Days Gone’s Director Slams Bend Studio For Not ‘Protecting Its Legacy’ in Astro Bot Ad

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the post-apocalyptic world of Days Gone, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia every time I see its protagonist, Deacon St. John. The game was an exhilarating ride, with its innovative ‘horde mechanic’ and expansive open-world setting that offered endless exploration opportunities.

2019 saw the release of Days Gone exclusively on PlayStation 4, establishing itself as a decent open-world, post-apocalyptic shooter with unique features. However, it had some initial issues with performance. Over time, these problems were addressed and eventually, the game was adapted for PC play as well. Now, gamers on both platforms can engage in an immersive post-apocalyptic adventure.

Unfortunately, although there’s plenty of room for growth and a follow-up in the universe of the game, Bend Studio made it clear a while back that they aren’t planning on creating a sequel. This has left the title gathering dust and growing old, trapped within the depths of history. This decision has always been hard to swallow for the game’s director, who has recently expressed disapproval towards Bend Studio for employing the protagonist from Days Gone to advertise other games.

Days Gone By

To mark the debut of Astro Bot, Bend Studio shared an image featuring Deacon St. John, the lead character from Days Gone, observing other Astro Bot characters frolic on a sandy coastline. In reply, John Garvin, a writer and director involved with Days Gone, posted:

It’s a bit disappointing to see Deacon St. John (Deek) being used for advertising other games, but hats off to Bend Studio for safeguarding their reputation and legacy!

On several occasions, Garvin has expressed his dissatisfaction about the treatment of Days Gone on social media. This isn’t a new phenomenon. After leaving Bend Studio in 2019, not long after the launch of Days Gone, he has often voiced regret over how his creation was handled in the subsequent years.

He doubled down in the comments on Twitter:

Chuckle, seems like I’m portraying my character as a caricature endorsing a minor game, and I come across as too critical? Take a seat, my friend, let’s have a mature chat.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing Days Gone and made sure to fully immerse myself in the game by earning every achievable trophy and extensively exploring its expansive environment. Particularly captivating was the ‘horde mechanic’ that enabled massive groups of enemies to assault the player simultaneously, creating some of the most exhilarating battles I’ve experienced within a video game.

Unfortunately, Days Gone seems to have been abandoned by Bend Studio, yet it’s not the first project they’ve had to let go.

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