Dead by Daylight Adds Springtrap from Five Nights at Freddy's

On June 17, 2025, Dead by Daylight will officially release its crossover with Five Nights at Freddy’s, introducing Springtrap—William Afton—as the game’s newest Killer. This collaboration marks the 36th Chapter of Dead by Daylight, and it's the first time a FNaF character has appeared in a multiplayer game as an active antagonist. Springtrap is known within FNaF lore as the reanimated corpse of Afton, the serial killer behind the Fazbear Entertainment tragedies, trapped inside a rotting yellow animatronic rabbit suit.

In Dead by Daylight, Springtrap appears as The Animatronic and is playable as a Killer with a unique Power, three original perks, a fully themed map, multiple Legendary and Very Rare outfits, and a cinematic Mori. His official weapon is a Fire Axe, which connects to both his Power and visual identity. Springtrap's debut occurs in a fully recreated Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria map, inspired by the setting of the first three FNaF games.

Springtrap's Power, known simply as The Animatronic, consists of two connected systems: his Fire Axe throw and the Security Door and Camera system.

Springtrap can throw his Fire Axe in a short arc across the map. This is not a long-range sniper tool but rather a mid-range, arcing projectile. When the axe hits the ground or a Survivor, it triggers an Area of Effect (AoE) reveal of any Survivors in the impact zone. If a Survivor is hit, the axe lodges into their body. This causes a status effect: they are slowed and must remove the axe manually or have another Survivor assist them. If Springtrap catches up before they can do so, he can instantly grab and carry the Survivor. Alternatively, if he retrieves the axe before the Survivor removes it, a jump scare sequence is triggered that stuns the Survivor, followed by an automatic pick-up.

Additionally, Springtrap can use Security Doors located across the Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria map. These doors are interconnected and lead to a central Security Room. From the Security Room, Springtrap can teleport to any other Security Door on the map, letting him instantly reposition. If a Survivor is in the Security Room or exiting a door at the same time as Springtrap, he can grab them on the spot, bypassing chase mechanics.

Survivors can also use these Security Doors. When entering one, they enter the Security Room and gain access to Security Cameras mounted across the map. They can switch between live feeds and plan their moves based on what they observe. However, Survivors must act fast because if they spend too long watching cameras, Springtrap might teleport and grab them mid-exit.

Springtrap also comes with three original perks, each with a clear purpose.

1. The first perk is Help Wanted. With this perk, Springtrap can Compromise a Generator. If that Generator is fully repaired by a Survivor, Springtrap gets reduced cooldown time on his basic attack for a short period. This allows him to quickly recover and keep chasing.
2. The second perk is Phantom Fear. When a Survivor sees Springtrap up close, they will scream automatically, revealing their aura to Springtrap for a few seconds. This gives Springtrap extra tracking ability and pressure.
3. The third perk is Haywire, which only activates when both Exit Gates are powered. Normally, Survivors can charge gates to 99% and wait. This perk changes that. If Survivors stop interacting with the gate switch, the progress goes down, forcing them to commit or lose progress. It makes the Endgame much more intense.

Springtrap’s Mori is brutal and references FNaF lore directly. He grabs the Survivor by the arms, leans in, and screams into their face, then forces them into a steel endoskeleton. The kill ends with their body convulsing as the suit seals shut.

Springtrap’s arrival also introduces a new map, called Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. The layout includes detailed recreations of the FNaF Security Office, hallways, party rooms, and other key locations. Behaviour Interactive has confirmed the map includes secret lore objects and ambient jump scares that can occur randomly, adding tension and unpredictability.

The new chapter also features four cosmetic outfits for Springtrap.

• The Yellow Rabbit Legendary Outfit is based on the Five Nights at Freddy’s live-action film and uses the likeness and voice of Matthew Lillard, who played William Afton in the movie. It includes custom voice lines recorded specifically for Dead by Daylight.
• The Glitchtrap Legendary Outfit comes from FNaF: Help Wanted and presents a corrupted, digital version of Springtrap that aligns with the VR theme of the original game.
• Two Very Rare Outfits—Clown Springtrap and Toxic Springtrap—are stylized variants designed by Behaviour to give the character alternate themes while staying true to the aesthetic.

The team behind this chapter includes Creative Director Dave Richard and Killer Designer Jason Guzzo, who previously worked on the Chucky and Dracula chapters. Guzzo confirmed the team spent nearly a year designing Springtrap. He personally watched over 70 hours of FNaF content, including community gameplay and lore videos, to study what defines FNaF gameplay and fan expectations.

During development, the team faced several challenges. They had to translate FNaF’s single-player, static-survival style into Dead by Daylight’s real-time, multiplayer horror format. The solution was the Security Room and door mechanics, which simulate the original game’s tension while maintaining the flow of DBD gameplay.

Springtrap’s reveal took place at PAX, where Richard stated that the crowd reaction was so intense it caused the floor to vibrate. The announcement was the culmination of almost ten years of fan requests for a FNaF crossover, and it stands as one of the most requested updates in Dead by Daylight history.

This chapter does not include a new Survivor. Behaviour Interactive explained this decision by referencing the original FNaF games, where the player is the unnamed security guard. They wanted to keep the narrative open-ended and let players feel like they are the Survivor. However, they have hinted that future content, including a FNaF-themed Survivor, is still possible.

The collaboration also includes crossover content in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, where players can access Dead by Daylight items and face an otherworldly threat in a special quest. Ubisoft released this crossover as part of its Patch 1.0.5 on May 30, 2025, which introduced DBD-themed cosmetics and a new dog companion tied to a mission titled "Thrown to the Dogs."

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