10 Bad Games That Got Better With Updates

A game released with delays ultimately proves worthwhile, while a poorly made game remains subpar throughout its lifetime,” is a saying commonly used to describe games that launch in a disappointing condition or are hastily put on the market.

Though the core idea still holds true today, the widespread accessibility of the internet empowers game developers to rectify their creations post-release.

In an ideal world, game developers could dedicate as much time as needed to polish their creations prior to launch. Regrettably, such a scenario isn’t often feasible.

Despite certain games continuing to have issues, there are occasions when developers manage to turn a failing game into a triumph by persistently working on it and making numerous improvements. Here, we showcase 10 remarkable comeback stories in the world of gaming.

10. Street Fighter V

Picked Up From the Street

Initially, when Street Fighter V debuted, there was a widespread sentiment that it fell short of expectations—to say the least. While the game operated smoothly, it missed out on several aspects that enthusiasts typically anticipate in a fighting game of such stature.

Initially, the game featured a lineup of just 16 characters engaging in combat on a restricted set of stages. Unlike previous versions, it did not offer a full single-player campaign; instead, it presented short vignettes about each character individually. What really caught fans’ attention was that there was no Arcade mode available at launch. The lack of this popular gameplay option led to widespread fan disapproval.

Over the next few months, Capcom continually enriched the game with fresh content. This included new characters joining the roster, a full-blown story campaign that was offered for free, and ultimately, the introduction of an Arcade mode. These updates sparked excitement among fans, leading to Street Fighter V regaining its significance.

9. Rainbow Six: Siege

Almost Going Dark

Rainbow Six: Siege debuted under significant challenges. To put it simply, its network code had issues, the game was marred by numerous glitches, and overall performance left much to be desired.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but feel frustrated when issues like these crop up during the launch of a highly anticipated game, especially one with aspirations as lofty as Rainbow Six Siege, which aims to become a significant player in the eSports scene. Such problems are simply intolerable if we want it to reach its full potential.

As a passionate fan, I couldn’t help but notice the immense promise of this game at launch, but it was far from playable. To remedy its critical condition, the developers launched “Operation Health,” essentially putting the game in a healing trance. For several months, there were no new updates as they dedicated their efforts solely to tackling the fundamental issues.

As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to say that after its break, Siege has come back stronger and more polished, carving a substantial space for itself within the competitive gaming landscape.

Over time, Rainbow Six: Siege emerged as a significant competitive eSport contender, and crucially, it regained the faith of its gamers.

8. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines

Fans Show Their Fangs

Today, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is widely known for offering exceptional RPG experiences. Its characters are well-crafted, role-playing is rich, the narrative keeps us hooked, and its ambiance is remarkable. Over time, we’ve developed such a strong affection for the game that it’s easy to overlook its initial struggles during launch.

Initially, the developers found themselves under pressure to expedite the launch and had limited opportunity to refine the game, a decision that carried significant risk given the game’s utilization of the recently debuted Source engine.

The outcome was a game marred by glitches, poor performance, and awkward game mechanics. However, despite its unpolished condition at the time, enthusiasts were able to see the hidden gem within it.

Through the passage of time, numerous fan-created, unauthorized updates and modifications have rectified most technical flaws, turning Bloodlines into the jewel it was intended to be. Nowadays, these updates are so intrinsic to the gameplay experience that they might as well come packaged with the original release.

Installing Bloodlines often goes hand in hand with downloading the massive fan-created update, which underscores the dedication of the fan community and the role that modding plays.

7. Fallout 76

Taking “Wasteland” Too Literally

For years, enthusiasts of the Fallout series have eagerly anticipated an online adaptation, and that dream has finally come true with the unveiling of Fallout 76.

Initially when Bethesda released the game, it was designed as an open-ended environment for players to generate their own entertainment by exploring systems and engaging with each other. Consequently, at its debut, the game lacked any non-hostile NPCs, which didn’t sit well with players at first.

The core of Fallout has consistently been its deep role-playing game structure, extending well past experience points and abilities gained at each level. It’s all about an engaging narrative filled with intriguing personalities, a world teeming with adventures and subtle nuances, and the accomplishment of missions amidst a backdrop of numerous quests and secret elements.

In Fallout 76, there was a lack of depth compared to its aim for an open-ended, sandbox-style gameplay, as it only offered base-building, looting, and combat without the richness of mechanics typically found in such games.

Ultimately, Bethesda gave in and started working on a sequence of updates aimed at rejuvenating the game by adding fresh elements.

Among all the changes, the one that drew me back, and essentially revitalized the game, was the Wastelanders update – the addition of human Non-Player Characters (NPCs). I’ve come to realize that engaging quest givers are a significant element that elevates an RPG from good to great.

6. Diablo III

You Can’t Auction Success

Diablo III was well-equipped for success due to its renowned status and long-awaited return. Players were eagerly anticipating its arrival, but their enthusiasm was dampened when Blizzard unveiled a contentious new element: a real-money trading platform.

In this auction house, gamers could purchase and trade in-game goods using gold or actual currency, which didn’t sit well with numerous players since the excitement in this game often revolves around earning superior equipment through hard work and perseverance.

Initially, Diablo’s main attractions – collecting loot and battling bosses – were tarnished by balance problems at its release and a loot system that didn’t deliver the expected thrill. Many players had to endure numerous hours before they finally obtained their first legendary item. Blizzard insisted they hadn’t lowered drop rates to promote the auction house usage, but players remained doubtful.

Two years later, Blizzard decided to take down the auction house alongside the rollout of the Reaper of Souls expansion and a significant overhaul of the loot system. This change made Diablo III a lot more entertaining, enticing players to return and keeping it lively with each new season—until the arrival of Diablo IV.

