The popular game mode 2vs8 in Dead by Daylight will return soon. But some killers will probably never be there. The reason seems quite silly.
A few weeks ago, when Dead by Daylight launched the “2vs8” game mode, it opened up entirely new possibilities for many players. Finally, you could go out as a killer duo and devise plans together while ambushing the survivors.
However, only a handful of killers were playable, with the prospect of more to follow. Now, one of the game’s directors has commented and clarified: Some of the licensed killers will probably not make it into the game mode.
This was the trailer for the first version of the game mode:
This is the current status: In Dead by Daylight, the second round of the “2vs8” game mode is coming in early November. There are significant changes; the killers will also have classes – just like the survivors. In addition, three more killers will be added to the game mode:
- Spirit
- Blight
- Gunslinger
As with last time, this version is rather a test run and should serve as the basis for what is planned for the mode in the future.
Licensed killers are a problem for a DbD mode
What was said about licensed killers? In an interview with the YouTube channel Slasher Radio, Game Director Mathieu Cote spoke about why licensed killers pose difficulties for the new game mode. Apparently, the developers cannot simply transfer the characters to other game modes. He said:
You can play as the Xenomorph and chase Ash Williams in the house where Michael Myers grew up, but letting Nemesis and Chucky walk around on the same map is a bigger leap. For us, it doesn’t matter if we have Spirit next to the Trapper, but for the license holders, that’s a conversation we have to have.
Since the license holders determine how their characters – and especially in what context – are portrayed, this needs to be checked for a new game mode. For example, someone who wants their killer to be portrayed as a lone wolf in every medium may have a problem if that character suddenly teams up with someone.
Therefore, from Cote’s perspective, it makes sense that the license holders have the right to say: “No, that’s too much, and I’m not interested in having my intellectual property represented in this way.”
Pigwill ever be playable in 2vs8 is still up in the air.
Which killers are licensed? All killers not created by Dead by Daylight but previously known from other franchises are considered “licensed.” Currently, this includes the following killers:
- Shape (Michael Myers – Halloween)
- Cannibal (Leatherface – Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
- Nightmare (Freddy Krueger – A Nightmare on Elm Street)
- Pig (Amanda Young – SAW)
- Ghost Face
- Demogorgon (Stranger Things)
- Executioner (Pyramid Head – Silent Hill)
- Nemesis (Resident Evil)
- Cenobite (Hellraiser)
- Mastermind (Albert Wesker – Resident Evil)
- Xenomorph (Alien)
- The Good Guy (Chucky)
- Lich (Vecna – Dungeons & Dragons)
- Dark Lord (Dracula – Castlevania)
- Onryo (Ringu)
So don’t expect these killers to be playable in the “2vs8” mode anytime soon.
Is that completely excluded? No, it is not. Cote explained that “some are fine with it and are even looking forward to their characters being integrated into something we think is one of the biggest things in Dead by Daylight that we’ve ever done.”
However, Cote could not yet answer which killers are potential candidates for that. Typically, such discussions only happen after negotiations with the license holders have already taken place. If you still do not know which killer you should learn for the game mode, we have here all killers and who is the best for you.
