Dead by Daylight x Stranger Things ger Vecna och nytt kapitelinnehåll inför säsong 5:s final.

Dead by Daylight x Stranger Things is officially coming back. Behaviour Interactive has confirmed that a second Stranger Things chapter is in development, marking the first time the studio has partnered twice with any franchise other than Resident Evil. The crossover arrives in January 2026, lining up with the final stretch of Stranger Things Season 5 on Netflix.

The return strengthens a partnership that began in 2019, when Dead by Daylight introduced Steve Harrington, Nancy Wheeler, and the Demogorgon. That chapter was removed in 2021 due to an expired license, but reentered the game in late 2023. It remains fully accessible, priced at $11.99 or 1,500 Auric Cells.

The next chapter shifts the focus to Vecna. Behaviour revealed a brief 20-second teaser through the game’s official X account on November 27. The clip showed minimal footage but left little doubt about the direction of the update, confirming the Stranger Things antagonist as the central element of the release. His arrival follows the show’s Season 5 premiere, which launched its first four episodes on November 26 in the United States.

This will be the second time a version of Vecna appears in Dead by Daylight. A Dungeons and Dragons-inspired take on the character joined the roster in June 2024. The new crossover is expected to emphasize the Stranger Things portrayal instead, suggesting a build that leans on telepathy, mind intrusion, and psychological pressure rather than spell-based mechanics.

Behaviour has not detailed the full cast for the chapter, but the structure of the 2019 release offers a guide. That crossover included two Survivors and a Killer, alongside a map based on the Hawkins National Laboratory. If the studio follows a similar format, Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers stand out as practical Survivor options. The younger core cast is unlikely to be used due to the game’s violent structure. A new map remains likely. Locations such as the Creel House or Vecna’s hideout in the Upside Down fit the tone and scale that Behaviour has used in earlier releases.

Dead by Daylight x Stranger Things, 2019

The timing of the announcement tracks with the studio’s pattern of revealing major chapters near high-profile industry events. Dead by Daylight content has appeared multiple times at The Game Awards, including the Darkness Among Us chapter in 2018 and The Casting of Frank Stone in 2023. A full reveal at the 2025 ceremony would place the project in front of a large audience ahead of its planned January rollout.

The confirmation also comes after weeks of speculation. Community discussions pointed to multiple possibilities: a third Resident Evil chapter, another film crossover, or a second Stranger Things collaboration. The teaser resolved that debate while advancing a partnership that continues to influence other corners of gaming.

The franchise's presence remains strong across platforms and genres. Netflix’s series has already intersected with several major games. The return to Dead by Daylight adds to a slate that includes Stranger Things skins in Fortnite and the Stranger Things x Brawl Stars event, both of which extended the series' reach to broader audiences and younger player bases. The upcoming chapter reinforces how central Stranger Things has become to cross-media licensing strategies as the show approaches its conclusion.

Dead by Daylight x Stranger Things, 2019

Dead by Daylight’s update will likely introduce expanded perks, a unique Killer power set for Vecna, and a new thematic environment. Behaviour typically reveals gameplay details closer to release, and the January 2026 window gives the studio room to align the chapter with the final episodes of Season 5.

The crossover arrives during a packed period for horror games and adaptations. With Stranger Things entering its final season and multiple genre franchises preparing major releases, the market is poised for a high-visibility run at the start of 2026. Dead by Daylight remains a central hub for licensed content, and the return of Stranger Things positions the game for another surge in activity when the chapter launches.

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