Less than a week ago, The Day Before, a highly anticipated zombie-survival shooter game, launched on PC, only to face a barrage of negative reviews and criticism. The game, which had been eagerly awaited by gamers and had become the most wishlisted game on Steam, fell short of expectations, resulting in the closure of its developers. This article delves into the disastrous launch, the reasons behind the closure, and the implications for the gaming industry.
The Day Before finally arrived on Steam’s Early Access after numerous delays, pushing back its release date from last year to December 7th. However, the launch was overshadowed by controversy. Unpaid development staff, a disappearing game page from Steam due to a trademark dispute, and accusations of fraud surrounded the game’s release. Disappointed players quickly bombarded the game with negative reviews, criticizing its deviation from the promised open-world MMO experience and highlighting a lack of development polish, missing features, poor gameplay mechanics, and subpar loot.
Within just four days of its release, Fntastic, the developers of The Day Before, announced their closure. The financial failure of the game proved to be insurmountable, leaving them unable to continue the development process. The initial plan was for The Day Before to remain in Early Access for six to eight months, during which bugs would be addressed, improvements made, and more content added. However, the lack of funding derailed these ambitions.
In an official statement, Fntastic expressed their disappointment in being unable to fulfill their vision for the game. All income received was being used to pay off debts to their partners, leaving them without the necessary resources to proceed further. The closure announcement not only impacted The Day Before but also cast doubt over the future of Fntastic’s previous game, Propnight.
Fntastic, known for their 2017 debut game, The Wild Eight, a co-op survival game with similarities to Don’t Starve, initially raised approximately $60,000 through a Kickstarter campaign. Despite the early success, subsequent games like Dead Dozen and Radiant One failed to replicate its achievements. The closure of the studio signifies the abrupt end to a messy saga, leaving developers and staff in a state of uncertainty.
The Day Before’s disastrous launch and the subsequent closure of Fntastic highlights the challenges and risks involved in game development. The high expectations set by players, coupled with the financial pressures faced by developers, can lead to severe consequences. The closure not only impacts the creators but leaves players with a sense of disappointment and skepticism. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for aspiring game developers, emphasizing the importance of financial stability, effective planning, and meeting the expectations of the gaming community.
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