Creating video games is notoriously challenging, which explains why there are frequent delays from both large and small studios. The road to release is often complex and circuitous, and occasionally the final product falls short of anticipations. In today’s gaming world, a catastrophic debut doesn’t always mean instant doom, but it can dampen enthusiasm among fans. Below you will find a compilation of the ten most troubled game launches in video game history. Some of these games managed to recover and gain affection, but others never really took off, sometimes leaving their creators in the same predicament.
Below is a collection, arranged in alphabetical sequence, of the top ten most troublesome debuts in video game history.
Here’s an array, sorted alphabetically, showcasing the ten most problematic video game launches in history.
Or for a more conversational tone:
Check out this list I’ve put together featuring the top 10 rockiest debuts from the world of video games. They’re all organized in alphabetical order so you can easily find your favorites!
10) Anthem
2019 wasn’t BioWare’s strongest year, as they released Anthem during this period. Their previous game, Mass Effect: Andromeda, had technical issues and fell short in storytelling. However, it’s important to note that Dragon Age: Inquisition was well-received, sparking enthusiasm among fans for BioWare’s multiplayer action RPG offering.
Regrettably, the debut of Anthem was a massive letdown. Although its combat and aerial maneuvers were enjoyable, the game was marred by technical glitches, causing many players to abandon it shortly after release. The publisher EA announced that the team would carry on working on the game, but the promised overhaul that started in 2020 never came to fruition. Consequently, Anthem will be discontinuing its servers in January 2026.
9) Concord
Immediately after its launch, it seemed unlikely that Concord would be a major success for Sony due to the already saturated market of live-service shooter games. The challenge of convincing gamers to purchase the game only made achieving success more difficult.
Regrettably, for the developers at Firewalk Studios, their game ‘Concord’ experienced a swift and disappointing demise upon its release. Despite being technically sound, the game struggled to attract players, leading to its closure not long after debut. Tragically, Firewalk Studios followed suit and was closed down shortly afterwards as well.
8) Cyberpunk 2077
Among the listed achievements, “Cyberpunk 2077” stands out as the first, marking CD Projekt Red’s venture beyond the “Witcher” universe. The game generated significant buzz in pre-release reviews, sparking a feverish excitement among fans eager to explore Night City. However, at its debut, the performance of “Cyberpunk” was so disappointing that it was temporarily removed from the PlayStation store.
It’s quite unusual, particularly for a game like Cyberpunk 2077, which is well-known for its extensive reputation. Fortunately, CD Projekt Red was dedicated to resolving the game’s numerous problems. Although it took some time, by the time the Phantom Liberty expansion launched in 2023, Cyberpunk 2077 had significantly improved and undergone a complete turnaround.
7) Diablo 3
I don’t know about you, but I still have nightmares about seeing the “Error 37” message pop up on my computer screen. Granted, fans got that error because Diablo 3‘s server capacity was filled up at launch, meaning it was incredibly popular. That said, low capacity was far from Diablo 3‘s only issue.
As a devoted fan, I must say what truly rankled was the real-money auction house in Diablo 2, transforming the cherished loot grind we all enjoyed into a pay-to-win scenario. Fortunately, Blizzard eventually did away with that feature and managed to get Diablo 3 back on track, but it’s unfortunate that this is one of the few Blizzard games (Warcraft 3: Reforged also comes to mind) that we’d all rather push from our memories.
6) Final Fantasy XIV
Upon its initial release, “Final Fantasy XIV” was almost unplayable due to its incomplete feel, which significantly contrasted with the rich content offered by “World of Warcraft”. This poor state caused a loss of momentum, and as a result, Square temporarily waived subscription fees and recruited Naoki Yoshida to revive the game.
The renowned developer and his team successfully accomplished this task, launching “Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn” a few years after. This strategic decision proved highly successful as “FFXIV” is now among, if not the top-tier, MMOs available. It’s the only MMO that has genuinely challenged “World of Warcraft”‘s dominance and continues to gather popularity.
5) MindsEye
Build a Rocket Boy’s debut game, MindsEye, is spearheaded by Leslie Benzies, a renowned figure in the gaming industry from Rockstar. With his past contributions to many of Rockstar’s blockbuster titles, it’s no surprise that the anticipation for this new release has been extremely high.
Unfortunately, the pedigree didn’t result in success for Build a Rocket Boy. The game received negative reviews both critically and commercially. Following its release, the co-CEO of the company made some unusual comments, suggesting that there was an intentional attempt to discredit the game. It was reported that shortly after launch, the studio underwent a wave of layoffs.
4) No Man’s Sky
Initially, games like Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky were extraordinarily exciting when they were first unveiled. The hype was further amplified by Sean Murray, the founder of Hello Games, who frequently revealed additional features. Meeting such high expectations proved challenging, and unfortunately, at its launch, No Man’s Sky fell significantly short of those lofty promises.
Initially, when No Man’s Sky was launched, it wasn’t a poor game by any means, but its players felt misled by Hello Games as they believed they were purchasing a more expansive universe than what was delivered initially. Despite this initial disappointment, Hello Games remained dedicated to the game, releasing numerous updates over time that transformed No Man’s Sky into a thriving success. As of June 2025, it continues to be updated with innovative new systems and features such as an expanded settlement and a Lovecraft-inspired expedition.
3) SimCity
For enthusiasts of city-building games, the SimCity series is typically regarded as the epitome. Consequently, when Electronic Arts and Maxis declared a new SimCity for 2013, fans were naturally thrilled. However, upon learning that their preferred city-builder would require continuous online connectivity, even if playing solo without global collaboration, some fans may have felt somewhat dismayed.
As an enthusiastic gamer, I must admit that my excitement for SimCity’s launch was short-lived. Sadly, the servers went boom right at the start, making the game unplayable for those who were eager to dive in solo. While there were minor gameplay issues, the botched launch seemed to be the primary reason for many fans, including myself, abandoning SimCity and gravitating towards Cities: Skylines instead.
2) The Day Before
There’s some debate about whether “The Day Before” actually exists as a game, given that it was announced by Fntastic in 2021 as an online survival horror extraction shooter with visually appealing and non-linear gameplay. The title soon found its way onto many Steam wishlists following the release of early trailers.
On December 7th, 2023, the game titled The Day Before launched on early access on Steam. However, it was removed from the platform just four days later due to disappointing sales and negative feedback. Critics even accused the developers, Fntastic, of creating a copycat game and deceiving fans. The studio eventually shut down a few weeks after the controversy, but they announced a return in 2024 with a new project. Unfortunately, their next attempt was also labeled as a clone and fell short of its Kickstarter fundraising goal.
1) WWE 2K20
It’s tough to conceive of a sports game from a series being so flawed annually that it leads to a break in production, but that’s precisely what transpired with WWE 2K20. In reality, the game was catastrophic, marred by numerous bugs and unattractive character models that were downright frightening.
Despite the developer announcing that WWE 2K21 was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear that poor sales and harsh criticism of WWE 2K20 also contributed significantly to the team deciding to take an additional year to reevaluate. Although WWE 2K20 won’t be salvaged, the series is expected to be in a much stronger position by 2025. Perhaps taking a break from developing sports games periodically could benefit other game developers too.
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2025-08-24 20:42