Behaviour Interactive
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
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.
Behaviour Interactive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Behaviour Interactive
- Legal name
- BEHAVIOUR INTERACTIVE INC.
- Website
- https://bhvr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 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
Behaviour Interactive industry classification
Industry- 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 primary industry
- Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise) (MPAFAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Safety, Moderation & Trust Tools (UGC moderation, anti-toxicity) (MPAFAIAJ), Creator Tools & Production (Overlays, Alerts, Encoding, Editing, Audio) (MPAFAEAC)
Keywords
Where Behaviour Interactive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Behaviour Interactive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Dead by Daylight free-to-play base with cosmetic microtransactions and chapter DLC |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The Casting of Frank Stone Standard Edition at €39.99 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The Casting of Frank Stone Deluxe Edition at €49.99 |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels8 records
Behaviour Interactive product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Behaviour Interactive
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Behaviour Interactive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature5 records
Behaviour Interactive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- PHI StudiocoreBehaviour 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 ProductionssupportingBehaviour 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 DigitalcoreDevolver 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 PimpscoreBehaviour 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 StudioscoreBehaviour 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 GamescoreBehaviour 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 StudiocoreBehaviour 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 StudiosupportingBehaviour 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)supportingBehaviour 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)supportingBehaviour 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 EntertainmentsupportingImprobable 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
Behaviour Interactive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Behaviour Interactive social profiles
Digital presenceBehaviour Interactive financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Behaviour Interactive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Behaviour Interactive subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Behaviour Interactive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Behaviour Interactive M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A7 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Behaviour Interactive
What does Behaviour Interactive do?
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.
Is Behaviour Interactive a public or private company?
Behaviour Interactive is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Behaviour Interactive founded?
Behaviour Interactive was founded in 1992. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Behaviour Interactive based?
Behaviour Interactive is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Behaviour Interactive make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Owned IP Game Sales and Live Operations are the primary driver. The others are acquired IP Revenue (7 Days to Die, Darkest Dungeon), published and Co-Developed Titles, external Development Services and mobile Gaming (Civilization VII).
Who are Behaviour Interactive's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Konami, Capcom, Warner Bros. Games and Ubisoft. Direct peers are Red Barrels, Devolver Digital, Digital Extremes, Supermassive Games and Sumo Digital. Raven Software is listed as an others.
Does Behaviour Interactive have an API?
Yes. Behaviour Interactive supports cross-progression across multiple gaming platforms including Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia through a Single Account system. Players can connect platform accounts to a unified account, enabling them to access their game progression and Virtual Goods across different platforms, except where licensing restrictions apply or for Game Currency which is non-transferable between platforms.
What industry is Behaviour Interactive in?
Behaviour Interactive's product category is Video Game Development and Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAH, Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise), with a secondary code of MPAFAIAJ, Community Safety, Moderation & Trust Tools (UGC moderation, anti-toxicity). Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7372.