‘Increasingly Selective Consumers’ to Blame for Underperformance of Blades of Fire

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The overabundance of newly launched games, coupled with more discerning consumers, appears to be the reason behind the relatively poor sales of the PS5’s action game Blades of Fire.

Based on reports from Digital Bros, an Italian organization that owns publisher 505 Games, they’ve anticipated a decrease in earnings compared to the last fiscal year. This is due to one of their titles not performing as expected, leading to a projected loss of around €10 million (approximately $11.7 million).

As a passionate enthusiast, I find it incredibly challenging to introduce fresh Intellectual Property (IP) in today’s dynamic environment. It’s not just difficult, but exceptionally so.

The game ‘Blades of Fire’ launched by the group on May 22nd, 2025, for consoles and exclusively on Epic Games Store as a PC title, didn’t meet the group’s expectations, even though it generally received positive feedback from both critics and players. This underscores the difficulties many game developers and publishers face in getting consumers interested in new games, especially those without an established brand or a dedicated player base.

Upon its launch, the game was generally positively reviewed. In our Blades of Fire PS5 review, we gave it a score of 7/10, calling it an “engaging and extended action-adventure journey.” Additionally, it holds a decent but unremarkable Metacritic score of 71, and boasts a satisfactory rating of 3.86 on the PlayStation Store.

Critics argue that the exclusive distribution of games on the Epic Games Store might be contributing to its lackluster performance, as many PC gamers typically opt for Steam when purchasing titles. However, it’s important to mention that 505 Games probably received a substantial amount of money from Epic Games in exchange for their exclusivity deal.

A point worth considering for gamers could be the overwhelming abundance of games available today. The vast selection, including live-service titles that require substantial time commitments, means it’s no longer sufficient for a game to merely be well-made; it must also offer an exceptional gaming experience.

Given its current discount on digital platforms and potential inclusion in services such as PS Plus, Blades of Fire might achieve success in the future. However, it’s not setting the global stage ablaze at present.

Have you given this game a try? In your opinion, why might it be falling short of expectations? Share your insights in the comment area.

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2025-07-23 01:36