Since its initial launch in 2016, Behavior Interactive’s online survival horror game Dead by Daylight has grown into a persistent force in multiplayer gaming. It has continuously added new killers, survivors, and maps, while building a loyal following among streamers and cooperative horror fans. The game’s momentum was especially visible in late 2021, when the team prepared to launch Chapter 22 under the title Portrait of a Murder.

The chapter became available on November 30, 2021. The official Dead by Daylight website displayed a countdown timer that ticked toward the release moment. Players around the world could expect the update at different local times.

Region	Release Time
Pacific Time	09:00
Eastern Time	12:00
Greenwich Mean Time	17:00

Portrait of a Murder brought two fresh characters into the fog. The new killer was called the Artist. She was a Chilean painter whose life was saved by a murder of crows after a suicide attempt. Her design leaned into artistic and avian horror, giving the game a distinctive visual and thematic presence. The new survivor was Jonah Vasquez, a CIA code breaker. His background suggested a sharp, puzzle-minded character who could appeal to players who enjoy stealth and strategy.

The chapter was announced at the start of November 2021. It represented an effort by Behavior Interactive to return to its roots. While the game had built much of its reputation through licensed horror icons such as Michael Myers from Halloween and Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street, this update focused on original characters. That choice helped keep a healthy mix between recognizable franchises and the studio’s own creative universe.

During the same period, Dead by Daylight was also scheduled to be available for free through the Epic Games Store in December. That promotional move was expected to bring even more players into the community, especially those who had not yet experienced its asymmetrical four-versus-one gameplay. The game’s presence on Xbox Live Gold free play weekends also supported its broad reach.

The studio was not without controversy at the time. Behavior Interactive faced criticism over NFT-related discussions. Fans reacted negatively when reports connected the studio to an NFT company called Boss Protocol. The studio responded by insisting that it would not become involved with NFT practices. Some players still questioned the business judgment, but the controversy did not appear to cause lasting damage to Dead by Daylight’s popularity. The game continued to release content at a steady pace and retained its core audience.

In the years since, Dead by Daylight has remained one of the most recognized co-op horror games across multiple platforms. The chapter structure introduced years earlier became a reliable format for seasonal updates and community engagement. Portrait of a Murder stands out as a memorable example of an original chapter that expanded the lore while maintaining the tension and style players expected.

The game’s availability at that time spanned PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Over time, the roster kept growing, but the fundamentals remained consistent. One killer hunted four survivors. Generators needed repair. Escape gates had to be opened. The loop remained simple to learn but difficult to master.

Key features of Portrait of a Murder included:

• 🎨 A new original killer with crow-themed powers and an artistic backstory

• 🕵️ A new survivor with a code-breaking intelligence background

• 🔪 A fresh map and lore tied to the chapter’s narrative

• 🎮 Continued support for a game that had already built a global following

The release timing also showed how seriously Behavior Interactive treated its update schedule. Rather than waiting for major seasonal events, the studio delivered new chapters near the end of the year, giving players a reason to return during the holiday period. That strategy helped Dead by Daylight maintain visibility in a crowded live-service market.

Portrait of a Murder demonstrated that original content could coexist with iconic licensed material. The addition of the Artist and Jonah Vasquez gave the game new stories to explore. Years later, the chapter remains a useful reference point for understanding how Dead by Daylight balanced creative originality with fan expectations.

Dead by Daylight continues to be available for players who want a cooperative horror experience with friends. Its regular updates, community events, and evolving roster have kept it relevant beyond its initial release window. The Portrait of a Murder chapter was one of many steps in that long journey, but its distinctive artistic and avian themes made it especially memorable.