Revolutionizing Dead by Daylight: How Fortnite's Strategy Could Transform the Game

Highlights

Dead by Daylight can learn from Fortnite's live service nature, including partnerships, a battle pass, and regular cosmetic additions.

Fortnite's consistent advancements in graphics have played a pivotal role in its triumph and endurance, prompting Dead by Daylight to prioritize more frequent updates to its visuals.

Considering the emergence of next-generation consoles and the arrival of other visually stunning horror games, Dead by Daylight's graphics might seem outdated, demanding an update to enhance immersion and intensify the scare factor.

On the surface, Dead by Daylight and Fortnite may appear to have little in common. Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical horror game where four Survivors try to escape from a killer, while Fortnite is a cartoony battle royale game filled with collaborations. Dead by Daylight lacks Fortnite's building mechanics, concerts, and gunplay, but it does share one similarity: horror-themed collaborations. However, the most significant trait both titles share is their live service nature. With Fortnite excelling in this area, there are valuable lessons that Dead by Daylight can learn.

Fortnite's ongoing success can be attributed to various factors, some of which Dead by Daylight is already doing. Collaborating with popular culture properties is one such factor, as is offering an appealing battle pass and regular cosmetic updates. Like Fortnite's Island updates, Dead by Daylight introduces new maps. And similar to Fortnite's regular feature additions, Dead by Daylight brings in DLC Survivors and Killers. With the inclusion of challenges to unlock Bloodpoints, Dead by Daylight has established itself as a strong live service title. However, it can further enhance its offerings by taking notes from Fortnite's frequent graphics updates.

Dead by Daylight is Overdue Another Graphics Update

Looking at Fortnite now, it is hard to believe it is the same game it once was. The addition of various mechanics, such as vehicles and swimming, certainly played a role in this transformation. However, it is the stunning visuals that truly catch the eye. Fortnite's charming, cartoon-like style ensures that it never appears outdated, but Epic Games has still gone above and beyond to update the game's visuals multiple times. The most recent upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 has taken the game to a whole new level of awe-inspiring beauty.

Fortnite's regular chapters consistently introduce significant improvements to character models and the Island itself, ranging from enhanced lighting to more detailed textures. As a result, Fortnite feels like a game from the future, despite its release several years ago, and its lifelike graphics have greatly contributed to its enduring popularity. While the fact that Epic Games owns Unreal Engine has undoubtedly facilitated these regular graphics updates, it may be unrealistic to expect yearly changes for games like Dead by Daylight. Nevertheless, more frequent graphics updates would certainly be a welcome sight.

Dead by Daylight has previously undergone a graphics update known as The Realm Beyond in 2021. This update brought significant improvements to maps, character models, and visual effects, enhancing the overall immersion. However, as we approach 2024, the game is starting to appear outdated once again.

The release of next-generation consoles such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X has introduced visually stunning horror games, including remakes like Dead Space and Resident Evil 4, as well as upcoming sequels like Alan Wake 2. This stark comparison may leave horror fans disappointed with Dead by Daylight's visuals, which fail to provide the immersive experience they desire. Although some aspects from The Realm Beyond, such as blood effects when players Prestige, still hold up, others fall behind. For example, witnessing characters being hooked without the hooks properly piercing their bodies feels awkward. Generators and certain map assets would also benefit from a fresh update. Additionally, facial animations could be improved, and if a major update were to be released, enhancing the audio for character screams alongside the visual changes would be a welcome addition.

While The Realm Beyond update may have been necessary, subsequent graphics updates can be less extensive. With live service games aiming to engage players for extended periods, visual improvements are crucial. Fortnite has set a high standard by consistently receiving updates. For Dead by Daylight, these upgrades are even more important, as realistic visuals enhance the horror experience. Another graphics update could make the game even scarier, especially considering the previous successful update. Given that Dead by Daylight is built in Unreal Engine, the possibility of an impressive Unreal Engine 5 version is worth considering.

Dead by Daylight is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.