Behaviour Interactive

What Behaviour Interactive does

Behaviour Interactive is an independent video game developer and publisher founded in 1992 and headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. The company operates a portfolio of original and acquired IP spanning horror, survival, puzzle, and immersive entertainment, with 1,300+ employees across studios in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, the UK (Middlesbrough and another UK location), and Rotterdam. Its flagship product, Dead by Daylight, is an asymmetric multiplayer horror game launched in 2016 that has reached over 70 million players through continuous live operations, seasonal chapters, and licensed crossover content from franchises including Friday the 13th, Stranger Things, Silent Hill, Castlevania, Attack on Titan, Terrifier, Scooby-Doo, and Diablo IV. The company also publishes co-developed and third-party titles including The Casting of Frank Stone (with Supermassive Games), Serious Sam: Shatterverse (with Devolver Digital), and Blight: Survival (Haenir Studio), while acquired brands 7 Days to Die (20M+ players) and Darkest Dungeon operate under an 'island model' preserving creative autonomy.

The company employs a dual business model combining owned-IP live service gaming with external development services. Dead by Daylight generates revenue through freemium mechanics including cosmetic microtransactions, DLC chapters, and battle passes, with cross-platform progression across Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile via a Single Account system. Acquired studios (Red Hook Studios acquired September 2024; The Fun Pimps acquired March 2026) contribute additional live and packaged-game revenue. The external development services business provides co-development, porting, and production support to enterprise clients including Microsoft, Sony, EA, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Take-Two. A third emerging line, Immersive Entertainment, leverages the company's game engine and multi-user persistent data technology for location-based entertainment, including a Blade Runner partnership with PHI Studio launching in North America in 2027.

Behaviour has pursued an aggressive M&A and expansion strategy, growing from 575 to 1,300+ employees in five years while conducting layoffs in June 2024 (up to 95 employees) and April 2026 to refocus on core horror IP and external development. Recent strategic actions include the acquisition of The Fun Pimps and Red Hook Studios to broaden the horror portfolio, a Dead by Daylight film adaptation with Blumhouse announced for 2027, a major visual overhaul of the flagship title planned for 2027, and entry into location-based entertainment. The company is privately held, founder-led by CEO Rémi Racine, and has been recognized with Deloitte Best Managed Companies Gold (2023, 2024) and Platinum Club (2026) designations.

Name

Behaviour Interactive

Legal name

BEHAVIOUR INTERACTIVE INC.

Website

https://bhvr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Behaviour Interactive is an independent Montreal-based video game developer and publisher founded in 1992 with 1,300+ employees globally. It operates Dead by Daylight (70M+ players), acquired studios including 7 Days to Die and Darkest Dungeon, external development services for major publishers, and an Immersive Entertainment division.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development and Publishing

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAFAAAH

Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Gaming & Interactive Entertainment (Video Games, Esports)/Game Development Studios (PC/Console/Mobile)

SECONDARYMPAFAIAJ

Community Safety, Moderation & Trust Tools (UGC moderation, anti-toxicity)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Gaming & Interactive Entertainment (Video Games, Esports)/Gaming Communities, Social Platforms & UGC/Game Creation (Mods, Roblox-like)

SECONDARYMPAFAEAC

Creator Tools & Production (Overlays, Alerts, Encoding, Editing, Audio)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Gaming & Interactive Entertainment (Video Games, Esports)/Game Streaming, Video & Creator Ecosystems (Game Content)

