Behaviour Interactive

Corporate history and evolution

The company's origins trace back to 1992 when it was founded in Quebec City under the name Megatoon. Two years later, co-founder and current CEO Rémi Racine helped establish Multimedia Interactive (MMI) in Montreal to develop CD-ROM entertainment software. Both entities were sold to Malofilm Communications in 1996 and merged the following year to form Behaviour Interactive, with Racine as general manager. The studio's first console game, the 3D platformer Jersey Devil released in 1997, was the first console game developed entirely in Quebec and caught the attention of publisher Infogrames. In 1999, Racine and investors bought the studio back but were required to rename it, leading to the 2000 adoption of the name Artificial Mind and Movement Inc., commonly known as A2M. During this period, the studio operated primarily as a work-for-hire developer for major clients including Sony, Nintendo, and Activision while also producing original titles like Scaler (2004) and Naughty Bear (2010). The company reverted to its original name, Behaviour Interactive, on November 8, 2010, citing a renewed focus on original titles and community presence.

The studio's trajectory changed dramatically with the 2016 release of Dead by Daylight, published initially by Sweden's Starbreeze. The game sold over one million copies in its first two months, and by 2022 it had surpassed 50 million players. In 2018, Behaviour purchased the game's publishing rights from Starbreeze for US$16 million, securing full control over its most valuable intellectual property. This success fueled massive revenue growth, from CAD $25 million in 2015 to CAD $225 million in 2021. The company has since expanded through strategic acquisitions, including Seattle's Midwinter Entertainment in May 2022, UK-based SockMonkey Studios (renamed Behaviour UK, North) in February 2023, and Netherlands-based Codeglue (renamed Behaviour Rotterdam) in August 2023. In a significant 2024 move, the company acquired Red Hook Studios, the Vancouver-based developer of Darkest Dungeon, and in March 2026 it acquired The Fun Pimps, the studio behind the survival game 7 Days to Die.

Business structure and operations

Behaviour Interactive organizes its activities into two primary business units: Services and Original Games. The Services unit provides full and co-development work-for-hire services to a roster of major video game and entertainment brands, which has historically included Disney, Sony, Activision, Warner Bros. Discovery, Ubisoft, HBO, Nintendo, Microsoft, EA, Netflix, and Take Two. This unit also encompasses an Immersive Entertainment vertical focused on creating location-based entertainment (LBE) experiences and multimedia installations in partnership with international brands. The Original Games unit is responsible for developing and publishing the studio's own intellectual property, most notably the Dead by Daylight franchise. This dual structure provides the company with a diversified revenue stream and a steady pipeline of projects across its global network of studios.

The company's operational footprint has grown significantly beyond its Montreal headquarters. It established a Toronto office in April 2022 and a studio in Truro, Cornwall, named Behaviour UK, South, in July 2023. Its international studios in Rotterdam and the United Kingdom further support its global development efforts. Behaviour has also made strategic investments in the broader gaming ecosystem, notably funding a $2 million research chair in video game design at Concordia University's Department of Design and Computation Arts over a ten-year period announced in May 2023. The company's workforce, which stood at approximately 1,200 employees as of March 2026, has undergone restructuring at times, including layoffs of 45 employees in January 2024 and an additional 95 in April 2024, primarily at its Montreal location.

Major original games and franchises

Behaviour's portfolio of original games is anchored by the enduring success of Dead by Daylight. Launched in 2016, this asymmetric multiplayer horror game pits four Survivors against one Killer in a tense cat-and-mouse struggle. The game's live-service model has been supported by a continuous stream of new content, including chapters featuring licensed characters from horror franchises like Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Stranger Things. By November 2023, the game had surpassed 60 million players, and by 2026, that figure was nearly 70 million. The franchise has expanded into other media, with a film adaptation announced in March 2023 to be co-produced by Blumhouse Productions, Atomic Monster, and Striker Entertainment, and it has also been used for charitable fundraising campaigns.

The studio has leveraged this success to fund and release other original titles. In the summer of 2022, it released Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim, a spinoff dating simulator, and the melee brawler Flippin Misfits. Its next major original release was Meet Your Maker, a post-apocalyptic first-person building-and-raiding game launched in April 2023 for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles. In partnership with Supermassive Games, Behaviour also released The Casting of Frank Stone, a narrative horror title set in the Dead by Daylight universe, in 2024. The company's acquisition strategy has further bolstered its original game portfolio, adding established titles like 7 Days to Die and Darkest Dungeon to its publishing and support network, where the original development teams retain creative leadership.

