The studio behind Dead by Daylight has explained that the removal of iconic characters like Chucky, Pinhead, and Michael Myers from the game is out of its control due to expired licenses. The characters were removed from the game in previous months, with Chucky's chapter set to be removed on November 24. Existing owners will still be able to use associated content after the removal.
The studio has an open invitation for horror icons to return to the game in the future. The removal of licensed characters is not uncommon, with the Demogorgon from Stranger Things previously being removed and then returning to the game two years later. The studio's goal is to keep licenses in the game forever, but sometimes it's not possible to retain them despite best efforts.
The removal of characters is a regular occurrence in live service games, with new content and updates being added regularly.