and its animatronic hosts, but also Dead by Daylight’s continued commitment to delivering for fans nearly a decade in. So, grab a slice and celebrate. The wait is over. Dead by Daylight: Five Night’s at Freddy’s is available now, introducing a new Killer, Springtrap, to The Entity’s Realm.
Springtrap Special
Since its announcement last year, fans of both franchises have been eagerly anticipating the crossover. Excitement reached pizza-oven-levels of heat with the release of the PTB a few weeks back as players finally got their first real taste of Springtrap’s jump-scare filled gameplay.
Reactions continue to be overwhelmingly positive, with fans highlighting innovative mechanics that drive fun matches while also taking inspiration from the source material. No small feat, considering the fundamental differences between the titles.
“It goes without saying that Five Nights at Freddy’s and Dead by Daylight feature diametrically opposed gameplay,” shares Jay Guzzo, Springtrap’s Killer Designer. “In the former, you’re mainly sitting in one room and managing a single resource – your battery. Whereas in DbD, it’s much more action oriented, and sitting still will likely get you nowhere fast. Our challenge became finding a way to get those two things to coalesce. It came down to identifying what creates that incredible tension in Five Nights and Freddy’s and adapting it into a dynamic format for our own game.”
High Tension
For any wondering if Springtrap’s first outing as a playable character would deliver, PTB players have praised both the character’s look and animations, as well as the security cameras and doors that represent a key part of the Killer’s gameplay.
At the beginning of a Trial, 7 Security Doors, each with cameras above them spawn across the Map. Survivors can access these cameras to scope out different corners of the environment while both Killers and Survivors can use the doors to teleport across the Map. Not only is this mechanic a love letter to Five Nights at Freddy’s, but a feature that ups the fun factor for players in both roles.
“When Springtrap is the Killer in a Trial, Survivors will find they have more available to them than they normally do,” adds Guzzo. “The doors and cameras give Survivors an unprecedented level of awareness and maneuverability in a match. We balanced it out by making Springtrap a little more powerful than your average Killer so he can really deliver those jump-scares. Hitting the right balance there has been a fun challenge.”
The Chapter also introduces a new Map, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, filled with easter eggs and dripping with nostalgia for fans of the iconic birthday party venue. The team took inspiration from the original game to bring the space to life, making sure to adapt the layout for looping and lots of tension-filled chases.
“We took references from the first game and attempted to reconstruct what a pizzeria would realistically be built like,” explains Associate Art Director Chase Toole. “That’s why we have things like air ducts, mechanical rooms, and of course, the kitchen you see in-game. They reference FNAF, but they also work toward the immersion and believability of the space itself.”
Hot Pursuit
Adding to The Animatronic’s unique Power and skills are a helping of Perks designed to let him crank the tension to dizzying heights. The Animatronic’s 3 character-specific Perks are:
Help Wanted: Damage a Generator to make it Compromised. When the Compromised Generator is repaired, your Basic Attacks have a shorter cooldown for a duration.
Phantom Fear: When a Survivor in your Terror Radius looks at you, they scream and briefly reveal their Aura. This Perk has a short cooldown.
Haywire: Exit Gates will steadily regress. While regressing, Survivors will see the lights randomly flicker.
Accompanying the release is The Five Nights at Freddy’s Collection which includes multiple alternate looks for Springtrap, each drawn from the franchise’s storied history. The centerpiece of the Collection is the Legendary Yellow Rabbit Outfit, inspired by the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, featuring the likeness and voice talents of actor Matthew Lillard who portrayed him on screen.
Dead by Daylight: Five Nights at Freddy’s is available now on all supported platforms.
