The team behind Dead by Daylight at Behaviour Interactive has shared details about what they're calling "significant" modifications arriving with their upcoming matchmaking overhaul.
During a discussion with IGN at the Game Developers Conference 2026 (GDC), head of partnerships Mathieu Cote and creative director Dave Richard provided an update on their multiplayer rework plans. After hinting at a "revamp" last summer, they assured players that a matchmaking rework is still on the way, suggesting changes that will go far beyond minor adjustments.
"We're changing it in a very significant way," Richard stated. "Long-time players who've been with us for a decade will recognize elements from our past matchmaking systems—the best parts—and the aspects that currently function well will remain."
He continued, describing the upcoming changes as a "re-imagination" that better aligns with what makes Dead by Daylight unique. This means highlighting the emergent stories from its asymmetrical horror format while preserving what already works effectively.
"So it's going to be a re-imagination of how the game is played that better reflects our core values," Richard explained. "This is a game about scenarios, about being matched in a balanced way, but it's not focused on winning—it's about the experiences. We want every player to have the freedom to play the game how they prefer and to develop their own playstyle, rather than pushing everyone toward highly competitive gameplay."
One key area Behaviour aims to improve with the Dead by Daylight matchmaking changes involves making matches feel less "binary." Richard noted that the experience was never intended to be this way, emphasizing that the team wants to reward players who, for instance, risk their own survival to rescue fellow Survivors, even if it leads to their demise by a Killer.
Cote added that fine-tuning matchmaking to reward diverse playstyles is "challenging," noting that "the scoring at the end of the game has always been intentionally artificial" because "that's not the main focus."
"The goal was to plunge players into chaos, make the best of it, experience truly memorable moments, and encounter surprises—things that had never happened before," he elaborated. "But to achieve that, you need a vast range of possibilities so that some of them actually occur. This isn't compatible with extremely calibrated, competitive gameplay. That's the decision we made, and now our matchmaking needs to reflect that philosophy."
Behaviour firmly believes there's no incorrect way to play Dead by Daylight, and the matchmaking rework is designed to reinforce this message for players. Originally planned for launch sometime after February 2026, no specific release date has been announced yet. However, Cote indicated it's "very likely" fans will receive more updates before the end of 2026.
"It's one of our top priorities," Richard confirmed.
Dead by Daylight will mark its 10th anniversary this June. The enduring multiplayer game is currently featuring its latest chapter, All Kill: Comeback. For additional insights, watch for our complete interview with Richard and Cote. You can also explore Behaviour's approach to maintaining a live-service game and why players shouldn't anticipate Dead by Daylight 2 in the near future.
