Dead by Daylight players get a breathing room update in late November and a whole licensed chapter in the new year. Behaviour Interactive confirmed in an August announcement that the studio will push its next licensed chapter back to January 2026, and the developer still plans a minor quality‑of‑life update and winter event around Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
The November release is being described as a mid‑chapter patch focused on bug fixes and improvements rather than a new killer or survivors. The full licensed Chapter 38 was shifted to January 2026 during the same update, with January 27 suggested as a likely window based on Behaviour’s recent cadence of launches.
The delay came after the original roadmap changed, which the studio explained in its August update about the schedule and the decision to concentrate November on fixes and the winter event. That change means players should expect fewer sweeping additions in November and more stability work ahead of the bigger January drop.
Chapter 38 and the roster question
Behaviour has not yet confirmed which characters Chapter 38 will introduce. Rumors have circled Predator, Ghostface, and Jason Vorhees, with Jason now more plausible given the expansion of the Jason universe across new media.
PTB dates and how to join
Behaviour usually opens the public test build roughly three weeks before a chapter launch. Based on that rhythm, the next Steam PTB could begin around Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The PTB is the first place to try changes that may arrive with the patch and to give feedback.
How to download and play the DBD PTB
- Right‑click on Dead by Daylight in your Steam library
- Click on “Properties”
- Open the “Betas” tab
- Select “public-test” from the beta participation drop‑down
- Redownload the game
Your progress carries over from the main release, but any Bloodpoints spent, Bloodweb progression, and unlocked characters are reverted to the last saved point when you return to the stable version.
Where this fits in DBD’s schedule
Dead by Daylight has shipped regular chapters on a roughly three‑month schedule for years. Recent launches include Chapter 37: Sinister Grace on September 23, 2025 and a string of licensed content through 2024 and 2025. Behavior’s plan means November will be quieter for new characters but busier for fixes and seasonal content. Players who want to test changes early should opt into the PTB when it appears and file feedback so the studio can address issues before January.
Please share your thoughts on the patch timeline and rumored roster moves on. Also, let us know if you prefer fixes or a new killer.
