Dead by Daylight Studio Removes Streamer DLC Gift and Apologises After Backlash

Behaviour Interactive has removed the free Dead by Daylight content it gifted to Twitch streamer TheBurntPeanut and apologised in a follow-up statement posted on the game's official X account on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The studio said it is rewriting its guidelines for how it interacts with creators who play the game.

The dispute began on October 30, 2026, when TheBurntPeanut was granted access to all of the game's DLC characters and perks during a livestream. Video Games Chronicle put the gift at reportedly around $300 worth of paid DLC. The move sparked controversy at once.

Why players objected

Video Games Chronicle described TheBurntPeanut as a deliberately provocative streamer who regularly uses homophobic and other slurs in their streams, and reported that players complained Behaviour appeared to be rewarding someone whose content goes against the community ethos of inclusivity. Those are the outlets' characterisations of the streamer's past conduct.

The reaction inside the game's own channels made the dispute worse. When TheBurntPeanut offered to give the content back, saying he would take the heat, a team member posting under the official DeadByDaylight account replied in all caps that they could take the heat and the DLC was his to keep, with a heart emoji. Behaviour now says that reply showed a disregard for the context, crossed the line for a brand response, and escalated the situation for the studio and its community.

Polygon reported on November 2, 2026 that some players were uninstalling the game and requesting refunds in protest, and that long-time creators voiced disappointment at waiting long for Creator Program approval while a controversial streamer received support.

What the studio says went wrong

Behaviour first responded on November 1, 2026 through its DbD Pulse account, saying a team member awarded in-game content and currency to a creator streaming the game without receiving appropriate approvals, and that the team member's subsequent comments and conduct do not align with Dead by Daylight core values.

In the November 3 statement, the studio gave a fuller account. It said team members saw a very large audience watching a streamer who had not played the game before and moved too fast: the decision to give the content and join the chat was made before checking whether it was a good idea, and outside the usual team discussions.

"When collaborating with a new creator, we normally look thoroughly at their past content to determine whether they are representing the values of inclusion our community expects from us. In this case, this was not taken into proper consideration or discussed as a group," the studio said.

Behaviour said the incident has broken trust with its community. "We understand it will be a slow road to regain that trust but we are committed to doing the work necessary to get there," it said.

What changes now

The new guidelines will focus on identifying creators whose past conduct has been in direct opposition to the inclusive community the studio says it is trying to build, and on who on the team can decide creator gifts. Behaviour said it is updating its approval methods for granting content and currency, restating communication standards internally, updating its Creator Program, and training its team on the new processes.

The studio said it is taking appropriate action internally over the employees involved but will not share details because the matter is confidential, and it did not identify the team member.