You've seen the leaks. You've seen the cryptic teasers from Behaviour Interactive. Now, your favorite streamer is suddenly playing a version of Dead by Daylight that looks nothing like yours. They're testing a new Killer, running perks that don't exist in your game yet, and exploring a map that hasn't officially "dropped."
That’s the Public Test Build (PTB).
Learning how to play ptb dbd is basically like getting an early access pass to the dev room. But honestly, it's not as simple as just hitting a "Join" button in the main menu. If you’re on console, I have some bad news for you right out of the gate. If you’re on Steam, you’re in luck, but you’re about to deal with a massive download.
Why the PTB Is Both Amazing and Annoying
The PTB is where the "real" testing happens. For example, in the recent 9.4.0 PTB that kicked off in January 2026, players got their first look at "The First" (the new Killer) and the wild class updates for the 2v8 mode.
It's where you find out if a perk is "broken" or if a map has a literal hole you can fall through. But here’s the kicker: nothing you do in the PTB counts.
That P3 Spirit you finally finished? If you did it on the PTB, it’s gone when you go back to the live game. The PTB uses a "snapshot" of your account from about a week before the test started. You can spend millions of Bloodpoints—which are usually gifted to you by the devs for testing purposes—and it won't touch your actual live account balance. It's essentially a sandbox.
The Steam-Only Gatekeeper
Let’s address the elephant in the room. You can only access the PTB if you own the game on Steam.
If you're playing on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or even the Epic Games Store, you’re stuck watching YouTube videos. It sucks. It’s been this way for years. The reason is simple: Steam’s infrastructure allows developers to push "beta branches" easily without going through the weeks-long certification process that Sony or Microsoft requires.
How to play ptb dbd on Steam (Step-by-Step)
If you have the game on Steam, getting in is a matter of clicking through a few menus.
- Close the game. You can't switch versions while Dead by Daylight is running.
- Open your Steam Library. Find Dead by Daylight in the list.
- Right-click the title and select Properties.
- Navigate to the Betas tab on the left-hand side.
- Under Beta Participation, you’ll see a dropdown menu. If a PTB is currently active, you’ll see "public-test - Public Test Build" in that list.
- Select it. As soon as you click that, Steam will start an update. Warning: this isn't a small patch. You are essentially redownloading a modified version of the entire game. Depending on your internet, this could take ten minutes or two hours.
Once the download finishes, the game's title in your library will change to Dead by Daylight [public-test]. Hit play, and you're in.
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Switching Back to the Live Game
Finished testing? Ready to go back to your actual rank and progress?
You just repeat the steps: Properties > Betas > Beta Participation and change it back to None. Steam will then "update" (redownload) the live version of the game. This constant back-and-forth is why some hardcore players actually keep two separate installs of the game on their drive, though that requires some technical wizardry with folder renaming or a second Steam account.
What to Expect Inside the 9.4.0 PTB
If you’re hopping in right now, you’re seeing the 9.4.0 changes. This one is huge.
The devs added a new Survivor class called the Torchbearer. It's a game-changer because you start with a Flashlight and literally generate Flash Grenades as an ability. It’s basically built-in Flashbang without needing Leon’s perk.
Then there's the 2v8 mode updates. They’ve added classes like the Fearmonger and Enforcer for Killers. If you’re playing the PTB, focus on these new mechanics. Don't just play a standard M1 Killer game; the devs need data on the weird stuff.
The Currency and Unlocks
Usually, when you load into a PTB, Behaviour gives you a massive stack of Auric Cells or Bloodpoints that only exist in that build. This is so you can buy the new characters and level them up immediately.
Pro Tip: Don't be stingy. Burn those PTB Bloodpoints. You want to see how the new perks (like Bada Bada Boom or Turn Back the Clock) interact with older ones.
Reporting Bugs Like a Pro
The whole point of this is to find bugs. Don't just complain on Reddit.
If you find a spot where the Killer gets stuck, or if a perk isn't proc-ing correctly, head to the official Dead by Daylight Forums. They have a specific sub-forum for PTB Bug Reporting.
Give them:
- What happened: "I used Change of Plan in a locker and my toolbox disappeared."
- The Map: "Groaning Storehouse."
- Frequency: "Happened 3 out of 5 times."
The developers, like Mandy or Peanits, actually read these. This is how we avoid "Kill Switching" a new character on day one of the official launch.
Common Misconceptions About the PTB
I see people getting frustrated every single cycle because they don't understand the rules.
"I lost my progress!"
No, you didn't. Your live account is safe. The PTB just took a "picture" of your account from last Tuesday. Anything you did between last Tuesday and today won't show up in the PTB.
"The new Killer is too weak/strong!"
Everything in the PTB is subject to change. Look at what happened with The Good Guy (Chucky) or The Singularity—their numbers were tweaked heavily between the PTB and the live release based on player feedback.
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"Why are the queue times so long?"
Everyone wants to play the new Killer. Everyone. If you queue as Killer on the PTB, expect to wait 15+ minutes. If you queue as Survivor, you’ll get a match in 10 seconds. If you want to actually see the new content, play Survivor first. You'll face the new Killer every single match anyway.
Actionable Steps for Your Next PTB Session
To get the most out of your time and actually help the game's development, follow this checklist.
- Check the Official Schedule: PTBs usually last only one week. For 9.4.0, it’s scheduled from January 6 to January 13, 2026. Don't wait until the last day to download.
- Record Your Gameplay: If you find a bug, having a clip is 100x more helpful than a text description. Use Shadowplay or OBS.
- Read the Patch Notes Thoroughly: Don't be that person asking why "The Nemesis has 4 zombies now" in the end-game chat. The patch notes explain the "why" behind the "what."
- Test the Interactions: Try the new perks on different Killers. Does Secret Project work too well with Deadlock? That's the kind of stuff BHVR needs to know before the global launch.
The PTB is a messy, buggy, glorious look behind the curtain. It’s how the community helps shape the meta. So, grab your Steam deck or sit at your rig, switch that Beta branch, and go get sacrificed for the sake of science.
Once the PTB concludes, ensure you switch your Steam settings back to None to resume your normal progression and participate in any active live-game events or Tome challenges.