On May 27, Behaviour Interactive released the Public Test Build (PTB) for one of the most highly anticipated collaborations in Dead by Daylight history: Five Nights at Freddy’s. Long considered the most requested license by the community, the arrival of Springtrap as a killer should’ve been a moment of celebration. Instead, the reception has been mixed — and in some corners, outright disappointing.
No Survivor, No Party?
One of the first major criticisms from the community is the absence of a survivor character in the chapter. Many fans were hoping to see iconic faces from the FNaF series brought to life in The Fog, but Behaviour has opted to focus solely on the killer. While this isn’t unprecedented, it’s a letdown for players who wanted a more fleshed-out crossover.
Springtrap’s Power: Axe-Wielding Confusion
The biggest controversy, however, surrounds Springtrap’s power. Months ago, leaks hinted at a strange ability involving an axe, but the idea was largely dismissed by the community due to how out of place it seemed within the Five Nights at Freddy’s lore. Now that the PTB has confirmed the axe-based power, players are baffled — and not in a good way.
Fans are pointing out that Springtrap’s power is essentially a combination of existing mechanics from other killers. He throws axes like The Huntress and teleports through doors in a way reminiscent of The Xenomorph’s tunnel-based traversal system. For the most requested killer in Dead by Daylight history, many feel the design is uninspired and lacks the uniqueness expected for such a legendary character.
Disappointment with the Map
There’s also controversy surrounding the map, as many players have pointed out that it’s essentially just the Greenville Square map with only the main building swapped out:
Additionally, the mask of one of the animatronics from FNaF — Foxy — is noticeably absent. Fans have also criticized the lack of the iconic security office seen in the games, as well as the omission of the well-known hallways from the original setting. Even regarding the jumpscares, they had said the map would feature many of them, but in reality, there’s only one.
What the Fans Really Wanted
What fans hoped for was something that truly captured the eerie and psychological horror of the FNaF universe. Many envisioned a power involving the ghostly apparitions of other animatronics — a mechanic similar to how The Knight summons specters to patrol specific paths. A power that would make players feel like they were truly being hunted by the haunting legacy of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, not just a re-skinned Huntress with teleportation.
Players have also referenced the Tokyo Ghoul chapter — where the killer, Ken Kaneki, came with a completely original mechanic allowing him to move across vertical map structures — as an example of what true innovation looks like in DBD. They had hoped Springtrap would receive a similarly distinctive treatment.
Business Decisions or Technical Limitations?
There are two prevailing theories about why this didn’t happen. The first is business-related: by excluding the other animatronics from Springtrap’s power, Behaviour leaves the door open for future monetization. These characters could later be released as skins — or even as part of a second FNaF chapter, as happened with Resident Evil, which first introduced Nemesis and later added Wesker.
This idea is further supported by a statement from the Game Director of Dead by Daylight, who noted that Springtrap would only receive skins that “align with his power.” This could be a directive from FNaF creator Scott Cawthon himself, suggesting he wants each animatronic to be treated with individual care — potentially laying the groundwork for more standalone content down the line.
The second theory is technical. As revealed by a developer during the Tokyo Ghoul chapter release, the Dead by Daylight engine still has some limitations when it comes to implementing complex mechanics or multi-character powers. It’s possible that animatronic summons were simply too ambitious to fit within the current framework of the game.
What’s Next?
While the current PTB may have left many fans underwhelmed, it’s still possible that feedback could inspire changes before the full chapter drops on June 17. Additionally, if this is just the beginning of Behaviour’s FNaF plans, future chapters could still deliver the creative gameplay and characters fans crave.
Until then, the FNaF community remains cautiously optimistic — if a bit frustrated — that Dead by Daylight will eventually do justice to one of horror’s most iconic franchises.
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