Highlights
- Dead by Daylight can learn from Fortnite's live service nature, including partnerships, a battle pass, and regular cosmetic additions.
- Fortnite's continuous graphics updates have contributed to its success and longevity, and Dead by Daylight should consider more frequent graphics updates.
- With the release of next-gen consoles and other stunning horror games, Dead by Daylight's visuals may feel outdated, and an update is needed to improve immersion and scare factor.
On the surface, there is little in common between Dead by Daylight and Fortnite. The former is an asymmetrical horror game where four Survivors attempt to escape the grasp of a bloodthirsty killer, while the latter is a cartoony battle royale game packed with crossovers. Players will not find Fortnite’s building, concerts, and gunplay inside Dead by Daylight, though horror-themed collaborations is one similarity. The other, more important trait that the titles have in common is their live service nature, and with Fortnite mastering the model, there is still something Dead by Daylight can learn from it.
Fortnite’s continued success can be contributed to a number of things that Dead by Daylight is already doing. The aforementioned partnerships with pop culture properties is one, as is an attractive battle pass and regular cosmetic additions. New maps are on par with Fortnite’s Island updates, while DLC Survivors and Killers can be compared to Fortnite’s regular feature additions. With challenges to unlock Bloodpoints available as well, Dead by Daylight has become a strong live service title. However, it should take notes from Fortnite’s constant graphics updates to become even better.
It's Time For Dead by Daylight To Shake Things Up in an Important Way
While Dead by Daylight getting new Chapters and skins regularly is certainly nice, one type of content would truly be a game-changer.
Dead by Daylight is Overdue Another Graphics Update
When looking at Fortnite now, it is almost indistinguishable from the game it once was. Part of this has to do with the many mechanics that were not available at launch, like vehicles and swimming, but the jaw-dropping visuals are something that will be noticed instantly. Fortnite’s cartoony style meant that it would never look too out of date, but Epic Games still went out of the way to update the game’s visuals multiple times. The latest upgrade saw a shift to Unreal Engine 5, and the game looks more amazing than ever before.
Fortnite’s Chapters regularly bring huge improvements to character models and the Island itself, ranging from lighting to textures. This has allowed Fortnite to feel like a 2023 game despite releasing several years ago, and its graphics have helped greatly with its longevity. While Epic Games’ ownership of Unreal Engine has surely enabled these regular graphics updates, and it may be too much to expect yearly changes for Dead by Daylight, more frequent graphics updates would certainly be good to see.
To be clear, Dead by Daylight has had a graphics update before, but that was quite some time ago. Back in 2021, Behaviour Interactive dropped The Realm Beyond, and it made a number of changes across the board. Maps saw a huge improvement, as did character models, with helped with immersion. Alongside the VFX improvements for Killers and Survivors, key items like lockers received better models. However, as 2024 approaches, Dead by Daylight has started to look dated once again.
The release of next gen consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X has resulted in a number of stunning horror games, ranging from remakes like Dead Space and Resident Evil 4 to upcoming sequels like Alan Wake 2. Horror fans going from one of these titles back to Dead by Daylight could ultimately be let down by how the game looks, as it feels much less immersive than it should. While some elements from The Realm Beyond hold up, like the blood on the skins players get from Prestiging, other things do not. Seeing characters hooked only for the hook to not properly pierce through their bodies is awkward, while a fresh coat of paint for generators and certain map assets is overdue. Faces could also use some work, and if a big update were to come, better audio for character screams would be nice to see alongside the visual changes.
While an extensive update like The Realm Beyond may be needed at this point, more frequent graphics updates afterward would not need to be as extensive. With live service games aiming to keep players engaged for years, visual improvements are a must, and Fortnite has set a high bar due to how regularly it receives them. It is arguably more important for Dead by Daylight to get these upgrades than most live service games, as it is much easier to be frightened by horror content when the Killers and monsters look more realistic. Another graphics pass would help make Dead by Daylight scarier, and since one already happened in the past, it does not seem impossible. With Dead by Daylight built in the Unreal Engine, too, it is hard not to think about a stunning Unreal Engine 5 version of the game.
Dead by Daylight is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
