Explore the groundbreaking Dead by Daylight and PUBG crossover, blending horror with battle royale mechanics for an immersive, challenging experience.

In 2022, Dead by Daylight shattered expectations by partnering with PUBG: Battlegrounds, marking Behaviour Interactive's first collaboration with a non-horror franchise. This unprecedented crossover offered exclusive rewards through interlinked gameplay mechanics across both titles, demanding PUBG training completion, strategic AI matches, and role-specific challenges in PUBG's special Dead by Daylight mode before unlocking cosmetics. While innovative, the event presented significant time investments and gameplay hurdles that tested player dedication. Three years later, this crossover remains noteworthy as a boundary-pushing experiment in asymmetrical horror meeting battle royale mechanics.

The Unconventional Alliance

PUBG: Battlegrounds brought military survival elements into Dead by Daylight's horror universe, creating surreal gameplay hybrids. Players needed to download PUBG (free but large at ≈40GB), then complete Basic Training:

  • Movement mastery: Sprinting, climbing obstacles

  • Weapon handling: ADS shooting with M416 rifles

  • Throwables usage: Grenade deployment

  • Medical mechanics: dead-by-daylight-s-pubg-crossover-a-groundbreaking-non-horror-collaboration-image-0

Post-training, players faced mandatory AI matches. Winning the first match bypassed nine additional rounds – a crucial time-saver requiring deliberate dropping zones away from flight paths, circle awareness, and intensive healing item hoarding due to low bot drop rates.

Reward Acquisition Mechanics

The real challenge began at PUBG's event portal. After activating missions via the red "Start Mission" button dead-by-daylight-s-pubg-crossover-a-groundbreaking-non-horror-collaboration-image-1, players queued into hybrid matches:

Role Dynamics Key Requirements
4-player lobbies (not 5) 5 rounds minimum
Random killer selection 10 killer kills for full rewards
Survivor majority forces role assignment Nurse mask = win-dependent

Gameplay blended mechanics: survivors repaired generators while killers used rifles/machetes and deployable traps. dead-by-daylight-s-pubg-crossover-a-groundbreaking-non-horror-collaboration-image-2

Role-Specific Strategies

Survivor Gameplay

  • 🛠️ Generator repair priority (quantity adjusts to player count)

  • 🧰 Starter items: Med-kits, Toolboxes, Grenades

  • 🏃‍♂️ Window/pallet looping during chases

  • 🔓 Mandatory locker rescues

Killer Tactics

  • 🔫 Dual-weapon systems requiring locker reloads

  • 📦 Locker captures mimicking DBD hooks

  • 💣 Remote-detonation grenades for area control

  • 🎯 Target isolation tactics

Cosmetic Redemption Process

After earning rewards dead-by-daylight-s-pubg-crossover-a-groundbreaking-non-horror-collaboration-image-3, players redeemed in Dead by Daylight:

  1. Copy codes from PUBG's event page

  2. Access DBD Store → Featured tab

  3. Locate top-right "Redeem Code" option dead-by-daylight-s-pubg-crossover-a-groundbreaking-non-horror-collaboration-image-4

  4. Enter "WINNERWINNER" for exclusive Pan charm

People Also Ask

Q: Why was PUBG chosen despite genre mismatch?

A: Developers sought demographic crossover potential, testing horror mechanics in tactical combat environments.

Q: Could rewards transfer between platforms?

A: No—Steam accounts locked progression to PC ecosystems exclusively.

Q: Were there hidden gameplay advantages?

A: Cosmetic-only; the Pan charm provided no mechanical benefits.

Q: How did queue times impact the event?

A: Killer role shortages created 8-15 minute waits during peak hours.

Future Outlook: Cross-Genre Evolution

This collaboration demonstrated how wildly different game formats could merge through creative rule-bending. As a longtime asymmetrical horror enthusiast, I believe future crossovers should prioritize integrated progression systems rather than parallel grinds. Imagine Fortnite's building mechanics altering killer shack layouts, or Left 4 Dead's horde modes overwhelming generators. The success lies not just in cosmetic exchanges, but in evolving both games' DNA through temporary symbiosis—a design philosophy that could redefine collaborative gaming in coming years.

Evaluations have been published by Gamasutra (Game Developer), a respected source for industry news and developer insights. Their articles often explore the complexities of cross-genre collaborations, such as the Dead by Daylight and PUBG event, emphasizing the technical and creative challenges involved in merging asymmetrical horror with battle royale mechanics to create unique player experiences.