Dead by Daylight Apologizes After Employee Gives TheBurntPeanut Free Characters and Skins

Imagine spending hundreds of hours unlocking characters and cosmetics in Dead by Daylight, only to watch a popular streamer receive an enormous collection of them for free. That's essentially what happened when Twitch star TheBurntPeanut joined the horror game for a Halloween stream, and the resulting controversy has now forced developer Behaviour Interactive to issue a public apology.

According to the studio, an employee granted the streamer in-game content and currency without obtaining the necessary approvals. But the giveaway itself was only half the problem. What someone said afterward, using the game's official Twitch account, turned an already controversial decision into a full-blown community backlash.

One Very Generous Halloween Gift

During his October 30 livestream, TheBurntPeanut was playing Dead by Daylight alongside other creators, including Cloakzy and CoconutB, when viewers encouraged him to check his in-game mailbox. To his surprise, he discovered that he had received a substantial amount of free content, reportedly including every DLC character, their perks, and cosmetics.

For anyone unfamiliar with the game, that's quite a gift. Dead by Daylight has spent a decade expanding its roster of Killers and Survivors, with numerous characters and cosmetics requiring separate purchases or significant amounts of in-game currency. Behaviour has not publicly confirmed the exact inventory granted to TheBurntPeanut, although the streamer appeared delighted with his unexpected haul.

He even joked about enjoying "streamer privileges" and suggested he could take the criticism if the giveaway upset people. That's when the game's official Twitch account delivered a response that would soon come back to haunt its developer:

"WE CAN TAKE THE HEAT! THEY ARE YOURS TO KEEP!"

As it turns out, taking the heat was considerably more complicated than writing about it in all caps.

Why Players Were So Upset

The controversy wasn't simply about a wealthy streamer receiving free video game content. TheBurntPeanut, who has become one of Twitch's most recognizable personalities thanks to his animated peanut avatar and chaotic broadcasts, has also faced criticism over offensive language used during previous streams.

Several Dead by Daylight players accused him of using racist and homophobic language, while others questioned why Behaviour would publicly support a creator they considered incompatible with the game's emphasis on inclusivity. Some also pointed out that smaller creators who have supported the game for years were still waiting for opportunities through its official creator program.

TheBurntPeanut subsequently pushed back against some of the accusations during another broadcast, particularly questioning claims that he had made anti-transgender remarks. Meanwhile, his supporters argued that introducing such a popular streamer to Dead by Daylight was an obvious promotional opportunity and that the outrage had become excessive.

However, the official Twitch message made matters worse. For frustrated players, it suggested the developer was willing to dismiss legitimate concerns rather than address them. Social media discussions quickly escalated, with some longtime fans announcing plans to stop playing or purchasing additional content.

Behaviour Interactive Admits the Giveaway Wasn't Authorized

On November 1, Behaviour Interactive addressed the situation through its DbD Pulse account on X, confirming that a team member had awarded content and currency to a creator without receiving appropriate approvals.

The company explained that giving creators access to content isn't unusual, especially when they're discovering the game and showcasing its features to new audiences. The problem was that this particular decision had bypassed internal procedures. Behaviour also acknowledged that the employee's subsequent comments and conduct didn't reflect the values the studio wanted to uphold.

More importantly, Behaviour admitted that concerns raised during the livestream should have been investigated instead of dismissed. The studio apologized to its community and confirmed that it had already begun reviewing its internal processes to prevent similar incidents.

The statement also condemned the harassment that followed the controversy, making clear that threats against employees were unacceptable, regardless of how strongly players disagreed with the decision.

At the time of the apology, Behaviour had not announced whether TheBurntPeanut would lose access to the gifted content or whether disciplinary measures would be taken against the employee involved.