This is so incredibly FRUSTRATING! Release the proof if it’s so solid!
I’m glad the voting is being redone, as it gives those who didn’t realize the first time around a chance to make an informed choice. But not taking it out? Not filling the open spot? COME ON.
As you all know, the 2026 Design A Cosmetic Contest Community Voting Phase closed yesterday as planned. However, we have come to a decision on next steps that we’d like to share with the greater community.
First and foremost, we want to thank you all for your understanding and your patience in regard to our investigations due to the allegations brought forward about some of the voting stage finalists. At the end of the day, we want to ensure that this contest is a method of celebrating our community and the characters you all have helped to bring to life within The Fog.
In the past week we have been in discussion with each participant in question and have collected numerous additional supporting materials from each of them for their submissions. The materials provided gave further insight into each artist’s process, references and intention behind their creations and we thank them for their understanding and cooperation.
While some of the public posts and allegations provide compelling arguments for the potential usage of AI, none of them conclusively prove it, especially in comparison to the volume of supporting evidence of each artist’s work. As such we will not be eliminating any of the finalists from the voting phase.
With that said, we believe it is fair to the wider community that we re-start the voting phase, specifically for the Survivor category where the allegations were centered. This will allow those uncomfortable with their initial votes to make a new choice and let their voice be heard. Before embarking on this endeavor, we informed each of the Survivor Finalists by email, and as a result we did have one submission decide against continuing within this second round – which leaves a spot vacant. Please know that it is out of fairness towards the other finalists that we have decided against filling this spot with a new entry.
We also wanted to address the criticisms around the “Fun Kite Renato” entry. We recognize the aspects of the design that were not in line with his culture, language and skin tone, and assure you that if that entry were to win, we would work with our cultural consultants as always to make the necessary adjustments to fit Renato’s character properly. Already the artist has reached out to us to correct the skin tone and language issues, which we believe is a great start.
We understand this will not be the step some in the community would like us to take against these entries. The introduction of AI into our lives has added a new aspect we are learning to handle when holding things like this, and we are learning how to navigate it alongside the rest of the world. We state once again that while we appreciate the community’s passion towards this contest, we must firmly make all within this community aware that harassment and bullying has no place here. We have found the actions taken during this contest incredibly disappointing and we ask that our community do better, as we strive ourselves to do as much as we can.
For next steps, we plan to do the following for the Survivor Category re-vote:
1) We will relaunch the Public Community Voting Phase (for the Survivor Category only) today, September 18th, 2026 at 2 PM ET.
2) As before, you will be able to cast your 4 allotted votes for these entries until September 24th, 2026,1:59 AM ET. Winners will be announced on our socials on September 25, 2026.
Thank you for your time, understanding, and patience.
We’ll see you in the Fog.
The Dead by Daylight Team
Link 🔗 https://t.co/O6ElqeczeU
@Sleepy_Cryptids@DeadbyDaylight VOTED FOR YOU!!! As a native man myself it meant the world to me that he was added and for a skin for him to already reach finals so soon after his release…🥹 means so much to me. Thank for delivering such a beautiful and thoughtful skin for him, hope you win!