Dead by Daylight studio apologises for gifting offensive streamer DLC and telling them ‘we can take the heat’

Dead by Daylight studio Behaviour Interactive has apologised for gifting an offensive streamer free content while acknowledging and dismissing the complaints it would receive. TheBurntPeanut, a streamer known for using homophobic and other slurs, was awarded $300 worth of paid DLC for free during a stream. Players complained that Behaviour was rewarding someone whose content goes against the Dead by Daylight community’s ethos of inclusivity.

The studio initially responded with a statement saying the team member gave the DLC away without approval and that their follow-up comments didn’t fit with the game’s values. However, the team member’s response ‘WE CAN TAKE THE HEAT’ exacerbated the situation, leading to an online backlash between the DeadByDaylight community and fans of TheBurntPeanut.

The fallout has resulted in abusive content and slurs being directed towards players. Behaviour Interactive has now removed the DLC and is rewriting its guidelines for interacting with creators playing Dead by Daylight, including who on their team can make those calls. The studio is also updating its request and approval methods for granting content and currency to players, and will be training their team on these new processes and methods to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Behaviour did not identify the team member responsible for the incident, and said it would be dealing with the matter in private. The studio now finds itself in an unenviable position where it’s receiving criticism from both sides, Dead by Daylight fans are angry at the way the studio seemingly embraced the streamer while dismissing the criticism that would come, and fans of TheBurntPeanut are now angry at the studio for removing his DLC and attempting to distance itself from him.

The incident has broken trust with the community who hold expectations and regards for the types of people they partner with. Behaviour Interactive is taking this situation very seriously and is taking appropriate action internally. The studio is also updating its guidelines to ensure that creators whose past conduct has been in direct opposition to the inclusive community they are trying to build are not granted content and currency.

The studio is committed to building a community that is inclusive and respectful, and is working to ensure that its actions align with these values.