5. Star Wars: Battlefront 2

The Dark Side Sells Loot Boxes

Back in the day, I couldn’t contain my excitement whenever a new Star Wars product hit the market, but nothing stirred anticipation quite like the announcement of a new Star Wars: Battlefront series by EA.

Back in the day, the original Battlefront games were adored by Star Wars and online shooter enthusiasts alike, and their impact is still felt today. Fans couldn’t wait to see this series resurface on contemporary gaming systems. EA’s initial Battlefront launch was a hit, but they promised an even bigger treat for the sequel, offering not just multiplayer action, but also a single-player campaign.

Fans’ initial excitement soon turned sour as they discovered the plans for Battlefront 2. Beyond the technical problems, the main issue lay in its excessive monetization.

Players were repeatedly offered loot boxes that required payment, and it was only through spending money or gambling that they could unlock renowned figures such as Darth Vader, who required extensive gameplay to obtain otherwise.

It’s no wonder that this situation sparked dissatisfaction among players. The response was intense to the point where governments worldwide started debating if loot boxes should be classified as forms of gambling.

Four months later, EA ultimately took away the paid loot boxes completely and overhauled the entire progression system, turning Star Wars: Battlefront 2 into the game it originally should have been.

4. Assassin’s Creed Unity

In the Land of Parkour

One painful aspect for me is seeing a well-crafted game undermined by a hasty launch, and unfortunately, that seems to be what happened with Assassin’s Creed Unity.

In the past, Ubisoft was frequently launching new Assassin’s Creed games annually, which put immense pressure on their development team. As a result, they had to work excessively, a situation known as “crunch,” and this affected the final quality of the product. The game Assassin’s Creed: Unity, in particular, was so flawed upon release that it became a popular joke—many remember the humorous screenshots showing NPCs without faces from that time.

On most occasions, the game was barely functional, even at its best. Even following the initial updates, it struggled to run smoothly, particularly on personal computers. To add insult to injury, the game excessively marketed microtransactions and downloadable content, which significantly disrupted the gaming experience.

Despite many individuals swiftly leaving it behind, Ubisoft persisted in issuing patches and upgrades to perfect and rectify the problems. Now that the technical glitches have been addressed, players have re-embraced Assassin’s Creed: Unity and are appreciating it as one of the finest games in the series, particularly for its movement system.

3. Cyberpunk 2077

Wake Up, Samurai! We Have a Game to Fix

Cyberpunk 2077, a highly anticipated video game, has been one of the most buzzed-about titles in gaming history, building on the success of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. CD Projekt Red had gained public confidence with their previous work, leading to extremely high expectations for this release. However, despite these lofty anticipations (which some might argue were unrealistic), the game launched in a less-than-ideal condition.

Its release is now regarded as one of the most disastrous in gaming history.

The game functioned poorly across all platforms, except those considered high-end PCs. It was so problematic that it had to be temporarily removed from digital marketplaces. If you somehow managed to play it, persistent bugs often interrupted your experience, which was disappointing given the world’s failure to meet player expectations.

The publisher undertook a task that exceeded its capabilities, leading to a lengthy setback. However, it ultimately overcame these issues, and in an impressive manner.

After the debut of the Phantom Liberty expansion for stellar expansion and the 2.0 update, introducing numerous enhancements and overhauls, Cyberpunk 2077 has now realized its intended potential.

The trip was quite extensive, and it’s likely that folks these days are more cautious about sales pitches, including those from movie studios that have built up a lot of positive reputation.

2. No Man’s Sky

Eventually, Somebody Got in That Sky

No Man’s Sky is often seen as a prime example of video games undergoing remarkable transformations. Despite being marketed extensively, even by Sony with high expectations for it to be one of their top exclusives, the game faced challenges because its small development team of only 15 individuals struggled to manage such attention. Regrettably, the communication surrounding the game was mishandled severely.

The outcome was a disappointing survival/crafting game, which fell short on numerous features that were suggested or alluded to for years. Players went as far as creating extensive charts to compare what was pledged against what was ultimately delivered. The criticism hit record highs.

In a fitting response to the controversy, Hello Games retreated, shuttered both their professional and personal social media platforms, and focused on working diligently.

After launching, No Man’s Sky underwent an incredible series of free, massive updates, turning it into a game that surpassed its initial promises – without requiring players to pay anything extra. Now, many years later, NMS is widely recognized as a standout title within its genre and the gaming world as a whole.

1. Final Fantasy XIV

Back to the Drawing Board

What could top this list if not a game that had to be nuked from Orbit to be salvaged?

One of the toughest aspects of any creative endeavor is letting go of cherished ideas, even if they don’t fit. Final Fantasy XIV went above and beyond by completely overhauling the entire game.

In its initial release, Final Fantasy XIV presented several challenges. For one, it often struggled with lag and demanded a high-performance computer to operate smoothly. Additionally, it lacked fundamental MMO features like an auction house or storage system, which are commonplace in other games of the genre. Mounts were non-existent, the environments were repetitive, and gameplay was monotonous, amounting to constant, exhausting grinding. These were some of its most obvious problems, but there were many more underlying issues as well.

After three years since its initial release, Square Enix chose to start anew and introduced Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, a complete remake of the game. This grand relaunch was preceded by a captivating cinematic video, which depicted Bahamut’s catastrophic unleashing, leading to destruction or transformation of large parts of the continent, necessitating its reconstruction.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is now widely recognized as one of the greatest MMORPGs ever made, and it’s still going strong over a decade later. New expansions keep getting added, prolonging its lifespan and offering fresh gameplay experiences. The original game’s problems have long been addressed, and the community continues to be lively and active today.

If you’re ever forced to kill your darlings, make it spectacular.

2025-03-24 19:42