While it is true that video games are built by developers, do you know who actually shapes the games? It is by the people who play them. Also, it is them who actually decide its fate, no? Over the years, there have been many releases in this industry that failed to stand up to the expectations of fans.
However, sometimes their reactions go beyond just simple criticism. This is done either via rating bombardments or memes on social handles; all of this has forced the studio to again work on the project, and sometimes it works in their favor. Let's take a look at some of the backlash incidents that forced the studio to change its actual plans.
Mass Effect 3’s Ending Controversy (2012)
When Mass Effect 3 was released in 2012, fans were mostly satisfied with nearly everything, that is, until the ending. After years of investment and fan choices, fans wanted to see how the developers planned to end Commander Shepard's journey in this installment.
It was a shock when players learned that there really was no unique ending.
Many fans felt this was a rip-off, and there were plenty of campaigns to demand better; some even raised nearly $80,000 for charity to get the message across, such as "Retake Mass Effect". Many fans even made reports to consumer agencies in their respective countries against BioWare for misleading content.
Fans simply wanted a better ending for what this trilogy deserved.
At first, BioWare dismissed the initial backlash, but then it began to gain steam, and they had no choice but to put out "Extended Cut" DLC for all players available as a free update.
No Man’s Sky Redemption Arc (2016–2020)
If any studio wants to learn how to take criticism positively and actually work on that to produce a masterpiece that will be remembered for a decade, then Hello Games' No Man's Sky is a prime example of this.
When this game was revealed by the studio, it became the talk of the town. It promised multiplayer, base building, and a vast galaxy of endless possibilities.
However, fans felt misled at the time of the game's actual launch. There were hundreds of Reddit threads showcasing disappointments, breakdowns on YouTube, and demand for refunds. All in all, this was the whole scenario during the game's early reveal.
Hello Games was even accused of false advertising. The studio's founder, Sean Murray, went from indie hero to meme overnight.
However, slowly and gradually, teams started to deliver the promises one by one. Years later, No Man’s Sky quietly transformed into something incredible.
Star Wars Battlefront II and the Loot Box Controversy
If you’ve ever wondered why loot boxes started disappearing from AAA games, thank Star Wars Battlefront II.
When EA published Star Wars Battlefront II, you can say that it was a microtransaction disaster. Major gameplay progression was tied to random loot boxes. Now, either you had to grind endlessly, or you could have spent the actual money to obtain it.
This strategy was heavily criticised by the fans on social media as it was seen as a pay-to-win model. EA tried to defend it, saying the goal was to give players a “sense of pride and accomplishment,” and that comment became the most downvoted post in Reddit history.
Ultimately, the sequence of events was simple: EA had to cancel the microtransactions right before launch and also revised the entire progression system months later.
Although it damaged EA's reputation in the industry, other companies took note, and it caused the industry as a whole to rethink its monetization strategy.
Halo Infinite Graphics Overhaul (2020)
When 343 Industries first revealed a gameplay trailer for Halo Infinite, the response did not go as they had expected. Gamers were basically critical of its unpolished and below-par graphics.
The game was meant to be a major next-generation showcase for Xbox, but in many ways, it looked last-gen. Within days, the backlash was everywhere, leaving 343 Industries no other option but to delay the game for one year.
This delay actually worked out well for 343 Industries, as when the game arrived in late 2021, the visuals and mechanics were significantly improved.
While not everyone loved the campaign’s open-world structure, it was clear that the delay saved the game’s reputation and, in fact, the early reputation of Xbox Series X to some extent.
The Sonic the Hedgehog Movie Redesign (2019)
While technically not a game, no list like this would be complete without mentioning Sonic the Hedgehog’s movie meltdown. When Paramount Pictures first released the trailer for the Sonic the Hedgehog Movie in 2019, fans were completely horrified by Sonic's design.
The picture of Sonic, which we all grew up with, was not as bizarre as this movie was going to present it.
As a result, memes flooded social media. The backlash was so huge that it even made it to mainstream news. Just within a few days, the studio was left with no other option but to go back to the drawing board once again.
The studio announced that it would delay the movie to redesign Sonic. Now, you should know that we rarely see this in Hollywood. This, of course, cost them millions.
However, it worked as fans appreciated the new trailer, where Sonic actually looked like Sonic from the video games.
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