Join The Community
As we look ahead to the next DBD update, there are a few things to keep in mind. There are always constant leaks within the community, and while some are very enticing, they shouldn't always be believed. With that in mind, we do know some details about what's coming up in Dead by Daylight, including when the next DBD PTB takes place.
Here, I'm going to tell you when you can participate in the next DBD PTB, how to do so, and what we know about the next DBD update.
Next DBD PTB release date
The next DBD PTB starts on Tuesday, May 26, at around 8am PT, 11am ET, 4pm GMT, and will likely last for a week.
This also suggests that the next DBD update arrives a little earlier than I originally anticipated, as they usually fall three weeks after the PTB. That said, if this is for the Grimoire, there could be a longer gap between the two. Given that we've just had the mid-chapter update, this PTB should be for the next major Chapter, which would be Chorus of Sin, the chapter shaped by players during Grimoire votes and scheduled for an early Summer launch.
Next DBD update release date estimate
We don't yet know when the next Chapter lands, but my estimate would be for the next DBD update release date to be around Tuesday, June 16, 2026, based on the previous release dates schedule and the upcoming PTB. This could be the release of the new Chorus of Sin Chapter, which was voted for by fans in the DBD Grimoire.
A PTB has been announced for May 27, and updates usually land around three weeks later taking us to June 16. This fits in the with the Summer launch of the next Chapter, and my previous estimate, which was just a week later on June 23.
How to join the DBD PTB
To take part in the DBD PTB, you must own the game on Steam. Unfortunately, the test builds are not available on any other platform. To access the PTB on Steam, follow these steps:
- Only when the PTB is live, fully close and relaunch Steam.
- Locate and right-click on Dead by Daylight in your Library.
- Go to Properties, and then select the Game Versions and Betas tab.
- If the PTB is live, you'll see the Public-Test-Build branch in the dropdown.
- Select the PTB branch and update Dead by Daylight.
- Once the update completes, launch the game, and you'll be in the PTB version.
Once the PTB ends, you will need to update the game again to return to the main version. Similarly, if you want to return to the main game before the end of the PTB, follow the steps above again, only this time select Default Public Version from the drop-down list.
We've got other guides to keep you up to date with the latest going ons in DBD, including the annual DBD Blood Moon event, and you should also check out our list of the latest DBD codes for free cosmetic items and Bloodpoints.
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