Dead by Daylight 10.2.0 Keeps Changing Before Live Release

Halloween is always a particularly busy time for Dead by Daylight, and this year is no exception. The Hallowed Blight Collection returned at the beginning of October, bringing new looks to several familiar Killers. But behind the festive horror theme, Behaviour Interactive is also preparing something far more significant on the gameplay side. Update 10.2.0 has been going through its PTB phase since mid-September, and with its Live release drawing closer, the developer is continuing to adjust several elements that sparked plenty of discussion during testing.

From Hallowed Blight to the final adjustments for 10.2.0

The first thing worth making clear is that the 10.2.0 PTB and the latest Developer Update are not the same announcement. Behaviour launched 10.2.0 on the PTB on September 15 after revealing that as many as 58 perks would be changed. The test build also introduced the Survivor Intent System, adjusted the Abandon, Surrender, and End Trial options, and included numerous bug fixes. That PTB served as the testing ground for 10.2.0, while the latest announcement represents the next round of adjustments after Behaviour gathered player feedback.

The Hallowed Blight Collection arrived later on October 1, bringing new outfits for Jason – The Slasher, The Houndmaster, and The Knight. Interestingly, all three Killers were also affected by issues addressed in the 10.2.0 PTB, although Behaviour has never said that these fixes were made specifically for the collection.

More specifically, the PTB fixed an issue that caused Exit Gate auras to disappear while The Knight was in Summoning Phase, as well as problems that prevented The Houndmaster's Dog from vaulting at certain locations in Crotus Prenn Asylum and Fractured Cowshed. The Slasher, meanwhile, had an issue where he could spawn inside an object during Trickster Delusion. Since these fixes were already introduced in mid-September, they clearly could not have been a direct response to the Hallowed Blight Collection. Still, the fact that the same three Killers currently being spotlighted by the Halloween collection also appear among the 10.2.0 fixes creates an interesting overlap. Whether this is simply a coincidence or the update is also helping polish the overall experience as the Halloween season reaches its peak remains an open question.

As 10.2.0 moves closer to its Live release, the latest Developer Update shows that Behaviour is continuing to revise several decisions made for the PTB:

• Shoulder the Burden will no longer deactivate for every Survivor after one use, reducing the disadvantage faced by solo queue players.
• This Is Not Happening will lose its increased Great basic Skill Check zone due to concerns over its synergy with Hyperfocus.
• Dark Arrogance will no longer reduce recovery after a successful basic attack; the bonus will apply only to missed and obstructed attacks.
• Windows of Opportunity will remain unchanged from its PTB version despite concerns about how the change could affect newer players.
• Borrowed Time will return to its current Live version, allowing it to remain a useful anti-tunnel option.

These decisions show that the PTB is not simply a place where Behaviour tests a few numbers before pushing them unchanged to Live. The studio is willing to step back when a change produces unintended consequences, while also standing by its decisions in cases where it believes a perk is doing too much. Behaviour has also stressed that these are only some of the changes coming before Live, with the full picture set to become clearer once the official Patch Notes are released.

Update 10.2.0 is therefore shaping up to be a significant round of adjustments for Dead by Daylight in the middle of its Halloween season. The Hallowed Blight Collection and the patch have not been confirmed as parts of the same plan, but their timing and the overlap between the Killers involved still create an interesting connection. Players can access official Steam page to take a look on Developer update beside keeping an eye on the game's official website for the full Patch Notes once 10.2.0 goes Live, and visit our price comparison platform to find Dead by Daylight and its DLCs at the cheapest prices.