5 Dying Games Saved by Hail Mary Publisher Moves
Fortnite
Fortnite was in development for a few years before it finally released into early access in 2017. At first, it was just what we now know as Save the World mode and it saw you trying to protect your team from incoming zombies by building forts. However, it didn’t prove particularly popular at launch.
At the same time, however, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds was beginning its meteoric rise. It was the start of the Battle Royale craze and Epic realised that it could be taken advantage of, and the sooner the better.
Within two months of the base game’s release, before it was known as Save the World, Fortnite Battle Royale was ready to go. The incorporation of the base building, and the lighthearted visuals, into the standard Battle Royale format differentiated it from PUBG, offering fans of the booming genre something different.
Well, it’d be an understatement to say that the move proved successful. Fortnite Battle Royale quickly became the most popular game in the world, and Epic only continued to masterfully build on and change the formula to keep it exciting.
5 Dying Games Saved by Hail Mary Publisher Moves
Rainbow Six: Siege
Rainbow Six Siege has only become more and more popular since its release. From December 2015, when it first launched, until the following fall, Siege was largely ignored, with only a small fanbase dedicating their time to the game.
However, Ubisoft released more and more content, beginning with its Year 2 content. New Operators, New Maps, Competitive Seasons, and Themed Events were all laid out in a detailed Road Map. It ensured that Siege players were treated to new features regularly that kept them coming back. The game was also gradually improved as new features were added, and the player base continued to grow.
In the fall of 2016 and early 2017, in the run-up to ‘Year 2’, the player base tripled. The Steam concurrent figures went from 10,000 in October 2016 to over 30,000 the following February. That was only the beginning, though, and Siege now sees upwards of 70,000 concurrent players. The introduction of Year 2’s content was the start of it all.
5 Dying Games Saved by Hail Mary Publisher Moves
No Man’s Sky
While No Man’s Sky’s exploration-focused gameplay was enjoyed by many when it initially launched in August 2016, a lot of players felt let down after expecting a varied and more exciting space epic.
Just two months after the game released, it was averaging less than 1000 concurrent players on Steam and that number rarely increased over the next 18 months. However, the NEXT update that came alongside the game’s Xbox One release completely turned things around.
Fans hadn’t given up on No Man’s Sky and the NEXT update added elements that they’d been crying out for. Full multiplayer functionality and a more focused story made the game feel more complete than it had ever done before.
The update’s release had such an effect that the Steam concurrent player figures reached the highest point they’d been since the game’s first week on sale, taking it back into the top 10. Also, even now, No Man’s Sky is proving more popular that it was in almost the entire two years before.
5 Dying Games Saved by Hail Mary Publisher Moves
Elder Scrolls Online
When it first released in the summer of 2014, Elder Scrolls Online was poorly received and player counts were low. You needed a subscription to play and the world was more restricted than players hoped it would be.
The move away from a subscription model to one time fee to play helped, but it was the release of the One Tamriel update that changed ESO’s fortunes for the better.
It made the game far more welcoming, allowing players to play quests and explore the world with any group of players, without the previous restrictions. It opened up the world, giving fans more opportunities and generally making it a more enjoyable experience.
In October 2016, when the update released, the Steam concurrent player figures almost tripled and it has only continued to climb since then, hitting an average of more than 12,000 players at the time of writing. The One Tamriel update completely changed how players experienced the game, seemingly changing its fortunes forever.
5 Dying Games Saved by Hail Mary Publisher Moves
Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XIV, in its original form, was a complete disaster. Originally released in 2010, it was panned for its gameplay and general design. The reception was so poor that Square Enix thought it was best to close the game down and relaunch it to regain players’ trust.
A new director, Naoki Yoshida, was put in charge or the rework and once it returned, gameplay and the structure was drastically improved. A job system, a revamped battle system, greater customization options for gear, and new bosses were all added to the game, making it significantly more popular.
Rebooted in 2013 under the subtitle, A Realm Reborn, the game was given a completely new lease of life, and it has since become extremely popular. Since then, new content has gradually been added to improve the game, and Square Enix was committed to regaining the trust of players after the poor initial launch.
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