The fog of the Entity's realm is about to get a little more literary. In January 2026, the perpetually tormented author Alan Wake will step into the nightmare as a new Survivor in Dead by Daylight. This exciting crossover, announced earlier this month by Behaviour Interactive, has sent waves through both communities. While players prepare to guide the flashlight-wielding writer through trials, the immediate question on everyone's mind is: could a villain from the dark depths of Bright Falls or the Dark Place ever hunt survivors in return? The answer is a tantalizing mix of clarification and future promise, straight from the creative directors themselves.

Why Scratch Was Scratched from the Roster 🚫

In a recent Discord Q&A session, Dead by Daylight senior creative director Dave Richard and Alan Wake 2 director Kyle Rowley shed light on the decision-making process. The most direct revelation was the exclusion of Alan's sinister doppelgänger, Scratch, as a potential Killer. Richard explained this was a twofold issue:

1. Conceptual Challenges: Scratch is "impossible to conceptualise as a playable killer." For much of Alan Wake 2, Scratch is portrayed less as a traditional physical entity and more as a terrifying, amorphous mass of screaming faces and dark energy. Translating that specific, chaotic horror into the defined mechanics and animations of a DbD Killer proved too great a hurdle within the project's timeline.

2. Narrative Proximity to The Entity: Perhaps the more intriguing reason is that Scratch feels "too close" to Dead by Daylight's own overarching evil, the Entity. Both are ancient, mysterious forces that feed on human suffering and creativity, manipulating realities and trapping souls. The developers felt their inclusion could cause a thematic clash, blurring the lines between the two cosmic horrors in an unsatisfying way.

Rowley added a cryptic tease for fans, noting that "not everything is black and white around Scratch as a killer." This nod to the complex narrative of Alan Wake 2 suggests that Scratch's nature might be too nuanced for the straightforward role of a hunt-and-kill antagonist.

The Door is Open for Other Nightmares 🚪🔦

While Scratch is off the table, hope is far from lost for fans yearning for a Alan Wake-themed Killer. Richard confirmed that the Behaviour team has now fully experienced Alan Wake 2, and they've seen a plethora of monsters that "could have been a great fit" for the game's roster.

Consider the terrifying roster of Taken that haunt the series:

• The Taken: Corrupted humans wielding everyday tools as deadly weapons, shrouded in a darkness that must be burned away with light. Their variety—from lumberjacks with axes to police officers with guns—offers immense potential for unique power sets.

• The Dark Presence: While the core entity might be too abstract, its lesser manifestations or a particularly powerful "Herald" could serve as a formidable Killer, controlling the environment or summoning darkness.

• Story-Altered Beasts: Creatures like the monstrous deer or the terrifying Cynthia Weaver from the first game present visually distinct and mechanically interesting possibilities.

Richard explicitly stated that while no Killer will accompany Alan's initial release, the possibility for a future addition is very much alive with a simple, promising: "maybe later."

Surviving as Alan Wake: A High-Risk, High-Reward Playstyle ✍️⚡

For now, the focus is on survival. Dead by Daylight has detailed Alan Wake's unique perks, which perfectly reflect his character as a writer who manipulates narrative. His kit is designed for bold, strategic players:

Perk Name	Effect	Thematic Connection
Champion of Light	Blinding a Killer with your flashlight also boosts your own movement speed.	Using light as both defense and a tool for escape.
Boon: Illumination	Creates a Boon Totem that reveals the auras of distant generators to all survivors.	Shedding light on the path forward, a beacon of hope.
Deadline	Increases the frequency of Skill Checks while injured, with great rewards for success but harsh penalties for failure.	The frantic pressure of a writing deadline, where brilliance and collapse are a hair's breadth apart.

This high-risk, high-reward design means playing Alan Wake will be about clutch moments and daring plays. He can significantly accelerate generator repairs and team healing, but messing up under pressure will have severe consequences. It’s the perfect translation of his character: a man constantly on the edge of triumph and disaster, using his wits (and a good light source) to change his story.

The Final Draft 📖

The arrival of Alan Wake is a celebration of survival horror storytelling. While his dark counterpart, Scratch, may never stalk the Macmillan estate, the rich bestiary of the Alan Wake universe remains a compelling future prospect for the Killer role. For now, survivors gain a powerful but perilous new ally, one who proves that sometimes, the pen (and a well-timed flashlight blast) is mightier than the knife. The chapter on Alan Wake in Dead by Daylight is beginning, but the book on potential future crossovers from his world is still being written.