The Hype and Hope for ‘The Day Before’

Anticipation was sky-high for ‘The Day Before’, a game that promised to blend survival mechanics with a massive open world, all set in a post-pandemic America. The buzz around the game was palpable, with the developer Fntastic releasing tantalizing trailers and gameplay footage that captured the imagination of players worldwide. Before its release, ‘The Day Before’ climbed the Steam charts, becoming one of the most wishlisted games on the platform, a testament to the excitement and potential that players saw in it.

Launch Disaster and Rapid Decline

However, the reality of ‘The Day Before’ drastically contrasted with the expectations. Upon launch, players encountered a slew of issues ranging from technical glitches to accusations of false advertising. The game’s player count plummeted by nearly 90% just four days post-launch, and it quickly entered Steam’s list of worst-reviewed games. This sharp decline in player interest and negative reception spelled disaster for Fntastic, leading to the unfortunate turn of events that followed.

The Downfall of Fntastic

The aftermath of the launch was catastrophic for the developer, Fntastic. Just days after ‘The Day Before’ went live, the studio announced its shutdown. This abrupt end came as a shock to the gaming community, leaving many to wonder about the behind-the-scenes turmoil that could have led to such a drastic decision. Reports surfaced of press armor being doled out to journalists ahead of the game’s release, raising questions about the transparency and marketing practices of Fntastic.

References

https://www.polygon.com/23997551/the-day-before-steam-fntastic-valve-scam

https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2023/12/11/the-day-before-developer-shuts-down-four-days-after-launch/

https://www.ign.com/articles/the-day-before-player-count-drops-almost-90-in-4-days-enters-steams-10-worst-reviewed-games-list

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-i-the-day-before-i-dev-fntastic-shuts-down-after-game-s-launch-weekend

https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2023/12/11/the-day-before-dev-fntastic-is-shutting-down-just-days-after-early-access-launch

https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/the-day-before-developer-shut-down/

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-day-before-studio-shuts-down-days-after-disastrous-launch/1100-6519871/

https://gamerant.com/day-before-press-armor-journalists/