In 2026, Dead By Daylight has collected more killers than a cursed museum, but the Chapter 22 Public Test Build from November 2021 still stands as a fascinating time capsule. Back then, players on Steam were the only ones who could slip past the velvet rope, while console survivors had to wait like party guests listening to music through a wall. The PTB was slated for Tuesday, November 9th, 2021, with the expected window set at 8AM PT / 11AM ET / 4PM GMT—a schedule as dependable as a grandfather clock that occasionally forgot to chime.
Chapter 22 PTB Release Time
Behaviour Interactive did not lock down an official minute, but the usual update rhythm pointed to the same three-hour global spread. For anyone hunting the exact conversion, the table below broke it down:
| Time Zone | Expected Release |
|---|---|
| Pacific Time (PT) | 8:00 AM |
| Eastern Time (ET) | 11:00 AM |
| Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) | 4:00 PM |
The PTB went live only on Steam, leaving PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch players to polish their hatchets and wait roughly three weeks for the full multi-platform release. That waiting period felt less like patience and more like watching a killer approach from across the map—agonizing, inevitable, and weirdly thrilling.
What Chapter 22 Revealed
A few official teasers confirmed that Chapter 22 had the title A Portrait Of A Murder, a name that sounded like a haunted gallery installation where every painting watched you back. The teasers also hinted at a brand-new killer joining the roster. Fans quickly began speculating about the killer’s identity. Would it be a painter with a very hostile approach to criticism? A walking canvas stitched from bad decisions? Behaviour Interactive kept the full reveal under wraps until the PTB opened.
Leaks from the community added more color. According to whispers traced to a well-known leaker, Chapter 22 was likely an original chapter rather than another licensed crossover. That detail acted like a blank canvas for theories, giving players room to project their wildest hopes without Hollywood lawyers hovering nearby.
Cosmetic Leaks and the Ghostface Surprise
The most eye-catching leak involved a Ghostface cosmetic tied to the then-upcoming Scream movie. For a slasher who treats identity like a borrowed party mask, the outfit made perfect sense. The rumor mill spit out screenshots and descriptions of extra cosmetics arriving throughout Chapter 22, sending fashion-conscious killers into a frenzy. Some players cared less about the new killer’s power and more about whether their main could finally get a decent pair of pants. That is the true endgame of any live-service horror game.
How to Download the PTB
Accessing the Chapter 22 PTB required a short ritual on Steam. The steps were simple enough to follow, though they felt like sneaking into a theater after the stage lights had been turned off:
-
Close the Dead by Daylight application completely.
-
Right-click Dead by Daylight in the Steam Library.
-
Select Properties.
-
Open the Beta tab.
-
Choose public-test from the dropdown menu.
-
Restart Steam to refresh the interface and trigger the download.
Unlike the full game, the Player Test Build served as a scratchy rehearsal space. It allowed the studio to tune balance, patch bugs, and collect feedback before the chapter marched onto consoles. For PC players, it was a backstage pass to a show where the trapdoors were still being bolted down—exciting, unstable, and occasionally full of surprises that would vanish by opening night.
A Look Back from 2026
Looking back from 2026, Chapter 22's launch feels like a vintage photograph left in a developer's drawer. The title A Portrait Of A Murder eventually joined the long gallery of Dead By Daylight chapters, and the PTB process remains a beloved, if slightly chaotic, preview tradition. For those who enjoy the fog, understanding that old release schedule is like reading the faded instructions on a spirit board: a reminder of how the game grew, one chapter at a time.
Leave a Comment