Dead by Daylight has issued an apology amid backlash over TheBurntPeanut free content.

Background: A Livestream Gift Turns Into a Flashpoint

Dead by Daylight has found itself in controversy over the actions of what seems to be a solitary rogue developer during an otherwise innocuous livestream. TheBurntPeanut was gifted all of the game’s paid content for free, and the response from the community, along with the developer’s reaction, ranged from mild upset to players ditching the game entirely.

The incident began when TheBurntPeanut noted live on stream that all of Dead by Daylight’s content had suddenly been unlocked. When they noticed and remarked on it, a developer, presumably the one who unlocked all of the content, replied, “WE CAN TAKE THE HEAT! THEY ARE YOURS TO KEEP”.

Development: The Reply That Deepened the Backlash

That response riled up an already upset fanbase. Many players were watching a streamer who did not need to be gifted content for free, let alone that much of it, and the act felt like it was being rubbed in their face in real time.

It also appeared that whoever made the content available could not take the heat after all. Dead by Daylight studio Behavior Interactive later addressed the situation and apologized.

Latest: Behavior Interactive Apologizes Through DbD Pulse

Behavior Interactive said that unlocking content for creators is not always unusual, but this case was different. A statement shared via the DbD Pulse account said: “Although it is not unusual to unlock content to give creators discovering DbD a chance to have a sneak peek at available content, this decision was made without receiving appropriate approvals.”

The statement added: “Furthermore, the team member's subsequent comments and conduct do not align with Dead by Daylight’s core values.”

Behavior Interactive also acknowledged that the studio should have handled the live concerns differently. It said: “When concerns about this decision became apparent during the stream, we should have responded by looking into these concerns, not dismissing them.”

The apology then addressed some of the backlash aimed at the studio’s team members. Behavior Interactive noted that some people had taken things too far and levied threats against Behavior developers in response to what happened.

Why the Apology Felt Incomplete to Some Players

The apology does not seem to have been enough for some, if not most, players. Much of the frustration comes from where Behavior Interactive placed the statement. The apology appeared on its DbD Pulse account rather than the main Dead by Daylight account.

The game’s main account has 1.3 million followers, while its Pulse account has just 22,300 followers. That tiny fraction of the audience seriously limits the apology’s potential reach.

Posts in which players are claiming they’ve uninstalled the game gained almost as much traction as the apology itself. Some pointed to allegations made against the streamer in the past as their reason for leaving. Others highlighted how telling it was that the far smaller account was used for the apology. One player claiming to have quit Dead by Daylight highlighted that their own account has more followers.

Current Stage: The Studio’s Next Steps Remain Unclear

The controversy has left Behavior Interactive facing questions about communication, trust, and community management. The studio has apologized and said the team member’s conduct did not align with Dead by Daylight’s core values, but the placement of the apology has kept some players skeptical.

Behavior’s next steps remain unclear. Giving the statement a share on Dead by Daylight’s main account might be a good start, because the current gap between the 1.3 million-follower main account and the 22,300-follower Pulse account remains central to the dispute.