Behaviour Interactive's asymmetric multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight is still one of the most popular examples of the genre five years after launch. One of the many ways it has maintained player interest is by collaborating with existing horror franchises, giving horror fans the ability to play as - or be hunted by - iconic slasher villains. However, the inclusion of these iconic villains in an interactive setting has led to recent conflicts among players, which is why one of Leatherface's gameplay features is being removed from Dead by Daylight.
Also known as the Cannibal in Dead by Daylight's world, Leatherface is the star of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. In his home franchise, he's known for wielding his titular chainsaw and wearing a mask made from human skin. The character was partly inspired by Ed Gein, an infamous serial killer who made clothing and furniture out of his victims. As a result, the link between Leatherface and ornaments made from human remains is tied deeply into the themes of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series. That was reflected in Dead by Daylight, but fans have reported harassment as a result.
Hiding Behind the Masks
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In Dead by Daylight, Leatherface is shown wearing his human-skin mask and apron, and previously Leatherface players have been able to unlock the faces of the original four Survivors - Dwight Fairfield, Meg Thomas, Claudette Morel, and Jake Park - by sacrificing each of them 25 times. This sounds like a grim, yet innocent Easter Egg, but the fact that Claudette is black and Jake is Korean put an unfortunate spin on the feature. To make matters worse, some players took advantage of the opportunity to wear these masks and harass other players.
According to a January 2022 developer update, Behaviour Interactive has become aware of the disturbing trend of Leatherface players targeting other players, especially black streamers, while wearing the "Smartface" and "Survivorface" masks. As these masks are based on the faces of Survivors Claudette Morel and Jake Park, respectively, the implication is that the Leatherface players in question are functionally wearing blackface. Behaviour has confirmed it is no longer comfortable having the masks in the game if they are going to be used to spread hate. The unlockable faces will be removed in the game's upcoming Mid-Chapter update, and Cannibal players will be awarded 6,000 Iridescent Shards as compensation.
No More False Faces in Dead by Daylight
As of writing, it appears that some Dead by Daylight fans are more understanding of this decision than others. Some have complained because they were working toward the "Smartface" mask for its meta advantages - they say as the darkest mask available, it could provide a benefit for stealth. This may sound like a stretch, but Jake Park players have previously shown a strong preference for the "Bloody Jake," "Bloody Trail Jacket," and "Bloody Cargo" cosmetics for similar reasons. The fact that these outfits leave Jake covered in fresh and drying blood comes secondary to its ability to dull his colors and break up his outline in what is ultimately a competitive game.
Some disgruntled players haven't stopped there, and have gone on to accuse the whole controversy of being staged despite incidents of harassment appearing on multiple creators' streams. This opinion is far from universal, with other fans expressing relief at the feature being removed. A sizeable chunk of fans have expressed confusion at the whole affair, as it seems only a small minority of Leatherface players abused the feature. However, another group has raised the argument that Behaviour Interactive should be banning players outright instead of removing Leatherface's ability to wear Survivors' faces, in essence removing a major part of the character's identity.
Dead by Daylight is available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.