Game Launch
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The boss of MindsEye has addressed what they are calling the "worst launch in history" for their game. The studio plans to share evidence suggesting sabotage within the game's launch.
"We know we had, without doubt, the worst launch in history" admits MindsEye boss as he says studio will share "evidence of sabotage" in-game
Mark Gerhard, CEO of Build A Rocket Boy, has described the launch of their shooter MindsEye as "the worst launch in history," citing "sabotage" as a primary cause. The studio plans to share evidence of this alleged interference in an upcoming multiplayer update. Despite a troubled release and subsequent layoffs, Gerhard claims the game is now receiving better reviews and seeing organic sales growth.
Discussion: Is it okay for an MMO expansion's launch to be buggy?
This article discusses whether it's acceptable for MMO expansions to launch with bugs, acknowledging the complexity of these games and the frustration players feel, especially when paying a subscription. While the author expresses sympathy for developers, they also highlight how bugs can negatively impact player progression and the overall launch experience.
Marvel Heroes’ Project TAHITI launch was so big that the devs are spinning up a new server
The player-run emulator Project T.A.H.I.T.I. for Marvel Heroes experienced a turbulent 1.0 launch with over 1,300 players attempting to join simultaneously. Developers acknowledged issues with bugs, server restarts, performance, and account creation, comparing the experience to a true MMORPG release. A second server is planned to alleviate launch congestion.
Crimson Desert Launch Pulls Huge Twitch and Steam Numbers
Crimson Desert has achieved significant viewership on Twitch and a large player count on Steam following its launch. However, the game's review scores have been mixed.
Crimson Desert Launches With 239,000 Concurrent Players And A "Mixed" Rating
Crimson Desert launched with a peak of 239,000 concurrent players on PC and a 'Mixed' rating on Steam. Despite strong initial player numbers, Pearl Abyss' stock price has fallen by nearly 29 percent following a Metacritic score of 78, indicating shareholder disappointment.
Marathon slides out of Steam's top 50 most-played games just a week on from its promising launch
Marathon has experienced a significant drop in its player count on Steam, falling out of the top 50 most-played games just one week after its launch. Despite positive sentiment regarding its action, the rapid decline in player numbers is a cause for concern.
MMO Week in Review: Midnight’s proper launch, Ashes of Creation’s legal battle
This week's MMO news roundup covers the official launch of World of Warcraft Midnight, a legal battle involving Ashes of Creation's former boss Steven Sharif, and the debuts of Bungie's Marathon and Equinox Homecoming. Several games, including Highguard and Eldegarde, are also announced to be sunsetting.
Rockstar Deletes GTA VI IDs on PlayStation in Pre-Launch Network Tests
Rockstar Games has been conducting network tests on PlayStation, leading to the temporary deletion of Grand Theft Auto VI game IDs. These tests are interpreted as proactive measures to ensure the PlayStation Network can handle the unprecedented demand expected upon the game's release, drawing parallels to past launch disasters like Diablo III and Cyberpunk 2077. This methodical preparation suggests Rockstar is prioritizing a stable launch, potentially indicating that the release window is approaching.
Marathon players accidentally smuggle rare loot out of Server Slam and into full game
Players of the newly launched Marathon game are reporting that rare loot from the recent Server Slam playtest has been accidentally transferred into their inboxes in the full game. This includes items like a 24-slot backpack. Bungie is aware of the issue and is working on resolving it, while also addressing missing pre-order and Deluxe Edition bonuses.
Marathon Players Report Keeping Server-Slam Loot In Full Game
Players of Bungie's Marathon have reported instances where loot earned during the Server Slam beta test has carried over into the full game, contrary to the developer's intention for a fresh start. This bug, where items were found in the in-game mailbox, is likely to be addressed by Bungie soon.
World of Warcraft Midnight’s global launch was relatively smooth
The global launch of World of Warcraft: Midnight proceeded relatively smoothly, with Blizzard Entertainment deploying hotfixes for various in-game issues. Players can currently engage in preseason content, including unlocking the Haranir allied race, leveling to 90, and participating in Mythic 0 dungeons.
Highguard lever – har fått nytt innehåll
Despite receiving a content update and promises of a new patch, the game Highguard has not seen an increase in its player base since its January launch. The game's website, which had previously shut down, is now back online. Highguard initially garnered attention as the closing title of The Game Awards, but has since received low user ratings and experienced a significant drop in concurrent players from its launch day peak.
World of Warcraft: Midnight weathers a packed early access launch, disables exploitable Endeavor XP
World of Warcraft: Midnight experienced significant queue numbers and login issues during its early access launch. Blizzard Entertainment has temporarily disabled the Endeavor XP system due to an exploit and will restrict certain features until the global rollout on March 3rd.
Battlefield 6 shoots up the Steam charts, beats its beta figures to become the biggest Battlefield - and people aren't raging for once
Battlefield 6 has achieved its most successful launch to date, particularly on Steam, surpassing beta player counts with a peak of over 747,000 concurrent players. Despite minor technical issues on PC and EA's own app, the game has received positive user reviews and strong sales, with EA offering compensation to affected players.