Ice Nine Kills (INK) has officially unleashed “Play Dead,” a blistering new single and cinematic music video cooked up in a bloody collaboration with Dead by Daylight to celebrate the legendary multiplayer game’s 10th anniversary.
The track was co-crafted alongside longtime Dead by Daylight composer Michel F. April, and the partnership goes beyond the music—players can officially represent the band in the Entity’s realm with an exclusive in-game Ice Nine Kills Collection DLC.
The INKverse Welcomes New Meat
If you thought the song was heavy, wait until you see the star-studded chaos in the upcoming “Play Dead” Part 2 music video. INK mastermind Spencer Charnas has assembled a glorious roster of icons and horror royalty. Get ready to dive into the band’s cinematic lore.
Tony Hawk: The Michael Jordan of skateboarding, bridging gaming, punk rock, and counterculture.
Devon Sawa: The definitive millennial genre icon (Final Destination, Idle Hands, and Eminem’s “Stan” video).
Krsy Fox: One of modern horror’s reigning scream queens, fresh off a showstopping performance in Terrifier 3.
Spookyloopz: Fan-favorite Dead by Daylight gameplay expert.
Dingbar Tarbani: The formerly disgraced intimacy coordinator turned international opera singer, slithering in to keep things thoroughly bizarre.
They join a legendary list of past INK video alums, including Matthew Lillard, David Arquette, and Bill Moseley.
Spencer Charnas on Menace & Mischief
“Ice Nine Kills has always lived somewhere between menace and mischief,” says frontman Spencer Charnas. “As lifelong horror fans, we find it surreal and an absolute honor to have Ice Nine Kills’ music officially tied to Terrifier, Scream, Ready or Not, and now, the iconic survival horror game Dead by Daylight. We wanted the song to feel like a real extension of that universe, not just inspired by it, but genuinely part of it.”
Mat Côté, Head of Partnerships for Dead by Daylight, shared the excitement: “Ice Nine Kills shares that same passion for the genre we have. Their creativity and deep connection to horror culture made this collab feel incredibly natural.”
Ice Nine Kills is Unstoppable
INK is currently on an absolutely historic run, soundtracking the biggest moments in modern horror across gaming and Hollywood. Their impressive résumé of recent conquests includes:
“A Work of Art”: The official anthem for Terrifier 3, which shattered records as the highest-grossing unrated movie in box office history.
“Twisting The Knife (feat. McKenna Grace)”: Shot straight to #1 at Active Rock Radio after blasting through the end credits of Scream 7.
“Hell or High Slaughter”: Infiltrated the tactical horror sequel Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.
Upcoming Gaming Debut: Spencer Charnas will voice a character in the highly anticipated Halloween: The Game, dropping its Digital Deluxe Edition on September 4, 2026.
Two decades into their career, Ice Nine Kills isn’t just writing songs anymore. They are building an immersive, blood-soaked empire where every track is a scene, and every music video is a piece of horror history.
You can stream “Play Dead” on all major music platforms and watch the nightmare unfold on YouTube right now. Stream “Play Dead” now HERE. Watch the video below.
