Behaviour Interactive apologized on November 1, 2026, after free character unlocks for TheBurntPeanut during a Dead by Daylight stream sparked community backlash. The controversy grew after the game's official Twitch account dismissed criticism of the giveaway.
The stream and the chat message
During his Halloween stream, TheBurntPeanut played Dead by Daylight. The official Dead by Daylight Twitch account followed up with a blunt message: “WE CAN TAKE THE HEAT! THEY ARE YOURS TO KEEP!”
The backlash included objections to Behaviour's support for TheBurntPeanut and criticism of his past on-stream language. Some players also posted that they had uninstalled Dead by Daylight as the dispute escalated.
For players comparing Dead by Daylight's best Killers, character access has a practical cost. Original characters can be unlocked with earned Iridescent Shards, while licensed characters can cost around $5 in premium Auric Cells.
Behaviour acknowledges an approval failure
The November 1 statement appeared on DbD Pulse, Behaviour's community account. It identified two failures in how the stream was handled:
- The statement said the decision did not receive the appropriate approvals.
- The team member's subsequent comments and conduct did not reflect Dead by Daylight's core values.
Behaviour said it should have investigated concerns raised during the stream instead of dismissing them. The studio also expressed support for community members asking it to uphold its stated values regardless of a creator's popularity.
The apology drew further criticism over its placement on the smaller DbD Pulse account rather than the main Dead by Daylight account, which has 1.3 million followers. Some players questioned the response's visibility as well as its substance.
Behaviour says it has already begun reviewing its internal processes to prevent a repeat. That follow-up comes as players are also navigating a separate collection change, Chucky's upcoming departure from sale. For the purchase deadline and what happens to his perks, see the Chucky removal guide.
