Summary
As a constantly evolving industry with so many changing perspectives, it can be tough for developers to gauge the impact their video game will have on the audience.Games take years to develop, and moving from the planning stages to the full release is a lengthy process, resulting in various aspects being trimmed down for time or cut out altogether.
Overall, when a game releases to the public, especially these days, audiences are quick to provide their feedback. Whether it’s under-cooked features or an unfinished game, there have been numerous occasions where these crumbs of social media wisdom have positively impacted the games they’re focused on. With that said,these are some occasions where audience feedback massively impacted a video game.
Post-Launch
TheBattlefieldseries is no stranger to unpolished releases, and after some of EA’s previous blunders withStar WarsBattlefront 2, there was a lot riding on the release ofBattlefield 2042.
Unfortunately, server issues and unbalanced gameplay mechanics plagued the game’s release, and it was missing some of the core mechanics the series had come to be known for. Thankfully, after considering vocal fan feedback, the developers atDice continuously rebalanced and updatedBattlefield 2042,making it a far more balanced experience today.
Diablo 3was a game eagerly anticipated by many, and the countdown to its release was filled with the cheerful hype of Blizzard fans worldwide. The first main hurdle was that, unfortunately, most gamersstruggled to get past the login screen, due to the now infamous “Error 37.”
Numerous complaints also surfaced about the loot system andin-game auction house, which were then addressed as Blizzard introduced new story expansions and entirely revamped the looting systems, makingDiablo 3a much more inviting and enjoyable game.
Expectations weren’t the highest forFallout 76after its announcement. Bethesda games aren’t known for their bug-free nature, especially at launch, and the multiplayer sales pitch didn’t exactly fill the audience with hope.The game was released with no NPCs, very few gameplay loops, and bugs.
Fallout 76is a far better experience today, with questlines, multiple game modes, improved stability, and a far more playable state overall. With more updates slated for release,it’s a great time to jump intoFallout 76.
Destinyhad a lot going for it; fun gameplay, a star-studded cast, and a lore-rich universe. There was a lot of excitement surrounding theHalodevelopers' newest MMO. Unfortunately, it was buggy and had server issues—and its core gameplay cycle was criticized for being far too grind-heavy and repetitive.
Bungie responded by adding multiple story expansions featuring greatly improved storylines, which were supported by improved voice work. They also entirely revamped their mission structure and improved the loot system, all improvements that they would then take onboard whendevelopingDestiny 2.
The microtransaction systems inShadow Of Warwere a hot topic in 2017. After their announcements, fans were outraged after already feeling so preyed upon by pay-to-win functionalities in gaming.
It also didn’t help that in order for players to get the true ending forShadow Of War, they had to trudge through a grind-heavy system that was designed to push them towards spending money to make things easier, entirely undermining the unique Nemesis system and leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of many. Their feedback was widely publicized, and Monolith Productions eventually conceded. They have entirely revamped the progression system and removed the marketplace.
Mass Effect 3was the conclusion to BioWare’s trilogy that was quickly becoming an iconic Sci-Fi RPG series. Fans were understandably eager to see just how those characters they’d grown so attached to over the course of the previous two games would end up. There was a lot for BioWare to live up to, and the reaction toMass Effect 3’s ending was, well, less than favorable.
Many criticized the game’s “Pick a color” ending for its lack of introspection and series relativity, as well as how underwhelming the act of determining the fate of the universe was. BioWare then made two DLCs, one of which was theExtended Cutexpansion, which had different epilogues and ending results based on the player’s choices. It still wasn’t perfect and took maybetoolong to release, but it was an improvement regardless.
Post Launch
An infamous title turned console classic,No Man’s Skywas massively hyped leading up to its full release. From promises of an endlessly intriguing gameplay loop to an expansive universe filled with activities, lifeforms, and multiplayer aspects, none of which were present at launch. It’s a wonder just how good it turned out to be.
Hello Games continuously updated the experience, adding in plenty of improved features—whether it was basebuilding, a narrative, fishing, or finally giving players that promised multiplayer feature, it was clear thatNo Man’s Skywas on the up. It’s currently a fantastic experience, especially with friends, and plays exactly how it was meant to on its release. It’s hard to blame fans for their displeasure with its launch, the amount of promoted features that weren’t delivered, and the brief period of radio silence from the developers afterward, butNo Man’s Skyeventually proved to be more than just empty promises.
Probably the most famous case of a game having been released far too early,Cyberpunk 2077’sreception after itslate-2020 release was less than ideal.Last-gen console players received no-questions-asked refunds from Microsoft and Sony due to the game’s bug-ridden state. After such a long wait, and developer CDProjekt’s accrued good faith afterThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,it’s safe to say that the over-promised and under-delivered state ofCyberpunk 2077on its release was disappointing for excited fans.
After four years, CDProjekt Red’s dedication to improvingCyberpunkhas paid offimmensely.They’ve added anentire story expansion in the form ofPhantom Liberty(which was widely praised), improved combat, greatly improved law enforcement mechanics, executions, and an entirely overhauled perk system. It’s an experience that feels far more “complete.” The developers also greatly stabilized the game, so while it’s not bug-free, it’s still a far more consistent experience—and crashes far less often.
