Dead by Daylight 2: Retaining Authenticity Amidst Increasing IP Crossovers
Dead by Daylight is a Horror game known for its Crossover IPs, with Dead by Daylight 2 already planned around a range of heavy hitters. But as more and more characters, both from horror games and otherwise, join the Dead by Daylight ranks, the horror game risks losing the atmosphere and content that made it so exciting in the first place. With the delisting of Friday the 13th, Dead by Daylight is at risk of losing content entirely if rights are revoked, and Texas Chain Saw Massacre has worked closely with its own IP creator to maintain authenticity.
When Dead by Daylight first launched, it felt like something new and exciting. The concept of playing as both killer and survivor was a breath of fresh air, and the game’s reliance on horror game IPs seemed to be handled in a unique way.
However, as time has gone on, the game’s narrow focus has become less apparent. The Dead by Daylight 2 trailers have shown a range of characters from a range of different horror games, from Resident Evil’s Chris and Leon to Fog: The City of Lost Souls’ Sam. While this may be exciting for fans of those games, it dilutes the uniqueness of Dead by Daylight’s characters. The more IPs that join the game, the more repetitive the gameplay becomes, and the less exciting the characters feel.
In contrast, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, another horror game with a strong IP focus, has worked closely with its creator to maintain authenticity. While Dead by Daylight has lost the Jason Voorhees skin, it also has the ability to lose content entirely if Ubisoft or Konami revoke the rights, something Texas Chainsaw has avoided.
Texas Chain Saw Massacre has a broader scope, with more varied gameplay and unique character abilities, but it still maintains the family as its killers. This allows for more variety in gameplay and the potential for new updates and DLC to remain true to the original IP, avoiding repetitive structures.
As Dead by Daylight’s number of IPs continues to increase, it feels like the game is losing its edge. When everything is thrown together, there’s less excitement around what’s coming next, and the game’s increasingly repetitive structures dilute the overall experience.
By contrast, Texas Chainsaw’s narrow focus ensures that new updates and DLC will remain true to the original IP, and avoid repetitive structures. The success of Texas Chain Saw Massacre could potentially establish it as a true competitor to Dead by Daylight. While I’m personally not a huge fan of either game, I’d much rather play something that feels unique and authentic, over something that doesn’t.
