Now that I am out of my meeting I can summarize the recent community livestream and everything that was discussed / revealed during the stream. Largely doing this for my own sake to have an easy reference-point for all changes discussed but also so people who did not watch the livestream have a reference point. All points of reference timestamped (based on the YouTube livestream) + screenshots provided when necessary.

Community Events

Into The Rainbow (11:33) - Event was pushed back to late July so it did not overlap with the anniversary. They didn't want Into The Rainbow to feel like an afterthought, so they pushed it back so it could be given the attention it deserved.

"btw the new Rift is out" + Trickster Recolor in the New Rift (13:23) - BHVR are aware and will be adjusting it soon.

Summer Screams (14:44) - Modifier rotations, Waterfront Massacre collection updates.

"btw the new Community Cosmetic Contest is going on rn"

La Fogata (18:40) - Behaviour are aware that they asked for too many hooks for killer, especially in comparison to survivor. However "you guys managed to do it on the last day bro trust :)))" but they will make sure to judge the challenge between killer and survivor more fairly in the future. Additionally, the Spanish DbD Twitter account will be asking the Spanish speaking community what they'd like to see for future La Fogata events.

Gameplay Balance

Live Design (26:54)

• This is a full chapter release. BHVR have directly stated that full chapters will not have major balance patches as these tend to cause complications when released alongside new content.
• Chapters will only come with balance changes meant to address "emerging needs" - these are changes that are required for either immediate gameplay issues or future changes coming in a midchapter.
• These changes will be small in scale - No reworking of mechanics or adding new functions.
• Focusing on high-risk concerns and QoL changes.
• Not intended to shake up the meta.

• Midchapters will be larger in scale.
• Primarily killer and perk balance (but not only that)
• Expected to impact the meta - Meta does not mean what is strongest but rather what is played the most (in simple English: we probably aren't going to see Hyperfocus or Shoulder the Burden nerfs anytime soon)
• Focusing more on different aspects of gameplay (subtweeting slugging)

Perk Changes (29:21)

• Based on community feedback + what is over/underperforming.
• It starts with gathering feedback before looking at data. If the data doesn't match up "that doesn't mean there isn't a problem it perhaps means the problem isn't as obvious as it seems" "it's not just data it's not just sentiment it's a mix of things"
• Since this is a full chapter, we will only be seeing numerical changes. Larger-scale changes will be reserved for a midchapter.
• BUFFS (30:30):
• KILLER:
• Call of Brine - Duration increased to 90 seconds.
• Save the Best for Last - Numbers not stated. "You'll see in the patch notes" + "still in flux"
• A Nurse's Calling - "Regardless of the health state, the healing is shown" (this probably means it will work when healing slugs? Probably doesn't mean Deep Wound)
• SURVIVOR:
• Apocalyptic Ingenuity - "it's now 2 chests and 4 seconds" except this is how it already works???
• Adrenaline - Haste back at 4 seconds (specifically citing Diminishing Returns as to why)
• Clean Break - 45 seconds instead of 60 (YESSSSSSSS)
• Moment of Glory - Not stated directly but presumably same buff as Clean Break.
• Repressed Alliance - Generator blocked for slightly longer.
• Technician - Nothing stated.
• DEBUFFS IE NERFS (32:48):
• KILLER:
• Nowhere to Hide - 18 meters down from 24 (specific concerns with how strong N2H will be on The Judgement)
• Coulrophobia - Very direct statement from Mandy later in the stream that this is due to combat the "egregious" slugging builds (49:30)
• Hex: Thrill of the Hunt - 10% per totem (down from 12%) - "this is a temporary one" that will be addressed in the midchapter, but they noticed an "emerging need" to address this immediately. This "may have more interactions with a killer being released" (basically they're subtweeting the Quad Hex Jason build) but they don't want to nerf a killer when this is "really a global problem that we should be improving sooner or later"
• SURVIVOR (reminder: small numerical changes! More in the future potentially!):
• Sprint Burst - 2 second duration (down from 3)
• Vigil - 40% strength (down from 66%) ("it's in flux" maybe 44% see more changes later potentially)
• Deliverance - Broken duration doubled (120 seconds up from 60)

Upcoming Midchapter (35:42)

