As someone who’s been in the gaming world for quite some time now, I must say that these game launches have left me more baffled than entertained! The hype and anticipation for a game can often be so immense, only for it to crash and burn upon release. It’s like being promised a sumptuous feast, only to find a plate with a single, overcooked carrot.
Playing a game at its launch is often the most thrilling time to participate, as everyone is buzzing with excitement over the fresh release. The number of players tends to reach an all-time high during this period, and there’s a palpable sense of anticipation when you immerse yourself in the game. It seems like everyone is discussing it nonstop.
Occasionally, the rollout of a game can be so problematic that it sparks discussions filled with dissatisfaction and disillusionment. The initial enthusiasm and vitality often give way to frustration and disappointment.
People are constantly discussing how this game launch has been one of the most disappointing ones they’ve encountered. It can feel quite embarrassing to take time off work to play the game only for it to turn out poorly.
Some video games, such as “STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl” and “World of Warcraft,” can manage a rocky and underoptimized debut, but this is not the case for all titles. Certain games continue due to a re-release or the developer’s determination. Regrettably, other games disappear as rapidly as they arrived on the scene.
10 Diablo 3
Error 37 still haunts us
In simpler terms, when Diablo 3 was launched, the most memorable aspect wasn’t about the gameplay; rather, a frustrating error message called “Error 37” appeared, stating that the servers were overloaded. If you’re curious as to why Diablo 3 had server problems, it’s because Blizzard made it mandatory for players to link up to their online servers, even when playing the game by themselves.
From its launch, many fans found the introduction of a real-money auction house in Diablo 3 off-putting.
Initially, the game struggled due to a rocky launch, which it was unable to completely overcome. Despite gaining some traction and making sales, its poor start ultimately led to the cancellation of an upcoming expansion. Instead, Blizzard chose to direct their efforts towards a fresh installment in the series.
9 Final Fantasy XIV
Before A Realm Reborn
Prior to the release of A Realm Reborn, which revolutionized the MMORPG genre, there existed the initial version of Final Fantasy XIV. However, this game was not up to par and has since been largely overshadowed or forgotten.
It looked and sounded like a Final Fantasy game, but that’s where the praise ends. Nothing else worked, and the game felt like it wasn’t finished. The backlash was so extreme that Square Enix took two steps.
Initially, they waived subscription costs and appointed Naoki Yoshida as the lead developer. Instead of a traditional release, they essentially demolished the game world and introduced it anew under the title ‘Final Fantasy XIV: A New Birth’.
The gamble worked, and FFXIV is now regarded as one of the best MMORPGs ever made.
8 SimCity (2013)
Sim S***ty
A significant amount of debate arose prior to the launch of the 2013 remake of SimCity, as fans were eagerly anticipating an upgraded version of the much-loved SimCity 4. However, instead of sticking with the tried-and-true formula, developers Electronic Arts and Maxis opted for a change in approach.
Instead of constructing a single enormous metropolis, SimCity emphasized the development of a network of linked smaller cities, and it incorporated multiplayer functionality through online servers. While playing the game by yourself, you were still required to access these servers.
Guess what happened on release day? The servers didn’t work, and the game was unplayable.
2013’s reintroduction of SimCity wasn’t a terrible game in itself, but its rocky debut certainly impacted its reception negatively. Instead, devotees of city-building games gravitated towards 2015’s Cities: Skylines. However, even its 2023 sequel didn’t have a flawless launch.
7 Anthem
BioWare Magic Was Nowhere To Be Seen
Back in the day, BioWare stood out as one of the top game development studios available. Famous for role-playing games with captivating stories like Mass Effect and Knights of the Old Republic, players eagerly awaited the unveiling of a brand-new intellectual property in 2017. However, what they received was not another large-scale RPG as anticipated, but instead a live-service game.
There’s been a lot of talk about the challenges faced during the creation of Anthem, as some issues were dismissed on the belief that BioWare’s unique creative abilities (“BioWare magic”) would eventually pull everything together.
It turns out that Anthem faced the same problems as many other long-lived service games. Instead of providing deep gameplay, it struggled with shallow mechanics, technical glitches, and bugs. Additionally, it failed to offer substantial endgame content.
Despite certain devoted enthusiasts harboring dreams that Anthem might undergo a resurgence akin to No Man’s Sky (details to follow), development on the game came to an end in 2021.
6 Fallout 76
Todd, How Could You?
Unlike Anthem, Fallout 76 was able to redeem itself after its poor launch.
2018 saw fans eagerly anticipating the unveiling of a fresh “Fallout” game. However, their enthusiasm soon faded when they learned that the game was actually a multiplayer live-service title instead of the traditional single-player role-playing game that the series is famous for.
