Springtrap is coming to Dead by Daylight, but don’t expect the character to look like he did in the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie.
Instead, Behaviour Interactive is going back to the roots. According to creative director Dave Richard, their version of Springtrap is heavily inspired by the original games created by Scott Cawthon, not the movie adaptation.
In an interview with IGN, Richard clarified that their design approach for Springtrap was based on the “classic experience of the game.” That means fans can expect the gritty, twisted vibe of the early FNAF titles, not the more cinematic polish seen in the 2023 film.
“Actually, it was all about, for us, the classic experience of the game, especially the first titles, that we wanted to recreate,” Richard said. “We go for the classics. What creates a little bit of nostalgia as well, and then make it more modern, or whatever it requires to be in Dead by Daylight in today’s flavor.”
Though actor Matthew Lillard reprises his role as Springtrap in Dead by Daylight, his presence doesn’t mean the killer is lifted from the movie. In fact, Richard said that Lillard’s involvement came directly from Scott Cawthon himself, not from any connection to the film.
“We had discussions about the different outfits that we could create for Springtrap,” Richard explained. “It’s a discussion we have with partners all the time, like, ‘What’s your comfort level? We want to respect that.’”
Apparently, while the development team was sticking strictly to the game versions of Springtrap, Cawthon threw in a surprise request, he wanted the Yellow Rabbit suit from the movie included as an alternate outfit.
“We were thinking, ‘We have to stick to the games,’ and he said, ‘Oh, we absolutely need the Yellow Rabbit from the movie. That would be awesome.’ Like, f*** yeah. Yeah, it would!”
So while the main version of Springtrap in Dead by Daylight sticks to the game design, fans will also get a nod to the movie thanks to Cawthon’s input. It’s a blend of legacy and modern horror that fits right into the asymmetrical survival game’s style.
In true Dead by Daylight fashion, Behaviour isn’t just throwing in a crossover for the sake of it. They’re crafting a killer that’s meant to be faithful to the source material, while still fitting into the game’s unique universe.
Whether you’re a hardcore FNAF player or just looking to dive into a creepy new killer, this version of Springtrap aims to deliver a solid mix of fan service and fresh terror.
