2024 saw the release of several highly anticipated games from prominent studios. Unfortunately, many of these titles, despite hefty budgets and dedicated fanbases, failed to hit the mark. Below, we break down the seven games that left fans disillusioned this year.
1. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Release Date: February 2, 2024
Developed by Rocksteady Studios, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League promised to deliver an immersive experience following the Batman: Arkham series. Instead, players faced repetitive gameplay and a heavy reliance on live-service elements, leading to severe disappointment. The financial loss, estimated at $200 million, led to layoffs, making this title one of the year’s greatest gaming letdowns.
2. Skull and Bones
Release Date: February 16, 2024
Ubisoft’s pirate adventure game, Skull and Bones, spent over a decade in development and reportedly cost over $650 million. Despite borrowing elements from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’s naval mechanics, players found the game uninspired. The lack of originality and high price tag led to overwhelmingly negative feedback.
3. Concord
Release Date: August 23, 2024
Firewalk Studios released Concord after an eight-year wait, only for it to fall flat upon release. Its outdated design and lack of a robust player base caused Sony to take it offline within two weeks, providing full refunds. Concord’s shallow maps, poor character selection, and lackluster narrative made it a cautionary tale of missed potential.
4. Star Wars Outlaws
Release Date: August 30, 2024
Another Ubisoft release, Star Wars Outlaws failed to meet the high expectations set by the Star Wars universe. Despite introducing new, non-Jedi characters, weak marketing and mediocre gameplay left players unsatisfied. The title struggled with poor sales projections, ultimately hurting Ubisoft’s stock performance.
5. Foamstars
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Foamstars had potential with its unique foam-based combat mechanics but fell victim to minimal player engagement. Even with its inclusion in the PS+ library, the game’s player base quickly dwindled, highlighting the importance of player engagement and longevity.
6. Dustborn
Release Date: August 20, 2024
Dustborn, developed by Red Thread Games, introduced a futuristic USA with a unique approach to combat mechanics using voice commands. However, its execution was lackluster, leading to minimal player interest and low engagement, despite its innovative premise.
7. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Release Date: May 21, 2024
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was set to continue the acclaimed story of Senua, but it fell short in recapturing the immersive elements of its predecessor. With a short playtime and puzzles that didn’t hold the same intrigue, this sequel failed to reach the heights of the original.
Conclusion
2024 has highlighted that even the biggest budgets and established studios are not immune to underwhelming releases. Titles like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Skull and Bones serve as reminders that brand recognition and impressive graphics alone cannot carry a game without solid gameplay, innovation, and attention to fan expectations. The trend of live-service models and excessive development times seem to be impacting player satisfaction, as seen with these seven disappointing games. As gaming continues to evolve, players are hoping for more refined and engaging experiences that live up to the promises made.