Assassin's Creed Shadows x Dead by Daylight: Everything We Know

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed franchise is making a surprise leap into the foggy world of Dead by Daylight, and the internet is already buzzing with speculation and excitement. This unexpected crossover promises to merge the iconic stealth gameplay of Assassin’s Creed with the relentless tension of Dead by Daylight’s multiplayer horror formula. But what exactly does this collaboration look like? And what should players expect when it launches?

The Assassin’s Creed x Dead by Daylight crossover is set to launch during Dead by Daylight’s 9th Anniversary celebration, beginning in June 2025. While Behaviour Interactive hasn’t confirmed an exact date, leaks and insider previews suggest the event will go live mid-month, following the anniversary livestream. The event will be time-limited, but it could include permanent content like new killers and survivors.

Naoe, one of the protagonists from Assassin’s Creed Shadows, will join Dead by Daylight as a playable survivor. Her background as a stealthy shinobi makes her a fitting addition to the roster, with unique perks rumored to focus on evasion, agility, and information gathering. Meanwhile, the killer role will be filled by a new original character: The Shade. Inspired by the Templar antagonists of the Assassin’s Creed series, The Shade uses medieval weaponry and dark Animus-like abilities. He can cloak his presence for short periods, vault silently through windows, and plant memory traps that disorient survivors with haunting illusions of past kills.

A new map will accompany the crossover, blending iconic Japanese architecture with eerie Dead by Daylight horror aesthetics. While not a direct replica of any one Assassin’s Creed Shadows location, the map is inspired by Feudal Japan and includes rooftops for traversal, shrines, hidden passages, and dynamically shifting fog. It’s designed to reward stealth and misdirection, echoing both franchises’ design philosophies.

The event will also feature a variety of cosmetics, crossover items, and unlockables. Players can expect skins like an Ezio Auditore outfit for Dwight, an Aya costume for Nea, and killer weapon skins inspired by Templar regalia. There will also be Animus-themed charms and hidden blade emotes. Some cosmetics will be unlockable through community challenges, while others will be available in the premium shop.

Interestingly, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will include Dead by Daylight-inspired rewards for players who complete event-specific objectives. Ubisoft is using its Ubi Connect service to integrate the two games during the event window, letting fans earn exclusive armor variants and visual flair.

Beyond aesthetics, the crossover introduces special gameplay modes and features. One such mode is Assassin Trials, where survivors must complete stealth-based objectives such as stealing data or taking out decoys. Another mode, Shadow Pursuit, makes killers silent but disables aura reading. Animus Glitches add unpredictable environmental effects mid-match, mimicking desynchronization effects from the Assassin’s Creed series.

From a lore standpoint, the collaboration is non-canon but uses the Animus as a narrative bridge. In the Dead by Daylight universe, survivors are pulled into the Entity’s realm from various timelines. Here, the Animus is repurposed to simulate memories from Naoe’s life and create an assassin-hunting nightmare in the form of The Shade. Players will uncover bits of crossover lore through glyphs, audio logs, and written entries found across the map.

Fans have reacted with enthusiasm. The crossover has sparked discussion across Reddit and Twitter, with players theorizing about possible expansions and additional characters. Some suggest that Bayek or Altair could show up in future updates, while others believe The Shade’s powers are based on hidden Assassin’s Creed artifacts like the Pieces of Eden. Modders and cosplayers have also taken an interest in the collaboration’s visual themes.

Behaviour Interactive has a history of successful crossovers, and this one with Ubisoft could open the door for even more. According to leaks, Behaviour may be in early talks to bring in other Ubisoft franchises. Speculated content includes Splinter Cell-inspired survivor perks, Far Cry villains like Vaas as killers, and Watch Dogs-themed hacking mechanics. If the crossover performs well, the door is open for future Ubisoft collaborations.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the source game for the crossover, is scheduled to launch in November 2025. It follows two protagonists: Yasuke, a samurai, and Naoe, a shinobi. The game promises a blend of traditional action, cinematic stealth, branching narratives, and historical exploration. Ubisoft hopes that introducing Shadows’ characters to Dead by Daylight will build anticipation and curiosity for the upcoming release.

Overall, this crossover is more than a simple marketing stunt. It brings new gameplay ideas, visual designs, and lore implications that satisfy both Dead by Daylight veterans and Assassin’s Creed fans. Whether it’s cloaking in the shadows, escaping a bloodthirsty Shade, or unlocking a hidden blade emote, players will have plenty to explore during the event.

For more coverage on major gaming crossovers, check out our article on Wolverine for PS5 or see how Marvel Rivals is evolving with Ultron’s Season 2.5 update.