Indeed, the apprehensions were justified when the game was initially released in 2018, given its underwhelming performance, unengaging gameplay, and absence of human NPC characters. The sole resemblance it shared with Fallout lay in its name and visual style.
Ever since its release, Bethesda has diligently worked on improving the game, leading to a significantly better response from players today.
5 Cyberpunk 2077
Rushed To Market
It isn’t just saying that Cyberpunk 2077 is highly anticipated; it’s a significant understatement. The developer CD Projekt RED’s previous game, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is often hailed as one of the greatest role-playing games ever made.
The initial teaser for Cyberpunk, hinting at its launch when fully prepared, stands among the most striking debut trailers in video game history. Regrettably, its actual release has been quite disappointing, ranking as one of the poorest.
The main issue lies with the game’s performance consistency. It functioned acceptably well on powerful computers, but it became nearly unplayable on consoles, particularly for those using Xbox One or PlayStation 4.
Taking a significant stride backwards, the studio’s progress unfortunately undid the positive reputation they had built among gamers prior to launch. In simpler terms, their standing with players significantly diminished after this step.
Ever since the 2020 launch, CD Projekt RED has made significant strides in changing people’s views towards this particular game.
As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to express my gratitude for the significant game updates and the highly anticipated expansion, “Phantom Liberty,” in 2023. These improvements have undeniably elevated Cyberpunk 2077 to new heights, demonstrating that even after one of the most challenging launches in gaming history, a game can rise above its past struggles and regain respect.
4 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition
Grove Street Represented Poorly
Instead of saying “It didn’t need to exist,” you could rephrase it as “There was no necessity for it.” In a more conversational way, you might say, “It wasn’t strictly necessary, but…
Instead, a multitude of problems forced Rockstar Games to temporarily withdraw from sale. Unfortunately, just before the launch of The Definitive Edition, the original Grand Theft Auto trilogy was also pulled from store shelves.
For those eager to experience these games for the first time, locating physical versions was necessary and verifying compatible hardware was essential. While Rockstar offered the initial game through their online store, not every gamer prefers playing on a PC.
3 No Man’s Sky
The Ultimate Comeback Story
Back in 2013, during what is now recognized as the TGA awards (formerly known as the VGX), one of the most eagerly anticipated games ever, No Man’s Sky, made quite an impact on the gaming community.
Independent game creators, Hello Games, pledged a universe brimming with diversity, each planet being distinctly different, uncharted, and ripe for our exploration through the process of procedural generation.
Still brings a rush of excitement when I recall that initial trailer. Regrettably, the game’s first launch didn’t live up to expectations, making it one of the most disappointing game releases I’ve encountered.
In the grandeur of its aspirations, No Man’s Sky struggles to deliver. Although the game functioned technically, Hello Games fell short on fulfilling their promises. Regrettably, we couldn’t engage with other players in this universe, found a dearth of substantial content, and the gameplay, I must say, was rather dull.
After it was initially launched, Hello Games has impressively enhanced No Man’s Sky, significantly increasing the game’s content and fulfilling the expectations that many of us had.
2 Concord
A Major Live Service Flop
On our list, the latest addition, known as Concord, is among several contemporary live-service games that have struggled at their initial release.>
In today’s gaming market, live-service games are abundant, and unfortunately, Concord didn’t offer much to distinguish itself. While the game ran smoothly and was more optimized than some other titles we discussed, this is about where the compliments end. Sadly, it seems like a game that people didn’t really want, approved by an executive who’s still following trends that gamers have outgrown.
Shortly following its release, Sony decided to pull the plug on the game’s servers due to poor sales performance. Players who had purchased the game were given their money back. Additionally, the development studio responsible for the game, Firewalk Studios, was shut down.
The legacy of Concord will live on, though, in the upcoming anthology series Secret Level, coming soon to Prime Video.
1 The Day Before
It’s A Scam!
Surprisingly, Concord doesn’t find a place among the most disastrous game launches in history. This is due to the fact that, despite its imperfections, Concord is indeed a playable game.
Meanwhile, the consensus around 2023’s The Day Before is that it was a scam.
As a game developer at Fntastic, I found myself grappling with accusations of plagiarism and a game launch that was mired in insurmountable technical challenges. Despite our best efforts to rectify these issues, we realized it wasn’t feasible to continue. So, four days after the Early Access launch, we made the difficult decision to withdraw the game from the market. The servers were promptly shut down following this decision.
Fantastic firmly rejected any claims of fraudulent activities or plagiarism. Previously employed developers, on the other hand, leveled allegations against the studio’s founders regarding poor management and leadership problems.
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2024-11-29 20:09