Cyberpunk 2077 was supposed to mark the start of a new era. As CD Projekt RED worked hard to rebuild the lost trust of the entire gaming community after its latest project fell flat on its face due to several issues stemming from rushing the game to market, it put the rest of the industry on notice. But, it appears that developers still haven't learned their lesson.
It's no secret that gamers love their pastime. Most relish the thrill of a well-plotted adventure, the highs of an action-packed chase, or the challenge of fighting their way to victory. However, all of this is moot if a game doesn't run well if at all.
The unsettling sound of discontent from the frustrated voices of gamers who've had it with the recent trend of unfinished games permeates online discussion boards right now.
As pointed out by @DolanDark on Twitter, a growing list of developers have felt complacent enough to disrespect gamers by launching unfinished and unpolished projects at full price, content with just "fixing" them post-launch as opposed to making sure that the games run smoothly when they come out.
After Cyberpunk 2077 became an embarrassing fiasco for CD Projekt RED, a slew of games have followed, especially in the past few months.
From Halo Infinite to Forspoken followed by Redfall, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and finally, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, it's clear that this is no longer an isolated case resulting from improper management within a single company.
All of the aforementioned games suffer from a similar complaint - the overall lack of polish unbecoming of a AAA title.
Although each game's respective developers vowed to resolve the issues, the damage is already done. The reputation of a promising title is nigh unsalvageable save in rare cases. Even then, if a game can "eventually" be good, why won't developers just delay them as opposed to spending months fixing them while risking their brand?
These growing incidents are but a few examples of a broader problem plaguing the gaming industry. Studios seem to have fallen into the habit of pushing incomplete games out, leaving gamers to deal with the fallout. Such practices dampen the enjoyment of players and damage the reputations of the studios involved in a game's creation.
So, what know? Can this still change? Maybe. But, developers need to hold themselves accountable. Otherwise, the growing unrest might force gamers to vote with what counts the most - their wallet.
The gaming community has made their pent-up frustration and disappointment loud and clear - they've had enough.
Gamers deserve gamers that live up to their promise and potential, gamers that can ignite their passion and not douse it.
Don't forget, gamers aren't just products. To most, they're experiences, moments, and stories that stick to players for years. Developers need to realize that whatever they are creating is something special. Although the finances are important, it's important to know that rushing unfinished games to the market is never just a good thing. By doing so, the game becomes worse than a defective product; it becomes a defective experience.
It's high time studios take a step back, reevaluate their process, and work to deliver a quality experience that meets, if not exceeds, gamers' expectations.
Because, after all, isn't the never-ending quest for a better and more memorable experience exactly what gaming is about?
Square Enix, Nintendo, and Blizzard Entertainment appear to have learned from their earlier mistakes and we're hoping the rest will do so too soon enough.
