1. Cyberpunk 2077
Remember the hype? CD Projekt Red promised an unparalleled, immersive future. What we got was a buggy, often unplayable mess, particularly on last-gen consoles, exposing brutal crunch culture and deceptive marketing. Its eventual redemption arc, years later, almost makes us forget the initial betrayal, but it’s a constant reminder that even beloved studios can prioritize stock prices over player trust.
2. Anthem
BioWare's attempt at a live-service Looter Shooter felt like a hollow shell, proof that a flashy coat of paint can't hide a lack of substance. Repetitive missions, a paper-thin story, and a perpetually broken loot system just highlighted how disconnected development had become. It wasted incredible potential and further tarnished a once-legendary studio's name.
3. Diablo: Immortal
'Do you guys not have phones?' became the rallying cry against this blatant mobile cash-grab. Diablo Immortal perfectly illustrates how easily beloved franchises can be twisted into predatory monetization schemes. Its aggressive pay-to-win mechanics and endless grind for power felt like a slap in the face to long-time fans, sacrificing player goodwill for maximum profit.
4. Star Citizen
The poster child for eternal development, Star Citizen has amassed an astronomical fortune yet remains in a perpetual alpha state. It's the ultimate cautionary tale of scope creep and crowdfunding gone wild, where promises consistently outweigh deliverable features. This endless pursuit of an impossible dream exposes how player enthusiasm can be monetized indefinitely without ever shipping a complete game.
5. Battlefield 2042
Battlefield 2042 was a masterclass in how to alienate a loyal fanbase. It launched as a buggy, feature-stripped mess, devoid of the tactical depth and iconic destruction fans expected. Rushed development, questionable design choices, and a seeming misunderstanding of its own franchise roots highlighted DICE's stumble. It proved even established series aren't immune to disastrous industry pressures.
6. Redfall
Arkane, creators of immersive masterpieces, somehow delivered Redfall: a bland, repetitive, and technically broken open-world shooter. It felt like a studio being forced into a genre entirely foreign to its strengths, resulting in a game devoid of the usual Arkane magic. This release proved that even beloved developers can miss the mark spectacularly under corporate pressure.
7. Marvel’s Avengers
Marvel's Avengers was a masterclass in wasted potential. Despite a beloved IP and solid combat mechanics, it devolved into a repetitive live-service grind fest, riddled with microtransactions and an insatiable hunger for player time. It demonstrated that even iconic heroes can't save a game designed with predatory retention in mind, leaving fans utterly deflated.
