Survival horror game Dead by Daylight is not known for an abundance of brightly colored flowers. The game, in which groups of four Survivors must escape or evade a constantly moving Killer, primarily features a dim, dark color palette with characters wearing muted clothing to avoid detection. However, a recent update to Dead by Daylight added some surprisingly bright, floral clothing to the in-game store in celebration of hanami, Japan’s cherry blossom viewing festival.
Recent updates to Dead by Daylight have been heavily focused on all things Japan. The game’s most recent update, entitled Sadako Rising, added as a playable Killer the titular vengeful ghost from popular horror film franchise Ringu, translated in English as The Ring. Sadako is the third Dead by Daylight killer inspired by Japanese mythology, following “The Spirit” Rin Yamaoka and “The Oni” Kazan Yamaoka. In addition to Sadako herself, the character Yoichi Asakawa was added as a playable Survivor. Yoichi’s abilities include allowing him to locate and help injured Survivors and quickly escape from Killers.
Shortly after the release of Sadako Rising, the Dead by Daylight team announced the release of the in-game Hanami Collection. Hanami, which literally translates to “flower viewing,” refers to a series of events throughout March, April and early May in which Japanese people enjoy the natural beauty of blooming cherry blossom trees. Dead by Daylight’s hanami celebration includes the addition of three new Very Rare outfits to the in-game store: Traditional Yozakura for killer Rin Yamaoka, Springtime Special for survivor Jane Romero, and Weekend Teatime for survivor Yui Kimura. Each outfit costs 1080 Auric Cells, although Rin’s outfit can also be purchased for 21600 Iridescent Shards.
Instead of traditional cherry blossoms or sakura, the hanami outfits in Dead by Daylight primarily feature hinganbana, the Japanese red spider lily. This choice makes sense for the game, as, in Japan, hinganbana are traditionally connected with death and the afterlife. It is also a good choice for a game like Dead by Daylight, in which choosing Survivors with dark clothing is generally recommended, as brighter outfits make it easier for players to be spotted by the Killer. However, Yui and especially Jane’s hanami outfits do feature splashes of bright pink, so they might not be the ideal pick for a stealthy Survivor.
Previously, Dead by Daylight has released a number of holiday-themed outfits for both Survivors and Killers. While Halloween is of course a popular event in Dead by Daylight, the in-game store features costumes inspired by New Year’s, Easter, and even Spring Break. 2022 is the first time that Dead by Daylight has chosen to celebrate the hanami season, but, if fan reaction to the outfits is positive, it is possible that other Survivors and Killers might get to dress up in sakura or hinganbana-themed gear in future years.
Dead by Daylight is currently available for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
