Dead by Daylight is getting a second Stranger Things chapter — and it’s weirdly huge

Why this Stranger Things sequel actually matters for Dead by Daylight

This caught my attention because Behaviour didn’t just drop another themed skin pack – they committed to a full chapter of Stranger Things content for Dead by Daylight in January 2026. That’s a rare move: licensed crossovers usually show up once and move on. Giving Stranger Things a second chapter changes how we think about DBD’s long-term event strategy and raises a lot of questions about design, identity, and licensing.

• Release timing: Behaviour confirmed Chapter 2 will hit in January 2026.
• Contents teased: one new killer, one new survivor, and a themed map – the classic chapter trinity.
• Rarity: Stranger Things becomes only the second franchise (after Resident Evil) to get multiple DBD chapters.
• Complication: the “Vecna” angle overlaps with DBD’s Dungeons & Dragons chapter that already introduced a Vecna-like killer (The Lich).

Breaking down the reveal – what we actually know (and what we don’t)

Behaviour’s teaser is deliberately sparse: it promises one killer, one survivor, and a new map. That’s exactly the structure of a proper chapter, not just a cosmetic tie-in. For context, the original Stranger Things chapter from 2019 brought The Demogorgon and survivors Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington into DBD, and it became one of the community’s most beloved crossovers—despite being pulled in 2021 and later returning in 2023.

So yes: we’re almost certainly getting a full chapter with unique kits and a bespoke map. What Behaviour hasn’t shown is whether this will feel like a fresh, canonical Stranger Things slice or a DBD-flavored reinterpretation that takes liberties with the source material. Given how the studio reworks licensed icons to fit DBD’s asymmetrical horror rules, that distinction matters to fans.

Why this matters now — and why Behaviour likely green-lit a sequel

Dead by Daylight has leaned on collabs to stay interesting and pull in players from other fandoms. The list reads like a who’s who of horror and cult IPs: The Walking Dead, Resident Evil, Castlevania, Silent Hill influences, and more. Stranger Things was always a standout because the show’s tone and monsters slot neatly into DBD’s gameplay. Making a second chapter signals two things: the partnership still has value, and Behaviour believes there’s more mechanical storytelling to mine from Stranger Things.

There’s another practical reason: Behaviour spent time re-prioritizing bug fixes, performance improvements, and balance work after postponing parts of its roadmap. A hard January 2026 date suggests the studio feels the game’s core issues are under enough control to risk a major licensed release without wrecking the launch experience.

The awkward Vecna problem: two Vecnas in one game

Here’s the spicy bit: Stranger Things lore started people calling a certain antagonist “Vecna” due to thematic overlap with Dungeons & Dragons. But DBD already introduced its Vecna via the D&D chapter as The Lich. That leaves Behaviour with two Vecna-esque entities in the same game universe. Will Chapter 2 lean into the name and fan associations, rebrand the monster, or ignore the overlap entirely? Any choice carries awkward design and narrative compromises.

From a gamer’s perspective this is more than trivia. If the new killer is too close mechanically to the D&D Vecna/Lich, it could feel recycled. Conversely, if Behaviour leans hard into differences, we might get something genuinely creative that expands what a Stranger Things-themed killer can be.

What players should expect — hype tempered with caution

Expectation management is key. Fans want new playstyles, cool voice lines, and an iconic map that reads like Hawkins or the Upside Down. But every licensed chapter in DBD is a negotiation between fan service and game balance. Will the survivor come with Frankensteined gadgets? Will the killer have an Upside Down traversal gimmick that breaks loops? Behaviour has a mixed track record with balance at launch; hopefully the recent engineering focus means fewer patch-day headaches.

There’s also a commercial question: will this be priced as a full chapter, or will parts be gated behind cosmetics and microtransactions? Behaviour has monetized heavily in the past, and players have a right to be skeptical about what “chapter” will mean in practice.

TL;DR

Behaviour confirming Stranger Things Chapter 2 for January 2026 is legitimately exciting—it’s a rare second chapter for an IP and suggests fresh content worth caring about. But keep expectations measured: the Vecna/Lich overlap, potential balance issues at launch, and monetization are valid concerns. For now, I’m cautiously optimistic: if Behaviour uses this chance to deliver a distinct killer, a memorable survivor, and a map that actually plays like Hawkins, this could be one of DBD’s best tie-ins yet.