Dead by Daylight’s Stranger Things Chapter 2 Is Live on PTB — Vecna Returns Different

Why Dead by Daylight’s Stranger Things Chapter 2 actually matters

This caught my attention because Behaviour Interactive is releasing a fresh Stranger Things chapter just as the series closes, and the team didn’t just port a TV villain into the game – they built a new iteration of Vecna with map-bending mechanics that could shake DBD’s meta. The Steam PTB is live now for anyone who wants to poke at Eleven, Dustin, and a Vecna variant called “The First” before the January 27 full launch.

• New killer “The First” is Vecna-inspired but mechanically distinct – expect world-shifting attacks and a stacking Worldbreaker state.
• Survivors Eleven and Dustin bring stealth, tracking and utility perks that alter generator play and team support.
• PTB testing window matters: Behaviour wants community feedback on balance before the public drop on Jan 27.
• Legendary outfits for Stranger Things characters return, reminding players licensed chapters still push cosmetics alongside gameplay.

Breaking down The First – not the Vecna you already fought

Behaviour already added a Vecna-themed killer in 2024 with The Lich (the D&D chapter voiced by Matt Mercer), but The First is inspired directly by the show’s portrayal. Mechanically it’s a different beast. The First slips between The Fog and the Upside Down, teleports into play with an Undergate attack, and lashes survivors with summoned vines. Hits and strikes hand out Worldbreaker tokens that stack and escalate the threat.

When Worldbreaker activates, the environment itself becomes hostile: the vine and Undergate attacks deal damage, and the Grandfather clocks dotted around the map begin a menacing countdown. Survivors can interact with those clocks to shave time off the Worldbreaker effect, which introduces a new risk-versus-reward objective during chases rather than a pure hide-and-repair game loop.

From a gameplay lens this looks intended to be a pressure-and-area-control killer, closer in feel to the Xenomorph’s underground zoning or Pyramid Head’s area denial than the spell-slinging Lich. That’s significant — if The First lands too strong, he’ll warp common survivor strategies and force meta adjustments fast. Which is exactly why the PTB matters: this is the sort of kit community feedback can temper before it hits live servers.

Survivors, perks and the inevitable cosmetics

Eleven and Dustin arrive with perks that map to their characters rather than being generic stat packages. Dustin accelerates generator completion and plays a support role for teammates at a tradeoff, while Eleven leans into stealth and revealing the Killer’s position — a neat fit for her canon telepathy. This chapter also reintroduces legendary outfits: Jonathan appears as a Steve Harrington legendary, Eddie Munson is a legendary for Dustin, and Robin Buckley returns as a Nancy legendary outfit.

Those outfits are cosmetic currency for Behaviour: licensed chapters reliably serve as both gameplay additions and cash flow generators via skins. It’s not a complaint — players want canonical looks — but it’s worth noting the split focus. The real question for players is whether the perks shift the balance in quickplay and ranked, or simply add niche options for themed builds.

Why now — timing, testing, and what to expect

Dropping this chapter while Stranger Things reaches its finale is smart timing from a marketing perspective: the show’s buzz drives interest, and DBD frequently capitalizes on that crossover energy. From a player perspective, the PTB window is the important bit. Behaviour is pushing this to Steam’s PTB so players can stress-test Worldbreaker timers, Undergate interactions, and the ladder of risk that those clocks introduce.

Be skeptical about marketing-speak that promises perfect balance at launch. New mechanics that alter the map or add a stacking debuff tend to require iteration. Expect quick adjustments if The First dominates chases or if Worldbreaker creates unavoidable one-shot arcs. For players who like to influence development, now’s when your feedback matters most.

TL;DR — What this means for players

Stranger Things Chapter 2 brings a Vecna variant that changes the map and chase dynamics, two themed survivors whose perks could tweak generator play, and a pack of cosmetic returns. It’s live on the Steam PTB for testing and drops fully on January 27. If you care about balance and the long-term meta, try The First on PTB and give Behaviour concrete feedback — this chapter has the potential to be one of the more mechanically impactful licensed drops in recent memory.