Key Highlights:
- Dead by Daylight update 8.1.0 introduced a redesigned character selection screen and cosmetic menus on 16 July 2024.
- Players criticised the new layout, character ordering, smaller text and difficulties navigating their owned characters.
- Behaviour Interactive has acknowledged the complaints and confirmed that further UI adjustments are being considered.
The Dead by Daylight UI changes introduced in update 8.1.0 have sparked criticism from players, with complaints focusing on character selection, menu navigation and readability following the patch’s release on 16 July 2024.
Alongside the arrival of Lara Croft as a playable Survivor, Behaviour Interactive redesigned several parts of the game’s lobby interface. Character selection and cosmetics were combined into a single menu, while new subtabs allow players to switch between characters, outfits and character information.
The update also introduced a Perks widget, allowed players to preview Mori animations from the lobby and made it possible to unlock characters and cosmetics without opening the separate Store.
However, the changes have not gone down well with sections of the community.
One of the biggest complaints concerns the way characters are displayed. Previously, owned characters were grouped together, making them easier to locate. The redesigned interface mixes owned and unowned characters, forcing players to navigate a larger selection to find their favourites.
Some players have also criticised the smaller text, additional menu interactions and the presentation of cosmetic customisation options.
Feedback on the official Dead by Daylight forums highlights frustration with the revised character ordering, which places newer characters ahead of familiar selections and disrupts the positions players have become accustomed to.
Others argue that bringing the character selection screen closer to the Store’s layout makes the interface unnecessarily complicated.
I can understand the frustration around character ordering in particular. When players have spent years navigating the same roster, changing where familiar characters appear creates unnecessary friction during something as routine as preparing for a match.
According to the official update 8.1.0 patch notes, the team also reduced portrait sizes and removed unnecessary ownership labels from the selection screen. The four-column adjustment is available on most platforms, with Nintendo Switch scheduled to receive it through a later hotfix.
Despite those changes, complaints have continued since the update launched.
Responding to criticism on 18 July through the official Dead by Daylight X account, Behaviour acknowledged player feedback and said it would examine further adjustments to the interface.
The developer has not confirmed which elements will change or whether any part of the previous design will return.
The backlash comes during a busy month for Dead by Daylight. Lara Croft joined the Survivor roster on 16 July, while the upcoming 2v8 mode is scheduled to launch on 25 July, allowing two Killers to hunt eight Survivors.
For now, Behaviour has committed to reviewing feedback, but players hoping for a return to the previous character selection layout will have to see what further changes the developer makes.
