Dead by Daylight’s Biggest Updates in 2025 Revealed: How Springtrap, The Final Twisted Masquerade, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collab Are Shaking Things Up

If you’re a fan of Dead By Daylight (DBD), 2025 is shaping up to be one wild ride. From the spine-tingling arrival of Springtrap—the animatronic nightmare straight out of Five Nights at Freddy’s—to the last hurrah of the Twisted Masquerade event and a surprise crossover with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Behaviour Interactive is packing The Fog with plenty of fresh content. Let’s dive into what’s coming, why these updates matter, and how they’ll change the way you play and survive in this iconic horror arena.

Why the Springtrap Reveal as Dead by Daylight’s Creepiest Animatronic Killer Is a Game-Changer for Horror Fans Everywhere

Dead by Daylight's latest killer is none other than Springtrap, a character many FNAF enthusiasts have been itching to see playable. This shattered yellow rabbit is more than just your average animatronic—inside that cracked suit lies William Afton, one of the darkest figures in FNAF lore. Bringing Springtrap to DBD on June 17, 2025, marks the first time this villain is playable in any videogame, and the devs have gone all in to make sure he fits snugly in the twisted world of The Fog.

The gameplay mechanics introduced with Springtrap really raise the stakes. Equipped with a pizza knife and a special fire axe power, this killer focuses on surveillance and fear tactics. Throwing his axe creates an area revealing all survivors nearby, but if he manages to lodge that axe in a survivor, it forces them to fend for themselves by removing it or rely on teammates’ help. But remove the axe as Springtrap, and survivors get hit with a terrifying FNAF-style jump scare before being slammed onto a hook. It’s an innovative twist on the usual chase and capture formula that keeps players on edge like never before.

Adding to the tension is the Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria map, a lovingly recreated nightmare version of the iconic pizza joint. Complete with areas like the Front Entrance, Kitchen, Janitor’s Room, and Dining Hall—plus the animatronic band still eerily playing on stage—this map offers plenty of hiding spots and tight corridors that favor both killer and survivors in different ways. Notably, the famous Security Office is back but upgraded. Survivors can hop through multiple security doors and switch between cameras to track Springtrap, which adds a cat-and-mouse layer of strategy. But beware—if Springtrap corners you in the office, the taped jump scares are going to linger far longer.

What the Final Twisted Masquerade Event Means for Fans, and Why You Should Make Time to Join This Last Big Celebration

Twisted Masquerade is one of DBD’s most beloved annual events, blending unsettling masks, eerie abilities, and party-style chaos into its unique Trials. However, 2025 will be the final time Behaviour Interactive hosts Twisted Masquerade—at least in this form. The event returns June 25 through July 16 with some fan-favorites and fresh twists, as the team prepares something brand new and ambitious for the game’s tenth anniversary in 2026.

This year’s farewell includes the return of “Invitations,” collectible items in Trials that unlock powerful, otherworldly abilities. The bag of Tryks that randomly transform matches is making a comeback too, shaking up gameplay with unexpected effects every game. Fans of the Father Campbell’s Chapel map will be thrilled as it returns for another round of eerie fun, this time with a nod to the ongoing Five Nights at Freddy's chapter to keep the thematic vibes strong.

Behaviour is also addressing some feedback from the previous Masquerade. The controversial Remote Hook power, which let killers teleport survivors almost instantly, has been reworked so survivors must be aware and looking at the hook during teleportation. The killers now have to hold a button longer, giving survivors a fair shot and reducing frustration.

To top it all off, the final Twisted Masquerade packs a treat: several original characters who never got a mask or outfit before are finally donning eerie new looks, including favorites like Vittorio, Jake, and Taurie. And for the event’s duration, all original survivors will be free to play, so it’s a rare chance to try out characters you haven’t before. Plus, time-limited masks and cosmetics from the event will eventually come into the store permanently, so even if you miss the event, you won’t miss out forever.

How Dead by Daylight's Surprising Assassin's Creed Shadows Collaboration Introduces the Oni Killer Into an Entirely New World

While DBD usually sucks in crossover characters, this time, the horror is heading out for a spin. Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows has kicked off a Dead by Daylight event featuring the Oni killer. Yep, the imposing demon hunter usually chasing survivors in The Fog is making life miserable for Yasuke and Naoe in 16th-century Japan.

The new quest world cleverly adapts DBD’s cat-and-mouse gameplay into Shadows’ stealth and parkour mechanics. Rather than direct brawls, players need to be cunning and avoid the Oni outright. The Oni’s brute strength and ruthless pursuit style mean running headfirst into him is a death sentence. Ubisoft describes the event like this: "As villagers begin to disappear, Naoe becomes suspicious of the strange otherworldly threat attacking the locals of Harima." You can activate this exclusive quest from your hideout once you unlock Yasuke, and completing it gains you exclusive rewards like trinkets and banners.

On top of that, there’s a fun side collab with Balatro, the in-game card game from Shadows. Players can unlock perks with a bit of teamwork, granting random affliction effects that mix up combat strategies. It’s a cool example of cross-pollinating gameplay between two very different titles.

Why These 2025 Updates Actually Change the Way You Experience Dead by Daylight — Beyond Just New Skins and Maps

There’s surely a lot here to unpack, but more than smashing together a few horror IPs, Behaviour Interactive is evolving Dead by Daylight’s gameplay and world-building in clear ways. Springtrap’s addition doesn’t just fill a spot—it adds a genuinely new layer of psychology, forcing survivors to manage not just chase but the looming paranoia of surveillance and jump scares. The Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria feels alive, full of creepy yet nostalgic details that invite exploration but also keep you on edge.

The last Twisted Masquerade brings a sense of closure and celebration to one of the game’s most experimental seasonal events, while creating anticipation for what comes next in the tenth anniversary year. Whether you’re a cosmetic hunter or a gameplay tweaker, the changes to abilities like Remote Hook demonstrate a commitment to fair, less frustrating play.

Meanwhile, the Assassin’s Creed Shadows collab is refreshing the idea of what a crossover can be by taking the essence of DBD’s killer-survivor tension and implanting it in a totally different context. It’s a reminder that Dead by Daylight isn’t just a killer game—it’s a flexible concept about survival and fear that can adapt across genres and settings.

What You Need to Know to Jump Into These New Dead by Daylight Experiences Right Now and in the Coming Months

• Springtrap and Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Map: Launches June 17, 2025, across all major platforms including PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch, and PC (Steam, Epic, Windows Store). A public test build (PTB) is already live for eager players.
• Final Twisted Masquerade Event: Runs June 25 to July 16, 2025. Take advantage of free original survivors, new masks, and reworked gameplay mechanics.
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows Crossover Quest: Available now. No DLC purchase required; start it from your hideout after unlocking Yasuke.
• Additional Perks & Cosmetics: Expect exclusive skins for Springtrap like the “Yellow Rabbit Legendary Outfit” featuring Matthew Lillard’s likeness, Glitchtrap outfit, and rare variants like Clown and Toxic Springtrap. Survivors also get Freddy Fazbear’s t-shirts to complete the vibe.

If you’re curious and want the full scoop, many platforms including the official Dead by Daylight website and gaming news outlets are running full interviews and breakdowns with Behaviour’s dev team so you can geek out on every detail. But if you just want to play? Mark those calendars and prepare to run screaming, hide like your life depends on it, and maybe, just maybe, get hooked in the best way possible.

New Dead by Daylight chapters and events are released regularly, so stay tuned for more surprises as the tenth anniversary year approaches. And remember: survival isn’t guaranteed, but excitement definitely is.