The community of Dead by Daylight has to endure another heavy loss: This time it is a scream that has become a meme. It is being removed from the game after 7 years, followed by the players’ vengeance in the Steam reviews.
What kind of game is it? Dead by Daylight (DbD) is a multiplayer game played 4 vs. 1.
- Four players take on the role of survivors who engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a single killer
- While the survivors attempt to repair generators and escape, it is the killer’s goal to hook them and kill them one by one
Since the release of DbD in 2016, new killers and survivors have been continuously added. Most of these are original creations of the developers at Behaviour Interactive, but many are also based on existing licenses. One of the most famous killers was recently removed from DbD, but there is also a new DLC based on the Netflix series Stranger Things.
The first crossover with the mystery series took place back in September 2019. This brought the two protagonists Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler as survivors, as well as the Demogorgon as the killer, into the game. On January 27, 2026, a second chapter featuring Vecna, Dustin Henderson, and El was released.
“Stevegull” is leaving the game after 7 years, fans mourn
What’s the deal with the meme? In certain actions in the game, the survivors scream – for example, when they are hooked by the killer. However, when Steve started screaming, many players found it hard to stay serious.
Because Steve’s scream sounded – at least according to the community’s opinion – like that of a seagull. Therefore, the community gave him the nickname “Stevegull,” although some different variations are also circulating.
But this meme is now over, because as of the new Stranger Things chapter, the developers have recorded new voice overs for Steve and Nancy – and Steve’s distinctive seagull scream is no longer heard.
Fans mourn the loss of Stevegull: They mainly express this grief through new memes.
“They nerfed Stegull,” writes Reddit user LilianXOArtz and shares a meme. In it, Steve is shown on a gravestone, but his head has been replaced by that of a seagull. Underneath, the years 2019 – 2026 can be read, the birth and death year of the meme. The Reddit post has over 8,600 likes (as of January 28, 2026, 3:40 PM).
Another user writes in his Reddit post: “They removed our beloved Steagull” and “Bhvr [short for Behaviour, the developers] actually hates us.” In_Dim_Lights comments: “I’ll miss the scream” and fears that Steve will be seen less often in the game in the future. (Source: Reddit)
First negative Steam reviews due to missing scream
Other players are even storming the Steam reviews with torches. There one can increasingly read negative ratings from players demanding the return of the scream:
- T-I-double-guh-ER writes in his Steam review for the Stranger Things Chapter 2: “They got rid of Screaming SteveGull…”
- The main game is also not safe from angry reviews. There it says: “GIVE US BACK OUR STEAGULL” (as in this Steam review)
- The discontent is especially evident in the reviews of the chapter that brought Steve into the game: The recent reviews are only “mixed,” even though it is one of the most popular chapters with a total of 90% positive Steam reviews
Whether the developers will relent and bring the scream back in some form remains to be seen. However, it is not the first time that removed voice lines have caused discontent among fans. This happened four years ago with Pinhead. More about this can be read here: Dead by Daylight: Pinhead “is coming” finally again
