Ice Nine Kills Releases Second Play Dead Music Video Chapter in Dead By Daylight Collaboration
The collaboration, announced in late June, ties the band’s new single to the game’s 10th‑anniversary celebrations. Ice Nine Kills worked with Dead By Daylight’s composer Michel F. April on the track, and the video features appearances from actor Devon Sawa, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and horror actress‑musician Krsy Fox.
Ice Nine Kills, a Boston‑based metalcore group known for horror‑themed lyrics, released the first “Play Dead” video on June 26. The clip was produced in partnership with Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind Dead By Daylight, and was intended to promote the game’s upcoming content. According to the band’s official announcement, the second chapter was released on July 26.
The new video follows the narrative introduced in the first installment, showing the band’s frontman Spencer Charnas navigating a fog‑filled landscape that mirrors the game’s atmosphere. Devon Sawa, who has appeared in horror films such as Final Destination and the Eminem music video “Stan,” plays a character that echoes the game’s Survivor archetype. Tony Hawk, a professional skateboarder with a long history of media appearances, appears in a cameo that blends his skateboarding skills with the video’s horror aesthetic. Krsy Fox, known for her work in Terrifier 2 and the short film Little Bites, provides a vocal cameo that ties her horror persona to the music.
The partnership extends beyond the music video. Michel F. April, the composer for Dead By Daylight’s original score, collaborated with Ice Nine Kills on the “Play Dead” track, blending the band’s heavy guitar riffs with the game’s atmospheric sound design. April’s background includes work on major horror franchises such as Resident Evil and Aliens, and he has composed for more than 70 million players of Dead By Daylight.
From an industry perspective, the collaboration illustrates a growing trend of cross‑media marketing between music artists and video game developers. By aligning a new single with a popular game’s anniversary, Ice Nine Kills and Behaviour Interactive aim to reach both the band’s fan base and the game’s player community. The partnership also highlights the potential for music to enhance gaming experiences, a strategy that has been used by other titles such as Call of Duty and Fortnite.
The second “Play Dead” video has been uploaded to the band’s official YouTube channel and is available on major streaming platforms. While specific view counts for the new clip have not been released, the first video accumulated over 1.4 million views in its first two weeks, indicating strong audience interest.
In summary, Ice Nine Kills’ release of the second chapter of “Play Dead” continues the narrative begun in the first video and reinforces the band’s collaboration with Dead By Daylight. The partnership showcases a blend of horror‑themed music and gaming culture, featuring notable personalities such as Devon Sawa, Tony Hawk, and Krsy Fox. With the new video now live, fans of both the band and the game can explore the expanded storyline and anticipate future releases from the collaboration.