The Day Before, once touted as Steam’s most wish-listed open-world survival MMO, has faced a swift downfall. The game initially debuted in early access and was met with a flood of negative reviews, exposing its lack of substance as an MMO experience. Instead, players compared it to an extraction shooter resembling Escape from Tarkov, combined with the post-apocalyptic threats of The Last of Us. The game’s misleading gameplay claims were only exacerbated by numerous game-breaking glitches, an unfinished and desolate world, and unreliable online features. As a result, Steam has delisted the game, and Fntastic, the studio behind it, has announced its closure, leaving players feeling ripped off and disappointed.
After a mere five days since release, The Day Before was pulled from Steam, leaving no room for redemption. Fntastic stated that the game had failed financially, and they lacked the necessary funds to continue its development. The studio’s original intention to repay any debts using the game’s earnings proved futile. Furthermore, no plans for future patches or improvements are in the works, as additional funding is now out of reach. The game’s lackluster debut, combined with allegations of stolen or repurposed assets, misleading gameplay trailers, and an overpriced $40 tag, severely damaged the studio’s reputation and player trust. With an initially strong player base of 38,000 concurrent players quickly dwindling, The Day Before currently struggles to maintain a mere 749 concurrent players.
Acknowledging players’ disappointment and disapproval, Fntastic has assured users that the servers for The Day Before and their previous multiplayer game, Propnight, will remain operational. Additionally, the publisher, Mytona, has offered refunds to unhappy customers, even if they have played the game for more than two hours on Steam. This can be initiated through Steam’s Help section, where players are required to provide reasons for their refund request. Fntastic, in an attempt to defend itself against accusations of running a scam, has made it clear that they will not profit from any sales and have admitted to overestimating their capabilities as a game developer. However, their response to criticism on Twitter lacked professionalism, further fueling players’ anger and doubt.
The aftermath of The Day Before’s failure has been marked by Fntastic’s attempts to erase evidence of the game’s existence. The studio’s CEO deleting their Twitter account and the removal of their YouTube channel gives the impression that they are desperate to hide their colossal mistakes. With an overwhelmingly negative rating on Steam, accumulating over 18,000 bad reviews, The Day Before quickly earned a spot among the platform’s ten worst-reviewed games. Although it no longer appears on the list, this is solely due to the game’s removal from the platform as a whole.
The road to The Day Before’s launch was filled with obstacles and controversies. The game faced multiple delays, with one occurring just a month before the planned release date, causing frustration among those eagerly awaiting its arrival. In addition, the studio found itself entangled in a trademark dispute and allegations of facilitating unpaid labor. Fntastic attempted to downplay these claims, asserting that the individuals involved were merely volunteers. However, these incidents further tarnished their already damaged reputation.
In a world where video game enthusiasts demand immersive and enjoyable experiences, Fntastic’s attempt at creating an open-world survival MMO fell far short of expectations. The Day Before’s removal from Steam has become a stark reminder of the risks and challenges faced by game developers, highlighting the consequences of misleading marketing, unfulfilled promises, and overall mismanagement. This spectacular failure should serve as a cautionary tale for both players and aspiring game developers, showcasing the importance of transparency, quality, and delivering on promises in the gaming industry.
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