Dead by Daylight will start its Denuvo Anti-Cheat test on PC September 2
The Steam-only trial will require an installation on first launch, while cross-play and Steam Deck support will continue.
Dead by Daylight will begin testing Denuvo Anti-Cheat on PC through Steam on September 2, 2026. The first phase of the new Anti-Cheat Trials initiative will run for a limited time, with additional anti-cheat providers planned for testing over the coming months.
Behaviour Interactive said the program follows feedback from a community survey, where players made it clear that they wanted stronger action against cheating. The team will compare player reactions with data gathered during each trial before deciding which approach fits Dead by Daylight best. The full plan was outlined in the team’s Steam announcement.
The first trial will affect the Steam version only
The September 2 trial will focus on Denuvo Anti-Cheat, a tool designed to detect cheating behavior during gameplay and identify attempts to gain unfair advantages. It will not add Denuvo Anti-Piracy or any form of digital rights management. Anti-Piracy refers to separate tools intended to prevent the cracking of game content and unauthorized access.
Players should expect a few practical changes when the trial begins:
- Steam only: The trial will apply to the Steam version of Dead by Daylight. Cross-play will not be affected.
- Required installation: The first launch during the trial will display a prompt to install Denuvo Anti-Cheat. Installation will be required to play.
- Steam Deck and Proton: Compatibility and performance testing has already been carried out for Steam Deck and Proton, and support will continue during the trial.
- In-game reports: Players should keep using the regular reporting system when they encounter suspected cheaters. Details such as wall/speedhacks or teleporting can give the security team more useful context.
- Report category: The “Hacking/Exploiting” option covers reports involving both cheaters and hackers.
- Trial cleanup: Once the test ends, Denuvo Anti-Cheat will be deactivated automatically and will no longer run on players’ systems. A step-by-step guide for removing any remaining files will be added to the Dead by Daylight Support portal.
- Community feedback: A dedicated Discord channel for feedback about the provider being tested will go live on September 2.
The Denuvo test is only one part of the game’s wider anti-cheat work. Behaviour Interactive is using the trials to assess how different providers perform in real matches while giving players a direct way to report problems and share their experience. The developer has not named the other providers that may be tested later.
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Dead by Daylight
Developed by Behaviour Interactive
Trapped forever in a realm of eldritch evil where even death is not an escape, four determined Survivors face a bloodthirsty Killer in a vicious game of nerve and wits. Pick a side and step into a world of tension and terror with horror gaming's best asymmetrical multiplayer.
Survivors play in third-person and have the advantage of better situational awareness. The Killer plays in first-person and is more focused on their prey.
The Survivors' goal in each encounter is to escape the Killing Ground without getting caught by the Killer - something that sounds easier than it is, especially when the environment changes every time you play.
- Genre Strategy
- Platforms Google Stadia, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Perspective First person, Third person
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release June 14, 2016
- Publisher Behaviour Interactive, 505 Games, Deep Silver, Starbreeze Studios, NetEase Games
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Age Rating