Notable legal and industry challenges

Behaviour Interactive has been involved in several significant legal disputes during its history. In June 2018, Bethesda Softworks filed a lawsuit in a United States District Court against Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Behaviour, alleging that the mobile game Westworld, which Behaviour co-developed, was a blatant rip-off of Bethesda's Fallout Shelter, a game Behaviour had also co-developed. The suit claimed copyright infringement, breach of contract, and misappropriation of trade secrets, noting that Westworld allegedly reproduced not only gameplay elements but even specific software bugs from Fallout Shelter. The lawsuit was settled out of court in January 2019, with no public disclosure of terms, allowing all parties to move forward without a trial.

On the industry practice front, Behaviour has been recognized as a pioneer in abolishing mandatory crunch time, the widespread but controversial practice of requiring prolonged, often unpaid overtime to meet project deadlines. This policy, part of a broader commitment to work-life balance, contributed to the company being named one of Canada's Best Workplaces by gamesindustry.biz in 2018, 2021, and 2022. The company's corporate culture has also been honoured by Deloitte as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies, reflecting its structured approach to employee benefits and professional development. This focus on a positive work environment is a stated priority for the company and a key part of its recruitment messaging.

Recent acquisitions and studio expansions

From 2022 onward, Behaviour Interactive pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy to expand its development capacity and game portfolio. The company's major studio purchases and openings are listed below in chronological order. This expansion was paired with some consolidation, including the September 2024 closure of Midwinter Entertainment and the cancellation of its Dead by Daylight spinoff project, codenamed "Project T." The acquisitions of Red Hook Studios and The Fun Pimps were structured to allow those studios to retain creative independence while benefiting from Behaviour's production resources and publishing support for their existing games and development roadmaps. These moves are part of a long-term strategy to assemble a diverse and high-quality portfolio of horror and survival games.

• May 2022: Acquired Seattle-based Midwinter Entertainment, developer of Scavengers.
• February 2023: Acquired UK-based SockMonkey Studios, renaming it Behaviour UK, North.
• July 2023: Opened a new studio in Truro, Cornwall, called Behaviour UK, South.
• August 2023: Acquired Netherlands-based Codeglue, renaming it Behaviour Rotterdam.
• March 2024: Acquired Montreal-based Fly Studio to bolster its Immersive Entertainment division.
• September 2024: Acquired Vancouver-based Red Hook Studios, developer of Darkest Dungeon.
• March 2026: Acquired The Fun Pimps, the studio behind 7 Days to Die.

Workforce and corporate culture

As of March 2026, Behaviour Interactive employed roughly 1,200 people across its global studios. The company promotes a corporate culture focused on employee well-being, creativity, and professional growth. Its benefits package includes top-tier group health insurance, generous paid time off, reimbursement programs for wellness and work-from-home expenses, and contributions to a group retirement savings plan. The company operates on a flexible hybrid work model, with employees encouraged to work from home on Mondays and Fridays and collaborate in-office from Tuesday to Thursday. Behaviour also encourages personal project development, allowing employees to retain full ownership of projects created on their own time, provided there is no conflict of interest, which supports innovation and personal satisfaction.

The company maintains a dedicated internship program to nurture new talent in the gaming industry. Its recruitment process typically involves up to three interviews and may include a technical test, managed by a dedicated recruitment specialist. Behaviour has been publicly recognized for its workplace environment, earning accolades from GamesIndustry.biz and Deloitte. The studio's policy against mandatory crunch time is a central part of its human resources philosophy, distinguishing it from many peers in the industry and contributing directly to its reputation as a desirable place to work. The company also hosts regular social events and celebrations to foster team connection and acknowledge successes.

Financial performance and community engagement

The financial success of Dead by Daylight has been the primary driver of Behaviour Interactive's growth. The studio's revenue skyrocketed from CAD $25 million in 2015 to CAD $225 million in 2021. This economic strength has enabled both international expansion and community philanthropy. For example, the Dead by Daylight game has been used to raise funds for charitable causes, including a campaign that generated $329,957 CAD for the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation. The company's valuation and market position are reinforced by its status as Canada's largest independent game developer and its diverse business model.

