Dead by Daylight initially launched in 2016 and quickly became one of the best and most beloved asymmetrical horror titles in the genre. The format of each Trial pits one Killer against four Survivors, and the power of those Killers balanced with the speed and skills of Survivors has always felt fair. But the game has remained the same for almost a decade, and now Behaviour Interactive believes it’s time to mix things up.
I was invited to take a look at Dead by Daylight‘s 2v8 time-limited game mode in action ahead of its reveal and subsequent release in-game on July 25, 2024. The developer showed press some recorded footage of a party in the game mode, and it looks like frantic, frenzied fun.
As you might have guessed from the name, Dead by Daylight‘s 2v8 mode pits two Killers against eight Survivors, but there’s much more to it than that. There are no Perks or Add-Ons. Instead, you’ve got Survivor classes and improved Killer abilities.
For example, The Trapper can give a speed boost to his fellow Killer, and The Wraith can obscure Killers from Survivors, even those with class abilities. Only five Killers are in this game mode with this first iteration, but Behaviour Interactive is excited to add more. The Clown is of particular interest because of the way he buffs Killers and debuffs Survivors.
We asked Behaviour Interactive if it would be looking to add any 2v8-specific Killers in the future, and all we got was, “Never say never.” While it’s extremely unlikely, the developer doesn’t like to say no to anything if it’s not completely certain.
For Survivors, there are four classes to pick from. The Guide is all about generators, and can see all Survivor auras once the last generator has been repaired. The Medic is, obviously, about healing other Survivors with improved speed, and players using this class can see the auras of injured Survivors.
The Escapist reveals the auras of pallets and windows for Survivors to use in a chase. They can even boost the speed of other Survivors when nearby. This is incredibly useful because I saw Survivors running away from one Killer and into another in the live footage we were shown. Being faster on your feet and knowing where the next window or pallet is could ruin the Killer duo’s planned trap if you’re quick enough.
Finally, there’s The Stealth Survivor class. They remain silent when injured and can see Killer auras in certain circumstances. It’s this class that highlights a big issue with Dead by Daylight 2v8: there’s no in-game chat. Players must link up via Discord to chat together, which slows the experience right down if you’re used to just matchmaking with others. It doesn’t sound like this will change any time soon, but it’s more of just a nice-to-have feature for this game mode specifically rather than essential.
When it comes to winning a Trial, Killers must still sacrifice as many Survivors as they can, while Survivors need to repair 8 out of 13 generators to open the gates and exit. The process of capturing Survivors is sped up here because Killers need only stomp on a downed Survivor to transport them to a cage. This is similar to Pyramid Head’s ability.
As I mentioned, Killers can work together to trap Survivors instead of wasting too much time chasing them one-on-one. Killers can also keep an eye on caged Survivors better, splitting their efforts into hunting and guarding, maximizing the murder.
With Perks and Add-Ons removed, 2v8 looks like a natural fit for Dead by Daylight. Each map has been expanded to retain the essence of fairness in a Trial with more characters involved, but with so many players in a single game, the odds can quickly change in your favor.
One situation I can foresee unfolding is Survivors kiting Killers across the map while the rest of the group coordinates using The Guide class to find every generator and repair them. Killers are going to need to play smart to avoid being manipulated while balancing that with getting hits in and caging as many Survivors who won’t budge as possible.
Behaviour Interactive has often listened to fans and implemented changes based on player feedback, whether that’s with new Chapters containing new characters the fan base has been pining for or hitting the killswitch on a broken part of the game.
2v8 is a result of the developer wanting to give players more options when it comes to Trials. While Dead by Daylight is fun, the grind of playing a Survivor or Killer can get to you after a few Trials, especially if you’re completing Tome challenges.
This game mode offers a way to break out of the monotony and see more of the chaotic elements of Dead by Daylight come to life. Even one skilled Killer in a team of two against eight Survivors is going to feel stressful to play against. But everyone, no matter which side you main, is going to need to re-learn how to play the game to a degree, and that’s what I think will be the most interesting part of this time-limited game mode.
While this first iteration is time-limited, 2v8 is set to become a core part of the game at some point in the future. It just needs refining through more player feedback based on events like the one we’ll get in July 2024. That’s your excuse to jump in, play as much as possible, cause havoc, and tag the developer on your socials when you post the good, the bad, and the ugly experiences.
