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.