Dead by Daylight has received its first alternative game mode. Lights Out has been available since February 7 and will stay for one week. These are the first reactions of the players.
It took almost 8 long years for Dead by Daylight to finally get a new game mode. The mode called Lights Out started on February 7 and will be available until February 14. In this modifier, you can play matches in a standalone queue where not only the maps are abnormally dark, but you also have to play without loadout. Additionally, the terror radius of the Killer is suppressed, and Survivors do not leave scratch marks.
Has the long wait paid off? The fans would probably say no...
"I Don't Think I've Ever Had Less Fun In DBD" – Players Are Not Happy With The New Mode
On paper, Lights Out actually looked quite fun. The mode was supposed to bring back horror and tension into the asymmetric PvP game. Both sides are supposed to be distorted by the darkness on 4 available maps. Due to the absence of gameplay mechanics like the Terror Radius, Scratch Marks, or important HUD elements like the gen count, players were supposed to explore new ways to find their way around and fulfill their respective objectives.
However, it didn't even take a day for the first disappointed voices to be heard. Players were already somewhat disappointed beforehand that the first additional mode wasn't the long-awaited 2v8 mode. To this disappointment, a lot of frustration has now been added as well.
At the launch of Lights Out, many players immediately reported being disconnected from the game before loading into the match. However, this issue seemed to have somewhat subsided within the first hour. What instead stressed players out wasn't necessarily the mode itself, but rather other players.
The biggest issue players encounter in Lights Out is themselves. Due to the absence of perks and items, survivors have no means to counter certain killer playstyles, notably tunneling and camping. Since killers also lack additional perks to protect generators, many resort to these unpopular strategies to efficiently reduce the number of their opponents.
Tunneling: Killers tunnel by focusing on a single survivor. This often includes immediately targeting a survivor again after they have been unhooked, instead of chasing another one. This ensures that the match becomes a 1v3 as early as possible, making it easier for the killer.
Camping: Like in many other games, camping refers to a player staying in one location. This is particularly effective for killers when they guard a hooked survivor to prevent them from being unhooked easily, ultimately resulting in an early death for that survivor.
On Reddit, DBD fans exchanged their experiences with the game mode.
Lights out gamemode is out, he do you feel and is it fun in your opinion? by u/Mr-Ideasman in deadbydaylight
User AedionMorris writes: "I played 3 games as a solo survivor, and I don't think I've ever had less fun in DBD. Played 1 game as a killer, and about 5 minutes in, I realized why that was the case as a survivor."
Other users complained that some Killers had a significant advantage in Lights Out. Especially Killers who have the ability to down Survivors with a single hit would have it too easy because Survivors can't hear them, thanks to the absence of the Terror Radius.
In another thread, user Knalxz comes to the conclusion, that "There's so much proof in this mode that it's players who often ruin shit." They argue that the mode itself has the potential to create new and exciting player experiences. It is the players who turn every match into a competition, wanting to win under all circumstances.
Among the critical voices, you can also read that players who feel not overly focused on winning actually have a lot of fun in Lights Out. Especially as a Killer, you are able to create the most amusing situations by focusing on giving oblivious Survivors some fun jump scares.
If you want to enjoy the mode as a Survivor, we recommend playing with friends, so you can help each other in the case of a tunneling Killer. Although you can't play Lights Out in custom matches, there's nothing stopping you from going into public lobbies with up to 3 other players. And if everything fails, you can always play normal mode and load up your build with anti-tunnel perks.
We hope that Behaviour doesn't draw the wrong conclusions from player feedback and continues to work on game variations in the future. Just because some players take Dead by Daylight too seriously doesn't mean the game isn't made for crazy mechanics.