ICE NINE KILLS has released “Play Dead,” a new single created in collaboration with Dead by Daylight, the multiplayer survival horror game developed by Behaviour Interactive, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
The track was announced during the game's livestream event on June 14, where the official music video also premiered. The release forms part of the anniversary celebration for Dead by Daylight, which has surpassed 60 million players across all platforms.
With “Play Dead,” ICE NINE KILLS expands its history of collaborations with horror-related franchises. In recent years, the band has released projects connected to Terrifier, Scream and Ready or Not, with Dead by Daylight becoming the latest addition.
The band said the goal was to create a song that would feel like a genuine extension of the game's universe rather than simply taking inspiration from it.
"Ice Nine Kills has always existed at the intersection of menace and mischief. 'Play Dead' is our take on Dead by Daylight — a collision of hooks, horror and total chaos. As lifelong horror fans, it's surreal to have our music officially connected to Terrifier, Scream, Ready or Not and now Dead by Daylight."
To achieve that, the band worked alongside longtime Dead by Daylight composer Michel F. April, integrating musical elements that reflect the atmosphere of the game.
"We wanted the song to feel like a true extension of that universe, not simply inspired by it. Working closely with Michel F. April helped ensure every detail remained faithful to the game's atmosphere."
The video was also developed alongside Dead by Daylight creative directors Mathieu Côté and Eric Pope, with content creator SpookyLoopz participating during production.
Among the video's cast are Devon Sawa, known for Final Destination and Idle Hands, as well as portraying "Stan" in Eminem's music video, actress and producer Krsy Fox, who recently appeared in Terrifier 3, and skateboarding icon Tony Hawk.
Since the release of The Silver Scream in 2018, ICE NINE KILLS has built much of its creative identity around horror cinema. That concept continued through The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood and several standalone releases inspired by iconic horror franchises.
With “Play Dead,” the band extends that approach into the world of video games, collaborating with one of the most successful survival horror titles of the last decade.
