Dead by Daylight free on Xbox runs until Monday 2 November 2026, and anyone with an Xbox account can take part. You don’t need Game Pass to download the console trial. Find it in the Microsoft Store’s Free Play Days collection and you can play over Halloween without buying the game.
The offer includes access to the base game for the weekend, alongside the Haunted by Daylight event. It’s different from the four other Free Play Days titles, which need an eligible subscription and end on 1 November. Here’s where to find the trial, what you can play and how to keep your progress if you decide to buy.
Dead by Daylight free on Xbox: dates and eligibility
The free trial is live now and ends on Monday 2 November. Xbox lists Dead by Daylight under Free Play Days for All, so Essential, Premium and Ultimate membership aren’t required.
This Dead by Daylight free on Xbox promotion is for console players. Sign in with your usual Microsoft account on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S. It doesn’t include a free PC or Steam copy.
How to download Dead by Daylight free on Xbox
On your console, open Microsoft Store, select Subscriptions, then choose Free Play Days. Find Dead by Daylight and select the free installation offer. You can also sign into Xbox.com, open the game’s listing and follow its installation link to Microsoft Store.
If you see a discounted price, look for the separate trial button before paying. Both offers can appear on the same Store page. Select the free option to play during the weekend; you won’t be charged simply because you downloaded the trial.
What is included with Dead by Daylight free on Xbox?
Dead by Daylight pits four Survivors against one Killer. Survivors repair generators, help one another and try to escape. The Killer hunts them down before they can get away. New players should start with the tutorials to get comfortable with skill checks, hiding and chases.
The Haunted by Daylight event is running at the same time. This year, Void Rifts appear in the normal Trial map, creating new movement opportunities and ways to earn event rewards. You can jump into regular matches and Halloween activities with your temporary game access.
Do you need Game Pass to join the trial?
No. Dead by Daylight free on Xbox is the weekend’s open-to-all trial. WUCHANG, Darkwood, Spirittea and EVERSPACE 2 require Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate, but that restriction doesn’t apply here.
You still need to use an Xbox account to install and launch the offer. If another game from this week’s lineup asks for a subscription, that doesn’t change the eligibility of the Dead by Daylight trial.
What happens when Dead by Daylight free on Xbox ends?
The trial licence ends after 2 November. The game can remain installed, but you’ll need to buy it or have another game licence to play again. Free Play Days is a try-before-you-buy promotion, not a free-to-keep giveaway.
Xbox confirms that achievements and Gamerscore earned during the trial are retained when you buy the game. To continue compatible save progress, use the same account and game version. There’s no need to start a new Xbox profile when the weekend ends.
Dead by Daylight free on Xbox discounts
Dead by Daylight is discounted by up to 60% during the promotion. Selected DLC is also on sale through 4 November, giving you extra time to look at add-ons after the trial finishes. Your UK Microsoft Store will show the price of each edition.
Character packs and other DLC are optional extras. If you want to keep playing after the free weekend, make sure your purchase includes the base game rather than just an add-on.
What happens to achievements and progress after the sale?
If you buy the game, use the same Microsoft account you played on. Your Xbox achievements stay with that account, and compatible game progress can be continued. You can leave the game installed and launch it again once you have a full licence.
Dead by Daylight free on Xbox makes Halloween a good time to try your first Survivor match or take a turn as Killer. Download it before 2 November, enjoy the event and decide afterwards whether the discounted full game is worth keeping.
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Official source: Xbox Wire: October 29 Free Play Days.
