5 Games That Bombed at Launch That Are Now Beloved

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Launching a new video game is always risky – it’s hard to predict what players will enjoy, and games get a lot of marketing attention. Sometimes, even highly anticipated titles disappoint, failing to meet the expectations of both fans and the developers who created them. Usually, these games fail completely, but occasionally, they receive continued support and improvements after release. This can eventually turn them into the games players hoped for. We’ve chosen five examples of this phenomenon and listed them in the order they were originally released.

1) Final Fantasy XIV

The original release of Final Fantasy XIV in 2010 was a major disappointment for fans. After five years of development, the game received harsh criticism for its confusing interface, weak gameplay, and feeling unfinished. The negative reaction forced Square Enix to overhaul the entire project. They replaced the development team and spent three years completely rebuilding the game, resulting in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, which is now considered one of the best titles in the Final Fantasy series.

2) No Man’s Sky

It’s no surprise to find No Man’s Sky on this list. The game is infamous for its incredibly rocky start – the final version was a far cry from what players were led to believe. Developed by a small team over three years, No Man’s Sky had big goals, and with support from Sony, it launched in 2016. However, it was almost universally criticized because it didn’t live up to the hype. This was largely due to misleading marketing and a rushed release. Over the past decade, the developers, Hello Games, have consistently released free updates, dramatically improving the game to the point where it now exceeds the original promises and is considered a fantastic title that simply launched too early.

3) Star Wars: Battlefront II

Electronic Arts really missed the mark with Star Wars: Battlefront II. While the 2017 release was highly anticipated and initially popular, it quickly became controversial due to its loot box system. This system made it feel like players had to pay extra to progress, and some countries even considered it a form of gambling. The resulting legal issues and public criticism were unfortunate, because the game itself is actually very good – with a compelling story and plenty of Star Wars content. Since then, the game has been improved with free updates, and most players now consider it a worthwhile experience.

4) Fallout 76

When Fallout 76 was released, fans were excited, but it marked a big change for the series. Unlike previous Fallout games, which were known for their single-player experiences, Fallout 76 was designed as an online-only game. While dedicated fans cautiously gave it a try, they quickly encountered numerous problems, including design flaws and frustrating bugs. Bethesda worked to address these issues after launch, but the game struggled for a while. Now, almost ten years later, Fallout 76 has significantly improved. Through consistent updates and new content, it’s become a game that both longtime fans and newcomers can truly enjoy.

5) Cyberpunk 2077

Before its release, Cyberpunk 2077 generated a huge amount of excitement, boosted by promises of rich content and a collaboration with popular actor Keanu Reeves. However, the game launched with significant technical problems and bugs, making it difficult to play. The issues were especially severe on consoles, drawing criticism from other game developers. Sony even pulled the game from the PlayStation Store until the problems were fixed. Now, Cyberpunk 2077 finally delivers on its initial promise and has become a major success, with a sequel currently in development.

I’m curious – what’s a movie or show you loved that everyone else seemed to hate? I’d love to hear about it! Let’s chat about it over on the ComicBook Forum – come share your picks!

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2026-02-07 17:13