Dead Space (Remake) #
- Performance: Sold roughly 2 million copies, matching the original's lifetime sales, but fell short of EA’s "Resident Evil-level" expectations.
- Outcome: EA reportedly put the franchise back "in the closet" and left the PC version in a somewhat unoptimized state.
- Discussion Point: The game is a high-quality hybrid of a faithful recreation and a reimagining, offering better weapon balance and unified story context.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown #
- Performance: Reached 1 million units by October 2024; however, Ubisoft targeted 3 million sales.
- Outcome: The development team was disbanded and integrated into other Ubisoft projects; the planned sequel was cancelled.
- Discussion Point: The sales goals were unrealistic for a $50 Metroidvania title, especially compared to genre giants like Metroid Dread and Hollow Knight, which took years to reach similar milestones.
The First Berserker: Khazan #
- Performance: Publisher Nexon labeled the game as "underperforming" in financial calls.
- Outcome: A sequel is unlikely despite the game being considered a success for generating interest in the Dungeon and Fighter IP.
- Discussion Point: It is a highly polished "Neo-like" with a distinct anime art style. Its high difficulty may have affected its mainstream appeal.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess #
- Performance: Failed to meet Capcom's sales expectations.
- Outcome: Capcom publicly attributed the performance to insufficient marketing and a failure to explain the unique gameplay loop.
- Discussion Point: A risky, creative fusion of Japanese folklore, strategy, and action that suffered from being too "oddball" for general audiences to grasp quickly.
The Talos Principle: Reawakened #
- Performance: Extremely low visibility, peaking at only 737 active players on Steam with fewer than 1,000 reviews.
- Outcome: Generally overlooked compared to the success of The Talos Principle 2.
- Discussion Point: The initial $40 price point for a remake of a game many felt still held up was likely a barrier to entry.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden #
- Performance: Sold well below Don't Nod’s expectations.
- Outcome: Another "Double A" title that struggled to find its footing despite positive critical reception.
- Discussion Point: Described as a "Colonial-era Witcher," featuring heavy narrative choices and solid exploration, though the combat was polarizing for some.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance #
- Performance: Sold about one-tenth as much as Streets of Rage 4; Sega reported it performed well below expectations.
- Outcome: Folded into a general report of Sega titles underperforming across the board.
- Discussion Point: Despite being a high-quality retro revival with a $30 price point, it likely suffered from poor timing, launching near other ninja-themed sidescrollers.
Keplerth #
- Performance: Abysmally low player counts (peak of 191 on Steam) for a Double Fine production.
- Outcome: Likely "buried" by its release on Game Pass without significant marketing from Xbox.
- Discussion Point: An atmospheric adventure game similar to Inside, featuring high-level art design and clever puzzles that went largely unnoticed.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth #
- Performance: Though it broke records, Square Enix announced it fell below their lofty expectations, potentially selling half as well as the first remake in the same timeframe.
- Outcome: Square Enix appears to be skipping standalone DLC to push straight into the final part of the trilogy.
- Discussion Point: High development costs ($100M–$200M) and the "diminishing returns" of a three-part project made meeting financial targets difficult.
Neon Inferno #
- Performance: Virtually invisible on Steam with only 200 reviews and a peak player count of 103.
- Outcome: Remains an obscure indie title despite ongoing developer support and patches.
- Discussion Point: Noted for exceptional pixel art and a unique "background firing" mechanic; it is cited as a prime example of a great game getting lost in the "Steam flood."
Summary #
This video highlights a recurring trend in the gaming industry where critically acclaimed games are labeled "flops" due to unrealistic corporate sales targets or poor marketing strategies. Major publishers like EA, Ubisoft, and Square Enix often demand "Call of Duty" or "Resident Evil" numbers for niche genres or sequels, leading to the abandonment of quality franchises. From high-budget remakes like Dead Space to creative indie gems like Neon Inferno, these titles demonstrate a disconnect between creative success and financial expectations in the current market.
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