The following table outlines key milestones related to Dead by Daylight's growth and the studio's major financial moves. Beyond its flagship game, the company engages the community through events like the Behaviour Beyond presentation, which debuted in August 2022 to reveal new projects. It also partners on immersive experiences, such as a Blade Runner-themed installation announced with PHI Studio for a 2027 launch and the collaborative project HEREDIS, Echoes of the Past with partners including Ubisoft, demonstrating its reach beyond traditional video game development. These community and partnership initiatives help maintain player engagement and expand the company's brand into new entertainment spaces.

Questions about Behaviour Interactive

What was the lawsuit involving Behaviour Interactive about?

In June 2018, Bethesda Softworks sued Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Behaviour Interactive, alleging that the mobile game Westworld, which Behaviour co-developed, infringed on the copyright of Bethesda's Fallout Shelter, a game Behaviour had also helped create. The lawsuit claimed Westworld copied game design, art style, and even specific software bugs. Bethesda sought damages for copyright infringement, breach of contract, and misappropriation of trade secrets. The case was settled out of court in January 2019, with no further public details disclosed, ending the legal dispute.

Where are Behaviour Interactive's studios located?

Behaviour Interactive's primary headquarters is in Montreal, Quebec. The company also operates studios in several other Canadian cities, including Toronto and Vancouver. Internationally, it has a studio in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (Behaviour Rotterdam), and two studios in the United Kingdom: Behaviour UK, North (formerly SockMonkey Studios) and Behaviour UK, South in Truro, Cornwall. This global network supports its work on original games, external development services, and immersive entertainment projects for a wide range of partners and audiences.

What is Behaviour Interactive best known for?

Behaviour Interactive is best known for developing and publishing the asymmetric multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight, which launched in 2016. The studio's flagship original title sold over one million copies in its first two months and by 2023 had surpassed 60 million players worldwide. This success has been central to the company's growth, with revenues increasing from CAD $25 million in 2015 to CAD $225 million in 2021. The game's popularity led Behaviour to purchase its publishing rights from Starbreeze for US$16 million in 2018. Dead by Daylight has also spawned spinoffs like Hooked on You and has a film adaptation in development with Blumhouse Productions.

How many employees does Behaviour Interactive have?

As of March 2026, Behaviour Interactive employed roughly 1,200 people across its global locations. The company is the largest independent video game developer in Canada. Its workforce is distributed between its headquarters in Montreal and other offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Rotterdam, and the United Kingdom. The studio has grown significantly through both hiring and acquisitions, such as Midwinter Entertainment and Red Hook Studios. Despite this size, layoffs in 2024 affected 45 and later 95 employees, representing less than 3% and a portion of the total workforce respectively.

Has Behaviour Interactive acquired other game studios?

Yes, Behaviour Interactive has acquired multiple game studios to expand its portfolio and capabilities. Major acquisitions include Wanako Games in 2008, Midwinter Entertainment in 2022, SockMonkey Studios (renamed Behaviour UK North) in 2023, and Codeglue (renamed Behaviour Rotterdam) in 2023. In 2024, it acquired Fly Studio and Red Hook Studios, the developer of Darkest Dungeon. Its most recent acquisition was The Fun Pimps, creator of 7 Days to Die, in March 2026. These purchases support Behaviour's strategy in original games, work for hire services, and immersive entertainment.

What makes Behaviour Interactive's workplace culture notable?

Behaviour Interactive's workplace culture is notably recognized for its formal policy abolishing mandatory crunch time, a widespread industry practice of excessive unpaid overtime. This commitment to work life balance helped the company earn a designation as one of Canada's Best Workplaces by gamesindustry.biz in 2018, 2021, and 2022. The studio also offers comprehensive benefits including generous paid time off, wellness reimbursement programs, and support for employees' personal projects. Its flexible hybrid work model and focus on team health have been further recognized by Deloitte as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies.

Sources and further reading

• Behaviour Interactive (Wikipedia)
• Jobs & Career Opportunities (bhvr.com)
• BEHAVIOUR INTERACTIVE PARTNERS WITH THE FUN ... (newswire.ca)
• Behaviour Interactive: News Room (media.bhvr.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-30.