Full Breakdown
Dead by Daylight Celebrates a Decade as Gaming’s Most-Played Horror Title
6/13/2026, 1:14:56 PM
Core Milestone: Ten Years and Over 70 Million Players
Behavior Interactive, the Canadian studio behind *Dead by Daylight*, marks its tenth anniversary in 2026. The asymmetrical 4-v-1 multiplayer horror game has attracted more than 70 million players since its 2016 launch and maintains an average of over 1 million daily active users across platforms. On Steam, the title has remained within the top-15 best-selling games for nine consecutive years. Its consistent presence on Steam’s top-15 best-sellers has outperformed many contemporaries, including *Resident Evil* and *Outlast*.
Evolution of an Asymmetric Horror Genre
*Dead by Daylight* introduced a novel gameplay loop in which a single killer confronts four survivors, a format described by co-founder and CEO Rémi Racine as pioneering a new genre. The game’s longevity has been reinforced by crossover events with horror IPs such as *Alien*, *Five Nights at Freddy’s*, *Resident Evil*, *Friday the 13th* and *Stranger Things*. These collaborations have expanded the title’s content library and attracted new audiences. The developer has cited these crossovers as a primary driver of the game’s lasting popularity.
Growth Metrics and Financial Performance
Behavior Interactive reports that 2025 was the most successful year for *Dead by Daylight*, adding over six million new players and delivering record performance. Revenue over the past twelve-month period increased by more than 50 percent, a growth trajectory that continued into 2026. The studio’s workforce expanded from roughly 30 developers at launch to nearly 500 employees, making Behavior Canada’s largest gaming studio with over 1,200 staff across offices in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Dallas, Middlesbrough and Rotterdam.
Official Statements from Behavior Interactive
In a recent commentary, Rémi Racine highlighted the contrast between early sales forecasts of approximately 300,000 copies and the current scale of the player base. He expressed astonishment at the game’s continued expansion a decade after release and emphasized the significance of reaching a milestone while still experiencing revenue growth. The company also announced plans to reveal future developments for the title during an upcoming livestream.
Upcoming Anniversary Event in Montreal
To commemorate the ten-year anniversary, Behavior Interactive will host more than 3,000 fans in Montreal for a live event. The gathering will feature a livestream presentation of the game’s future roadmap, scheduled for 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 14. The event aims to engage the community and preview upcoming content and features.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When Dead by Daylight launched in 2016, it pioneered a genre: the asymmetric multiplayer horror game, where one killer faces four survivors,” — Rémi Racine, Co-founder & CEO, Behavior Interactive
- “Initial forecasts predicted sales of around 300,000 copies.” — Rémi Racine
- “10 years and more than 70 million players later, I’m astounded by how the game continues to reach new heights.” — Rémi Racine
- “This growth has continued into 2026 — over the last 12 months, the game’s revenues have increased by more than 50%.” — Rémi Racine
