“Players have less time than ever” — StarCraft successor Stormgate tanks; industry is blamed. Steam reviews say otherwise.

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At Summer Game Fest 2022, Stormgate made its debut as a free-to-play Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game that immediately caught people’s eyes due to the team behind it. The development of Stormgate is spearheaded by none other than Tim Morten and Tim Campbell, veterans from Blizzard Entertainment.

If you’re a follower of Blizzard’s StarCraft and Warcraft series, you might recognize the names Morten and Campbell. Morten played a key role as production head in StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, while Campbell served as the lead campaign designer for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.

Morten and Campbell established Frost Giant with a focus on developing a real-time strategy (RTS) game tailored specifically for the RTS gaming community. In fact, they expressed their ambition to generate a pivotal moment akin to “Elden Ring” within the strategy games sphere as a whole.

Indeed, Elden Ring’s triumph is undeniably linked to its user-friendly design, sparking a viral trend among players who eagerly shared their experiences. It appeared as though an overwhelming number of individuals worldwide were engrossed in the challenging RPG, regardless of whether they had previously delved into similar gaming genres.

As a tech enthusiast, I must confess that the much-anticipated Elden Ring moment didn’t quite materialize as expected. From what Morten elucidates in his insightful LinkedIn post titled “Why Frost Giant’s Stormgate Floundered: The Impact of Oversaturation and the Rise of AI,” it seems the issue isn’t about the game’s quality itself. Instead, it appears that the market might have been flooded with similar titles, and AI-driven gaming solutions could have potentially outshone Frost Giant’s Stormgate in certain aspects.

Is it the game? No, it’s the gamers who are to blame!

In July 2024, the game called Stormgate was launched as part of Steam’s early access initiative, after it had secured approximately $35 million in financing through an initial round of funding and a triumphant Kickstarter campaign.

That’s the kind of money that most indie studios can only dream about, and it’s certainly not necessary to produce a hit game. Just look at the massively successful roguelike poker game Balatro, developed on a shoestring budget, for proof of that.

At last, the much-awaited game, Stormgate, fully materialized on Steam without any cost. However, it rapidly found itself in the unwelcome category labeled as “Mixed,” garnering approximately half of its reviews as positive. The risk of dipping even lower looms ominously.

About a month post the game’s debut, I found myself observing Morten justify the struggles of Stormgate, attributing them primarily to external factors beyond the studio.

It’s worth noting that my perspective is that the standard for what’s considered ‘acceptable’ or ‘good enough’ has significantly shifted in recent times, a change that I think a lot of us are still grappling with. Despite being well-made and often positively reviewed, some games are struggling commercially, even if you personally enjoyed Stormgate.

Tim Morten, Production Director & CEO at Frost Giant Studios

In his LinkedIn post, Morten hints at discussing upcoming challenges for Stormgate, but instead, the main topic of interest is a prevailing industry trend that requires scrutiny.

In his discourse, Morten cites a talk authored by Epyllion CEO Matthew Ball named “The Future Landscape of Video Gaming in 2025.” In this discussion, Ball proposes two primary reasons why many games often don’t succeed: firstly, gamers having fewer hours to dedicate to playing due to other commitments; and secondly, market saturation leading to increased competition.

As a dedicated admirer, I’d like to share a point Morten made about the hurdles independent studios encounter: “constriction in available capital.” It’s intriguing that despite receiving a substantial $35 million, this issue should have been less pronounced.

Morten acknowledges that a part of his role involves identifying trends such as this one and adjusting accordingly. Consequently, he accepts the accountability for Stormgate’s underperformance. However, he also subtly shifts some responsibility onto the advancements in AI, suggesting that its impact on simplifying game development may be leading to an oversaturated market.

Essentially, triumphs are becoming more elusive and unforeseeable than before. To achieve success, extraordinary dedication is required, not only for setting yourself apart but also for effective marketing. However, even with such efforts, there’s an increased role of chance compared to the past, and a shrinking opportunity window for achieving success.

Tim Morten, Production Director & CEO at Frost Giant Studios

It’s not surprising that the points raised by Morten aren’t entirely new. After all, the PC gaming market is overflowing with an array of titles, both excellent and mediocre. Furthermore, it’s possible for outstanding games to be overlooked when a massive release occurs simultaneously.

Stormgate boasted a substantial amount of financial backing in contrast to the typical resources available to independent game studios. Moreover, it benefited from an extensive promotional campaign, culminating in a lavish 2023 trailer showcasing actor Simu Liu.

So what really went wrong?

Stormgate’s reception among gamers tells a different story

From reading Steam user reviews, it appears that Morten might not be accurately assessing the situation.

As a researcher, I’ve noticed that users are expressing concerns about various aspects, including the launch of a paid campaign and an ultimate edition (which were revamped and repriced after some Kickstarter backers had already made their contributions). Additionally, there are issues with performance and a significant lack of polish in the product.

One critical user comment highlights the game as being sold fragmentedly through multiple small transactions, often referred to as microtransactions. The first three hours of gameplay cost $25, at which point it transforms into an application primarily designed for additional financial investment.

The missions, unfortunately, weren’t particularly impressive. They weren’t abysmal, but the voice acting was poor, the characters lacked depth, the storyline seemed almost non-existent, and some of the campaign goals were awkward and challenging to navigate. To add insult to injury, I learned that the developers expected us to pay extra for these experiences! Considering most players predominantly engage with the campaign mode rather than multiplayer, this pricing decision feels like a strategic maneuver to prolong the financial ties with as many of their player base as possible.

Steam user “boedullus”

One reviewer gets more personal, stating:

23 years since the release of Warcraft 3, and 15 years after Wings of Liberty, a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) campaign should not feel so dull and uninspiring. A project driven by passion doesn’t guarantee a successful product. Rating: 6/10

After two decades since Warcraft 3 and 15 years following Wings of Liberty, an RTS campaign lacks the excitement and energy it needs to be engaging. Despite being a passionate project, it doesn’t guarantee a captivating product. Rating: 6/10

As a tech enthusiast, I can’t help but emphasize that a significant number of Stormgate players are indeed expressing satisfaction with their gaming experience, going as far as giving it positive reviews. However, in this highly competitive gaming landscape where an abundance of fantastic titles are released daily, mere player satisfaction isn’t enough to secure its success.

Criticizing the flop of your game by pointing fingers at players and market circumstances isn’t a good impression, and it’s unfortunate to witness another real-time strategy (RTS) game struggling to gain widespread popularity.

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2025-09-10 17:49