Keywords

• Video game development
• Horror games
• Asymmetric multiplayer games
• Game development services
• Location-based entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Owned IP Game Sales and Live Operations: Dead by Daylight generates revenue through base game sales, seasonal chapters/DLC killers and survivors, and in-game cosmetic microtransactions (character skins, outfits, bundles). The game became free-to-play temporarily for its 10th anniversary and offers limited-time discounts. Additional revenue from virtual goods, game currency, and battle passes.
2. Acquired IP Revenue (7 Days to Die, Darkest Dungeon): Revenue from acquired studios' titles including 7 Days to Die (20M+ players since 2013 Early Access) and Darkest Dungeon series. These operate independently under Behaviour's 'island model' while receiving expanded resources for development and marketing.
3. Published and Co-Developed Titles: Revenue from publishing arrangements such as The Casting of Frank Stone (co-developed with Supermassive Games, sold at $39.99 standard / $49.99 deluxe) and publishing Serious Sam: Shatterverse for Devolver Digital. Standard and deluxe editions with additional in-game rewards for Dead by Daylight.
4. External Development Services: Behaviour generates revenue by providing game development services to major industry partners including Microsoft, Sony, EA, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Take-Two. This is a core historical revenue stream alongside owned IP development, with studios in multiple geographies supporting these services.
5. Mobile Gaming (Civilization VII): Revenue from mobile game ports and adaptations including Civilization VII Arcade Edition (Behaviour Interactive and Firaxis Games) launched on Apple Arcade, and Dead by Daylight Mobile.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Behaviour Interactive is an independent video game developer and publisher that creates and operates horror, puzzle, and action games such as Dead by Daylight, 7 Days to Die, Darkest Dungeon, The Casting of Frank Stone, and Islands of Insight. The company also provides external game development services to major publishers including Microsoft, Sony, EA, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Take-Two, and operates an Immersive Entertainment division delivering location-based and interactive experiences.

Product overview

Behaviour Interactive is an independent video game developer and publisher operating a multi-product portfolio with both original IPs and acquired studios. The core products include Dead by Daylight (flagship asymmetric multiplayer horror game with extensive licensed crossover content), The Casting of Frank Stone (cinematic horror collaboration with Supermassive Games), and original IPs like Islands of Insight, Meet Your Maker, and Hooked on You. The acquired portfolio includes 7 Days to Die (from The Fun Pimps) and Darkest Dungeon (from Red Hook Studios). Beyond game development, Behaviour operates an Immersive Entertainment division for location-based experiences and provides external development services through its studio network (Montreal, Toronto, UK-North, UK-South, Rotterdam, Seattle) serving major industry partners. The company also publishes games including Serious Sam: Shatterverse and Blight: Survival.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dead by Daylight: Behaviour's flagship multiplayer horror game featuring asymmetric survival horror gameplay
• Islands of Insight
• Meet Your Maker
• Hooked on You

Quantifiable outcome

• Dead by Daylight reached 70 million players and 2025 was its most successful year with 6 million new players and revenue up 50%+ year-over-year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• PHI StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Behaviour Interactive and PHI Studio announced the launch in 2027 of a new immersive experience inspired by the iconic Blade Runner universe, coming to North America. Behaviour contributes its expertise in immersive content and interactive storytelling to this ambitious collaboration.
• The 7 Fingers, Ubisoft, La Tribu, Décibels ProductionssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Behaviour Interactive partnered with The 7 Fingers, Ubisoft, La Tribu, and Décibels Productions for HEREDIS, an immersive experience. Behaviour serves as co-producer, contributing its expertise in immersive content and interactive narration to this collaboration.
• Devolver DigitalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 March 2026Devolver Digital revealed Serious Sam: Shatterverse, a new 5-player co-op roguelite in the Serious Sam franchise, during Microsoft's Xbox Partner Showcase. Developed by Behaviour Interactive with Croteam's blessing, published by Devolver Digital, planned for Xbox Series, PS5, and PC release in 2026.
• The Fun PimpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Behaviour Interactive acquired The Fun Pimps (TFP), the independent studio behind 7 Days to Die, in a deal whose value remains undisclosed. TFP will retain creative leadership over 7 Days to Die while gaining Behaviour's resources to grow the team and expand the game's future. The acquisition aligns with Behaviour's horror IP portfolio strategy, complementing Dead by Daylight's 60M+ players with 7 Days to Die's 20M+ players since 2013 Early Access.
• Red Hook StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2024Behaviour Interactive acquired Red Hook Studios, a Vancouver-based developer known for Darkest Dungeon and Darkest Dungeon II, for an undisclosed amount. All 29 team members were retained and the studio will operate independently within Behaviour under the 'island model'. The acquisition expands Behaviour's horror game portfolio and Darkest Dungeon's gothic roguelike tradition into Behaviour's ecosystem.
• Supermassive GamescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2024Behaviour Interactive and Supermassive Games co-developed and published The Casting of Frank Stone, a cinematic horror experience set in the Dead by Daylight universe. Released September 3, 2024 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Features branching narratives, Twitch stream integration, 8mm camera gameplay, cooperative play for up to 5 players, and Dead by Daylight in-game rewards with purchase.
• Fly StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2024Behaviour Interactive acquired Fly Studio, a Montreal-based multimedia experience designer and producer, to strengthen its position in the location-based entertainment market. Fly Studio's team of 25 joined Behaviour to focus on immersive experiences using video game technology, expanding into new markets. The acquisition followed prior collaboration on virtual and AR projects, highlighting strategic growth in immersive entertainment.
• Haenir StudiosupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Behaviour Interactive serves as publisher for Blight: Survival, a medieval co-op action horror game developed by Haenir Studio. The game has surpassed 1.5 million Steam wishlists. Behaviour partnered with Haenir Studio nearly two years ago to support core systems rebuilding. The team rebuilt core systems from the ground up and promises significant news in 2026.
• Codeglue (Behaviour Rotterdam)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2023Behaviour Interactive acquired the Dutch game developer Codeglue, marking its third European expansion in six months. Codeglue was renamed Behaviour Rotterdam and enhances Behaviour's external development capabilities in continental Europe. The acquisition is part of Behaviour's broader European expansion strategy including multiple studio openings and acquisitions.
• SockMonkey Studios (Behaviour UK – North)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2023Behaviour Interactive acquired SockMonkey Studios, a UK-based developer based in Teesside, marking its first European expansion. The studio was renamed Behaviour UK – North and supports development for major game companies, providing development services for major clients as part of Behaviour's European expansion.
• Midwinter EntertainmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2022Improbable sold Midwinter Entertainment, developer of Scavengers, to Behaviour Interactive. The sale led to the cancellation of console versions of Scavengers while the PC version remains active. This acquisition added a survival game studio to Behaviour's portfolio.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Broad incumbents

