Behaviour Interactive has apologized after a Halloween stream featuring controversial creator TheBurntPeanut triggered backlash among parts of the Dead by Daylight community. The response followed criticism of the creator receiving access to the game’s full roster of Survivors and Killers, along with support that fans said reflected “streamer privilege.”
Dead by Daylight normally gives players a limited selection of characters. Additional Survivors and Killers can be unlocked with in-game currency, while licensed characters require premium currency. During the stream, TheBurntPeanut reacted to the large number of instant unlocks, saying he had received access to all of the characters.
The stream had not been publicly detailed or promoted beforehand, and the collaboration drew particular criticism because of TheBurntPeanut’s previous on-stream behavior, which some viewers consider offensive. Posts across X and Reddit accused Behaviour of endorsing a creator whose conduct conflicted with the values held by many members of Dead by Daylight’s community. Some players said they had uninstalled the game as the controversy spread.
The situation intensified after alleged screenshots of Twitch chat messages attributed to Behaviour circulated online. One widely shared message appeared to defend the creator and suggested the studio was prepared to accept the backlash. The posts also prompted comparisons with controversy surrounding TheBurntPeanut’s earlier inclusion in Fortnite.
In a statement published by the DbD Pulse X account, Behaviour said a team member had awarded a creator in-game content and currency without obtaining the appropriate approvals. The studio added that the employee’s later comments and conduct did not align with Dead by Daylight’s core values.
Behaviour acknowledged that it should have investigated concerns raised during the stream instead of dismissing them. It apologized for disappointing the community and said it had begun reviewing its internal processes to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
The studio also condemned threats directed at its employees and asked users to stop engaging with posts that identified or targeted members of the team. Behaviour said inflammatory language aimed at the wider community was also deeply concerning.
The apology has not ended the criticism. Some players described the statement as insufficient and questioned why it was posted through the DbD Pulse account rather than Behaviour Interactive’s or the main Dead by Daylight account. The developer has not said whether it will provide further details about the collaboration, the content grants, or any potential action against the employee involved.
Sources: IGN.