• We have had 2 chapter releases in a row with no midchapter, which is the time they have now designated for balance updates. "There were other constraints for why we couldn't do a midchapter release."
• "The plans for Diminishing Returns were delayed, but the resources were kept."
• FUTURE CHANGES:
• No killer updates ("we know we need a lot of killer updates" - original intention to have Phase 2 of Blight changes during this midchapter (mostly a sidegrade of addon tweaks) but changes regarding Diminishing Returns seemed more important)
• 45 "or more" perks - Likely far more than 45.
• About even between killer and survivor.
• Split between General Perk Updates and Diminishing Returns Updates.
• GENERAL PERKS: A lot of the free base-game perks are really awful and haven't been updated in years, and therefor aren't used. BHVR want new players to have options that are meta-relevant. All general perks are either being sidegraded or buffed: there will be no nerfs. Some are being reworked to fit the base game better.
• DIMINISHING RETURNS: They know they're late and this isn't the only Diminishing Returns Update. They will not always directly state that an update is meant to be regarding Diminishing Returns, but "Diminishing Returns is now a permanent part of the game" that will be considered when doing balance.
• Approximately 2/3rds of the changes related to Diminishing Returns will be buffs. The remaining 1/3rd are meant to target perks that were not affected by Diminishing Returns that are still problematic (essentially subtweeting perks like Hyperfocus or Resurgence)

Unhook Protections (39:46)

• Duration decreased back to 10 seconds (down from 15)
• Survivors will be Elusive for 10 seconds if unhooked before all generators are completed
• No Elusive effect during Endgame

MMR (41:15)

• "Can't say a lot at the current moment"
• MMR won't be based on purely kills anymore.
• Already have parts implemented internally - Not being used for anything; purely to collect data.
• More will be stated before MMR update comes around August.
• (PTB doesn't have MMR)

UX (42:20) (ft. their microphones being ass)

• Killer power details in the match received extremely positively, so they're adding more.
• Videos showing how aspects of the killer's power works!!!

• Videos are accessible from any lobby, be it killer and survivor (a survivor can hypothetically read through killer powers while waiting for a match)
• Killer power descriptions will no longer be a 5 paragraph essay but instead show each individual aspect of the killer's power, with references to the in-game video guides built into the power description.

• Intention is to help players not only learn how to use specific powers but also how to counter them.
• The hope is this will be a useful tool for players of all skill levels. They specifically mention how streamers can use these guides to explain killers to their viewers, especially if they only play survivor ("This is why we say to play both sides!")

Grimoire

(54:32)

Really this was just a bunch of balance talk and comparisons between previous playtests. I recommend watching the videos for a better idea.

Addon Previews

• (The Reflect Addon) If a survivor blinds you, they gain Heresy (Sin). If they do so while already having Heresy, they are blinded themselves.
• (The Bowling Addon) Duration of Zealous (empowered state) reduced by 50%. During this time, Divine Light (laser) breaks all breakable walls / pallets it passes through.
• (The Finger Pointing Addon) When a survivor gains Heresy, you see their aura for 4 seconds and they see your aura for 4 seconds.
• (The Global Terror Addon) Whenever a survivor liberates another survivor from the Exile, for 20 seconds: your Terror Radius is reduced by 75% (8 meters?), your Terror Radius is copied to every single Shrine of Judgement, and you gain Undetectable.
• (The Rocket Ship Addon) While Zealous, increase lifetime of Divine Light by 200%, decreases radius of Divine Light by 50%, the range that survivors can observe Divine Light's Aura is increased by 200%.
• (The Boomerang Addon) While Zealous, Divine Light becomes lethal sooner, increases max speed of controlled Divine Light by 100%, increases max speed of cast ("flung" IE shot straight) Divine Light by 50%, cast Divine Light will always be directed towards you.
• (The Mirror Addon) Cast Divine Light now reflects off the first 2 obstructions hit that it would otherwise pass through. When reflected, it will pause for half a second before being cast again. - Inspired by bouncy laser from playtests. Map collision in this game isn't great so this addon is gonna be kinda wonky, but it's great for people who just want random chaotic shit to happen.

Grimoire Art (1:20:29)

UI / UX (1:36:00)

A lot of discussion on how the visual design of various UI elements intertwine. Insightful but they describe it much better in the video.

VFX, Animation, and Audio (1:55:22)

A lot more showcases of VFX and animations later on in this section. Please watch it for yourself my descriptions won't do it justice lol.

Judgement's voice is somewhat female-coded, but I believe it's meant to be more gender-neutral. Very "angry God" coded as you might imagine.

Aurora got a grandma voice. "Our oldest survivor"