Jason Voorhees is finally coming to Dead by Daylight for its 10th anniversary

Jason Voorhees is finally joining Dead by Daylight after years of requests from fans. Behaviour Interactive confirmed that the Friday the 13th killer will enter The Fog on June 16, 2026, as part of the game’s 10th anniversary update. Steam players using the public beta test build can try him earlier, starting May 26.

This is a major moment for Dead by Daylight because Jason has long been one of the most requested horror icons for the game. The roster already includes many famous killers from horror films and games, but Jason’s absence always stood out because of how closely his style fits Dead by Daylight’s hide and hunt design.

Jason’s abilities focus on stealth, sudden pressure, and brutal environmental attacks

Jason will arrive as a new playable killer with two main abilities: Omnipresent Evil and Improvised Carnage. Omnipresent Evil is built around stealth. It lets Jason disappear from the map, move faster, and keep survivors unaware of his location. While using it, Jason can also track survivors through footprint clues.

That ability seems designed to recreate one of Jason’s most famous horror traits: the feeling that he can appear from nowhere. In Dead by Daylight terms, it could make him dangerous for survivors who rely too much on safe distance or predictable loops.

Improvised Carnage gives Jason a more physical tool. He can throw objects scattered around the map, including locker fragments, hooks, and broken machine parts. If a thrown object lands successfully, it can stagger survivors. With proper timing, Jason can even pin a survivor against a wall.

That second ability could make him feel more aggressive than a pure stealth killer. It gives him ranged pressure while still matching the rough, brutal style associated with Friday the 13th.

Behaviour says Jason’s arrival was chosen because the 10th anniversary needed something especially big. Senior creative director Dave Richard said the team knew the moment was right once the partnership became possible. Horror Inc., which represents the Friday the 13th franchise, also said fans had wanted Jason in Dead by Daylight since the game launched.

Jason’s release will also come with a collection of skins. These should let players recreate different versions of the character from across the Friday the 13th franchise. That is important because Jason’s look has changed across films, from his classic hockey mask to different weapons and costume details.

The timing is also neat. Dead by Daylight’s official 10th anniversary is June 16, and Jason launches on that same date. For a game built around horror crossovers, this is one of the most fitting anniversary additions Behaviour could have chosen.

The biggest question now is balance. Jason needs to feel powerful and scary without becoming unfair to play against. His stealth and ranged object throwing could make him oppressive if tuned too strongly, but if handled well, he could become one of the game’s most memorable licensed killers.

For Dead by Daylight fans, the wait is almost over. After a decade of requests, one of horror’s most famous slashers is finally joining the game, and Behaviour is clearly treating his arrival as a milestone moment.