Nine years ago, the studio based in Montreal Behavior Interactive launched the asymmetrical multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylightin which survivors must escape a killer straight out of a nightmare. On the sidelines of the presentation on the stage of the Pax East show of what the Behavior team has planned for the next year of their game which continues to grow, The duty met with Mathieu Côté and Dave Richard, respectively director and creative director of the flagship title of the studio.
By starting his tenth year while being more popular than ever, Dead by Daylight succeeded what can be considered as a feat in the modern video game world: exist as “game as a service” without falling into the forgetfulness. All by becoming the pillar of a genre and bringing together multiple horror icons. Embody Leon S. Kennedy de Resident Evil by being continued by the demogorgon of Stranger Things In the ruins of the vessel Boatswain d’Alien has indeed become ordinary for players of ” DBD ».
How then to explain that a studio of modest size – which has a little more than 1000 employees spread across five studios across the planet – succeeded where so much failed? “Lucky? “Launches Mathieu side immediately, quickly followed by his longtime colleague who says that” there is a little luck, that’s for sure “.
With a game that mixed horror and asymmetrical multiplayer, “we knew that we were engaging in a fairly one niche,” continues Dave Richard before admitting that “it was risky”, but that it was ultimately what allowed Dead by Daylight to get out of the game.
A game and its community
For Mr. Richard, success is also attributed to the relationship between the game and the community, which started “a little” cowboy “”, he reveals. “We did not know what we were embarking on, but we made sure that we are close to the community, that we collect returns, [qu’on] be transparent. »»
What started as a certain obligation – the small size of the studio does not allow “to make announcements on TV, in magazines” – has become an effective way to take the players’ pulse and react quickly, “because we were a small team”, adds Mathieu side by citing the example of collaboration with various content creators, regardless of “eight or 8000 subscribers”.
A risk that has therefore borne fruit, and which Behavior could afford to take, given his business model which mixes the production of his own projects and “work on demand” where part of the employees attend other studios in the development of their games, he dissects.
This diversity of income also allowed Behaviour to be less affected, but not exempt, of the wave of dismissal that affected the video game industry about two years ago. As for the fear of seeing the studio close, as many must have done in recent years, “it is not even a danger that hovers here,” said Mr. Côté.
Five Nights at Freddy’s join DBD
On the stage of Pax East, Behavior has unveiled his vision of the next year with the next arrival of the next arrival of Five Nights at Freddy’s in the universe of Dead by Daylight. A collaboration with this independent horror game that has become a global phenomenon was requested for a long time, a demand that has not fallen into the ears of a deaf.
“It is certain that there is a certain stress, but we want to make sure that each time we set up the bar,” reveals Dave Richard about the many franchises to appear in his game. A feeling shared by his colleague, for whom “is a problem, but it is also the fun ».
“Whenever we make a new license, we want to add Easter eggs [œufs de Pâques] In addition, a little more details, and then it becomes the bar to be crossed for the next time. We cannot do less, it becomes more and more large each time, ”explains Mathieu side.
With five waves of content planned this year, this is also the first time that the team has decided to “reduce the delivery rate to allow us to give our attention to quality of life”, maintains the director. “It was a rate that is not unbearable, but which is quite feverish,” he adds.
A chapter built by fans
Another change, of the five “chapters” which will compose the tenth year, three are based on external licenses and two are unique to Dead by Daylight. From the first moments when collaborations were on the table, “it has always been 50 % the ratio that we had given ourselves,” explains Mr. Côté. “And so there, we cheat. »»
“That said, the universe and the characters we have built are strong enough at the moment to bear to introduce enough licenses without diluting what Dead by Daylight is, “said the latter. “We prefer to take the opportunity [d’introduire une licence] rather than missing it because of timing or another reason, “continues Dave Richard, who maintains that the licenses as we see them in Dead by Daylight are always versions adapted to the universe and the tone of the game.
As they dissected Duty The content to come is one of the two unique chapters to Dead by Daylight which also seemed to create the most enthusiasm with the two developers.
“It’s really coolit’s been a long time since we think of this idea, “says Dave Richard before introducing the chapter” of which you are the hero “, where the community will be able to shape various aspects with choices to be made for about a year to arrive at a product created by the community. “It will give the impression [aux joueurs] that they are part of the production, ”says the latter.
“I said it’s either an idea of genius or it’s really stupid, and we’re going to know after. But it’s probably super good, ”adds Mathieu on the side by not helping to laugh.
Despite the desire to continue Dead by Daylight As long as possible, the two colleagues say they cannot advance on what will bring the next ten years, preferring to repeat that they give themselves “another seven years” … and this, every year.
