Summary
On the surface, there is little in common betweenDead by DaylightandFortnite. The former is an asymmetrical horror game where four Survivors attempt to escape the grasp of a bloodthirsty killer, while the latter is a cartoony battle royale game packed with crossovers. Players will not findFortnite’s building, concerts, and gunplay insideDead by Daylight, though horror-themed collaborations is one similarity. The other, more important trait that the titles have in common is their live service nature, and withFortnitemastering the model, there is still somethingDead by Daylightcan learn from it.
Fortnite’s continued success can be contributed to a number of things thatDead by Daylightis already doing. The aforementioned partnerships with pop culture properties is one, as is an attractive battle pass and regular cosmetic additions. New maps are on par withFortnite’s Island updates, while DLC Survivors and Killers can be compared toFortnite’s regular feature additions. With challenges to unlock Bloodpoints available as well,Dead by Daylighthas become a strong live service title. However, it should take notes fromFortnite’s constant graphics updates to become even better.
When looking atFortnitenow, it is almost indistinguishable from the game it once was. Part of this has to do with the many mechanics that were not available at launch, like vehicles and swimming, but the jaw-dropping visuals are something that will be noticed instantly.Fortnite’s cartoony style meant that it would never look too out of date, butEpic Gamesstill went out of the way to update the game’s visuals multiple times. The latest upgrade saw a shift to Unreal Engine 5, and the game looks more amazing than ever before.
Fortnite’s Chapters regularly bring huge improvements to character models and the Island itself, ranging from lighting to textures. This has allowedFortniteto feel like a 2023 game despite releasing several years ago, and its graphics have helped greatly with its longevity. While Epic Games’ ownership of Unreal Engine has surely enabled these regular graphics updates, and it may be too much to expect yearlychanges forDead by Daylight, more frequent graphics updates would certainly be good to see.
To be clear,Dead by Daylighthas had a graphics update before, but that was quite some time ago. Back in 2021, Behaviour Interactive dropped The Realm Beyond, and it made a number of changes across the board. Maps saw a huge improvement, as did character models, with helped with immersion. Alongside the VFX improvements for Killers and Survivors, key items like lockers received better models. However, as 2024 approaches,Dead by Daylighthas started to look dated once again.
The release of next gen consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X has resulted in a number of stunning horror games, ranging from remakes likeDead SpaceandResident Evil 4toupcoming sequels likeAlan Wake 2. Horror fans going from one of these titles back toDead by Daylightcould ultimately be let down by how the game looks, as it feels much less immersive than it should. While some elements from The Realm Beyond hold up, like the blood on the skins players get from Prestiging, other things do not. Seeing characters hooked only for the hook to not properly pierce through their bodies is awkward, while a fresh coat of paint for generators and certain map assets is overdue. Faces could also use some work, and if a big update were to come, better audio for character screams would be nice to see alongside the visual changes.
While an extensive update like The Realm Beyond may be needed at this point, more frequent graphics updates afterward would not need to be as extensive. With live service games aiming to keep players engaged for years, visual improvements are a must, andFortnitehas set a high bar due to how regularly it receives them. It is arguably more important forDead by Daylightto get these upgrades than most live service games, as it is much easier to be frightened by horror content when the Killers and monsters look more realistic. Another graphics pass would help makeDead by Daylightscarier, and since one already happened in the past, it does not seem impossible. WithDead by Daylightbuilt in the Unreal Engine, too, it is hard not to think about a stunningUnreal Engine 5version of the game.
Dead by Daylightis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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