2023 will be etched in history as a year of massive highs and disappointing lows. Ascendant Studios, the brains behind Immortals of Aveum, recently learned just how low it can go.
The studio’s CEO, Bret Robbins, in an interview with the Xbox Expansion Pass reminiscent of a post-battle debrief, cited the game’s release timing in a congested calendar as the primary culprit for its less-than-stellar sales performance. Because, you know, Immortals of Aveum was so good that it could’ve succeeded any other time, right?
Released earlier this year, Immortals of Aveum found itself vying for attention in a period bustling with big-name titles. It’s a classic David versus Goliath scenario, but unfortunately for Ascendant Studios, their sling didn’t have quite the right stone. Robbins expressed his surprise at the runaway success of Baldur’s Gate 3, almost like a bewildered spectator at an unexpected plot twist.
Meanwhile, Starfield hovered on the horizon like a celestial event, threatening to overshadow everything in its path. Creating awareness for a new studio and IP in such a scenario? That’s similar to shouting into a void and expecting an echo.
Adding to its woes, the first-person shooter title hitched its wagon to the hype train, boasting about graphics that were supposed to be the next big thing since sliced bread. This strategy mirrored what Remedy Entertainment did with Alan Wake 2, but the outcomes were as different as night and day.
Alan Wake 2 emerged as a remarkable success that could still run efficiently even on older GPUs, while Immortals of Aveum faltered, struggling to maintain 60fps even on low settings with top-tier GPUs like the RTX 4090. But, its issues didn’t end there. Even at 1080p, keeping up 60fps was a pipe dream for most graphics cards, a debacle reminiscent of the Cities: Skylines II fiasco.
Meanwhile, Alan Wake 2 soared against all odds, not setting new industry standards for optimization, but hey, running smoothly on the GTX 1070 is no small feat. It balanced its few technical hiccups with a gripping storyline, putting it in the ring for Game of the Year against heavyweights like Baldur’s Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Back to Immortals of Aveum, the game’s lukewarm reception had real-world consequences, leading to a grim 45% staff reduction at Ascendant Studios. In a candid admission, Robbins expressed the harsh reality of the gaming industry: sales matter, and when they don’t stack up, tough choices have to be made.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom; the studio is actively seeking a lifeline, negotiating potential deals to introduce Immortals of Aveum to subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.
Despite the setbacks, Robbins maintains a semblance of optimism. There’s a sense of unfinished business, a determination to rise again, hopefully with many of the laid-off team members back on board. The gaming world is no stranger to tales of redemption and comebacks. Perhaps Immortals of Aveum and Ascendant Studios will find their place in that narrative.
Immortals of Aveum is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.
