Hawkins, the iconic location from the hit TV series Stranger Things, will no longer be available in Dead by Daylight as of November. The reason behind its removal is most likely due to the licensing agreement between Behaviour Interactive, the developers of Dead by Daylight, and the owners of the Stranger Things franchise expiring.
Licensing agreements for content in video games are typically limited in duration. This allows the owners of the intellectual property, in this case, the Stranger Things brand, to retain control over how their content is used and for how long. It is common for licensing agreements to have a fixed term, after which the rights revert back to the IP owner.
In the case of Hawkins, it seems that the licensing agreement between Behaviour Interactive and Netflix, the distributor of Stranger Things, has come to an end. This means that Behaviour Interactive no longer has the legal rights to include Hawkins as a playable map in Dead by Daylight.
Licensing agreements in the entertainment industry are complex and often involve negotiations between multiple parties. The terms of these agreements can vary widely, including factors such as the duration of the license, the scope of usage, and any financial arrangements between the parties involved. As outsiders, we can only speculate on the specific details of the licensing agreement between Behaviour Interactive and Netflix, but it is safe to assume that the agreement had a finite duration.
It’s worth noting that licensing agreements for crossover content, such as the inclusion of Stranger Things in Dead by Daylight, can be particularly complicated. They require the approval and cooperation of multiple stakeholders, including the owners of the intellectual property, the developers of the game, and potentially other parties involved in the creation or distribution of the licensed content.
In the case of Dead by Daylight, the inclusion of Hawkins as a playable map was a significant selling point for fans of both the game and the Stranger Things series. It allowed players to immerse themselves in the world of Hawkins, Indiana, and experience the intense gameplay within its familiar locations. Losing this map may be disappointing for fans who enjoyed the crossover between the two popular franchises.
The removal of Hawkins from Dead by Daylight is most likely due to the expiration of the licensing agreement between Behaviour Interactive and Netflix. Licensing agreements for crossover content in video games are time-limited, and once the agreement has run its course, the rights to include that content in the game revert back to the IP owner. While the exact details of the agreement are unknown to us, it is a common practice in the entertainment industry to have finite licensing terms to ensure control and flexibility over the use of intellectual property.