The Day Before is a survival MMO game set in a post-apocalyptic world where zombies roam the streets and other players can be allies or enemies. The game was developed by Fantastic, a Singapore-based studio that also made Propnight and The Wild Eight. The game was announced in April 2021 with a stunning trailer that showed off its realistic graphics, dynamic weather, vehicle physics, and gun customization. The game quickly became one of the most wish-listed games on Steam, attracting millions of fans who were eager to play it.
What went wrong with The Day Before?
The game was originally scheduled to release in March 2023, but it was delayed several times due to various reasons, such as switching to Unreal Engine 5, dealing with a legal dispute with a calendar app, and facing backlash from the community over its lack of communication and transparency. The game finally launched in early access on December 7, 2023, but it was met with a wave of negative reviews and complaints from players who felt cheated and disappointed by the game.
Some of the main issues that players reported were:
- The game was buggy, glitchy, and unoptimized, causing crashes, freezes, and low FPS.
- The game was missing many features and content that were promised or shown in the trailers, such as base building, crafting, looting, and zombies.
- The game was poorly designed, balanced, and implemented, resulting in boring, repetitive, and frustrating gameplay.
- The game was dishonest, misleading, and deceptive, using fake or pre-rendered footage, false advertising, and shady marketing tactics to hype up the game.
How did Fantastic respond to the backlash?
Fantastic issued an apology on Steam, acknowledging the problems and promising to fix them as soon as possible. They also offered refunds to anyone unhappy with the game, regardless of the playtime. They claimed that they were overwhelmed by the demand and expectations and that they underestimated the challenges and difficulties of developing a game of this scale and genre. They asked for patience and support from the fans and assured them that they were working hard to improve the game and deliver on their vision.
However, many players were not satisfied with the apology and accused Fantastic of lying, scamming, and exploiting them. They demanded more accountability, transparency, and compensation from the developer. They also expressed their doubts and skepticism about the future of the game and whether it would ever live up to its potential and promises.
What is the future of The Day Before?
The Day Before is currently in a precarious situation, as it faces a massive loss of trust, reputation, and player base. The game has gone from being one of the most anticipated and wishlisted games on Steam to being one of the most hated and criticized games on Steam. The game has a very low rating of 2.1 out of 10 on Steam, based on over 20,000 reviews, most of which are negative. The game also has a very low player count, with only a few hundred players online at any given time.
The game still has a chance to redeem itself if Fantastic can deliver on its promises and fix the game. The game is still in early access, which means that it is not a finished product and that it can still change and improve over time. The game also has a loyal fan base, who are willing to give the game a second chance and who are hopeful that the game will eventually become the game that they dreamed of. The game also has a unique and appealing concept, which can attract new players if it proves itself to be worth playing.
The game’s fate ultimately depends on Fantastic’s actions and decisions, and how they handle the feedback and criticism from the players. The game needs to be updated, patched, and polished, as well as expanded, enriched, and enhanced, to meet the standards and expectations of the players. The game also needs to be honest, transparent, and respectful, to regain the trust and goodwill of the players. The game has a lot of potential, but it also has a lot of problems. The game can either be a success or a failure, depending on how Fantastic can turn things around.
