After years of fan demand, speculation, and anticipation, one of horror’s most iconic slashers is finally entering Dead by Daylight.
Behaviour Interactive officially announced that Jason Voorhees from the legendary Friday the 13th franchise will join Dead by Daylight as part of the game’s upcoming 10th Anniversary Chapter. The legendary killer will first become playable in the Steam public test build beginning May 26 before officially launching worldwide on June 16.
For longtime Dead by Daylight players, this moment feels massive.
Since the multiplayer horror title launched in 2016, Jason has consistently been one of the most requested horror icons fans wanted to see enter The Fog. And honestly, for a game built around celebrating horror history, Jason’s arrival almost feels inevitable.
Behaviour Interactive describes Jason’s gameplay as a brutal mix of stealth-based horror and overwhelming physical intimidation designed to recreate the relentless presence that has defined the character across his 45-year legacy.
His power set is divided into two core mechanics:
- Omnipresent Evil
- Improvised Carnage
The first ability, Omnipresent Evil, allows Jason to completely vanish from the map while moving at increased speed, forcing Survivors to lose track of his location entirely. While hidden, Jason can stalk victims using subtle environmental clues like footsteps before violently reappearing through pallets, vault points, and breakable walls.
Behaviour says these explosive reappearances can destroy obstacles and trigger screams from nearby Survivors, creating the constant tension of never knowing exactly where Jason might strike next.
And honestly, that mechanic sounds perfectly aligned with what makes Jason terrifying in the films.
Unlike many killers in Dead by Daylight who rely on speed or supernatural abilities, Jason’s horror has always come from his looming inevitability. He appears suddenly, silently, and often exactly where victims least expect him.
The second mechanic, Improvised Carnage, leans into Jason’s brutal creativity with environmental kills.
Throughout the map, Jason can gather makeshift projectiles crafted from broken pieces of the environment including locker fragments, shattered pallets, generator scraps, and hooks. He can then hurl those objects directly at Survivors with devastating force.
Under certain conditions, injured Survivors struck near walls can even become pinned in place, helplessly trapped until Jason walks over to finish the attack himself.
Behaviour Interactive also confirmed multiple cosmetic outfits will launch alongside the Chapter through the new Jason Collection.
The collection includes:
- Jason’s default Greg Nicotero-designed hockey mask look
- Backwoods Terror featuring flannel, suspenders, and an axe
- Death Forsaken, a grotesque decayed version exposing bone and rotting flesh
- Depths of Despair, a seaweed-and-barnacle-covered version inspired by Jason emerging from underwater terror
“There was never a question that our 10th Anniversary Chapter couldn’t just be big — it needed to be something really special,” said Sr. Creative Director Dave Richard. “When we started to see a path to finally making this partnership a reality for our 10th, we knew then the perfect Jason moment had come.”
Robbie Barsamian, Executive Vice President at Horror, Inc., also acknowledged just how long fans have been waiting for this crossover.
“Our fans have wanted Jason to enter The Fog since Dead by Daylight launched,” Barsamian said. “We’re thrilled to help make the game’s 10th anniversary celebration even more special for fans.”
Jason’s arrival also continues a huge expansion period for the Friday the 13th franchise overall through the newly launched Jason Universe initiative. Upcoming projects currently include the A24 prequel series Crystal Lake for Peacock, alongside new gaming collaborations, merchandise, immersive attractions, and theme park experiences.
And honestly, this crossover feels like one of the biggest horror gaming moments in years.
Because for a generation of horror fans, seeing Jason Voorhees finally stalking players through Dead by Daylight feels less like a guest appearance and more like horror history finally correcting itself.
Dead by Daylight: Jason is available May 26 as part of the Steam public test build. It releases officially on June 16th.
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