• Konami: Major Japanese game publisher that owns the Silent Hill franchise, which has featured prominently in Dead by Daylight crossovers. Comparable as a larger incumbent with deep horror IP and a portfolio approach to game publishing.
• Capcom: Major Japanese game publisher/developer with the Resident Evil franchise, which has crossed over into Dead by Daylight. Comparable as a larger incumbent in the horror gaming space with established horror IP and a multi-franchise portfolio strategy.
• Warner Bros. Games: Major US game publisher (Mortal Kombat, Batman, Hogwarts Legacy) and a longstanding Behaviour external development client. Comparable as a tier-one publisher partner and overlapping horror-adjacent IP portfolio.
• Ubisoft: Major French game publisher that partnered with Behaviour on the Assassin's Creed Heredis immersive experience. Comparable as a larger incumbent that engages Behaviour as both a partner and external development collaborator.

Direct peers

• Red Barrels: Montreal-based independent game developer behind the Outlast horror franchise. Directly comparable as a fellow Montreal-headquartered indie studio focused exclusively on horror games, with similar headcount scale and a single-franchise strategy.
• Devolver Digital: Independent game publisher that publishes Serious Sam: Shatterverse (developed by Behaviour). Directly comparable as an indie-leaning publisher-developer partner that works with Behaviour, with similar scale and indie-portfolio strategy.
• Digital Extremes: Canadian game developer behind Warframe, with a similar live-service multiplayer model and external development services work. Acquired by Tencent in 2020 for a reported ~$1.5B. Directly comparable to Behaviour in scale, geography, and live-service model.
• Supermassive Games: UK-based independent horror game developer behind Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology. Directly comparable to Behaviour as a fellow independent horror studio — the two co-developed The Casting of Frank Stone (September 2024), demonstrating overlapping capabilities in narrative-driven multiplayer horror.
• Sumo Digital: UK-based game developer with a dual model of owned IP (Snake Pass, Sackboy) and external development services for Microsoft, Sony, and other publishers. Acquired by Tencent in 2022 for ~£919M. Closely comparable to Behaviour's dual owned-IP + external-services model.

Others

• Raven Software: US-based game studio (Madison, WI) owned by Activision that has provided external development services for Call of Duty and other major franchises for decades. Comparable as an established external development services studio operating in the major-publisher ecosystem, with a similar 'support services' business model to Behaviour's UK and Rotterdam studios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/behaviour
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCD0VJCKNdogzxUXQPNdIiQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/behaviourinteractive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/behaviour-interactive
• Instagraminstagram.com/behaviour_interactive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Behaviour Interactive