The Soulsborne genre has witnessed some sterling releases over the years. But, every so often, a title generates a ton of hype and sees players eagerly waiting to dive into its immersive world. One such title could’ve been Lords of the Fallen, but its reception on the Steam platform seems to be a study in contrasts.
Lords of the Fallen, a grotty fantasy Soulslike, was perceived by many to be the next contender in the challenging Souls-like genre. Following up on Lies of P, there were significant expectations on this title. Built on the sophisticated Unreal Engine 5, the game promised next-gen visuals that would offer an unparalleled visual experience. However, while it did top sales charts and became the best-selling title on Steam, beating big releases like EA Sports FC 24 and garnering a user base of over 43K concurrent players on launch, the user reviews reveal a different narrative.
As of the time of the writing, Lords of the Fallen has massed over 6,000 user reviews on Steam. Alarmingly, over 3,000 are negative reviews, roughly 2,500 of which were garnered just a day post its launch.
— LORDS OF THE FALLEN (@lotfgame) October 13, 2023
The heart of the issue seems to be related to the game’s optimization. Many players took to the platform to voice their grievances about low frame rates, persistent crashes, stuttering, and some even reported not being able to navigate it past the main menu. Others, however, didn’t seem to face these performance issues, running the game smoothly at 60-80 fps on medium settings. Despite some positive feedback about its “buttery-smooth” performance, the consensus is that it’s disappointing following the game’s unstable launch.
It’s no secret that Unreal Engine 5, while a technological marvel, is a challenge for developers to optimize, especially on mainstream hardware. Yet, its adoption was hoped to set Lords of the Fallen apart, except for all the wrong reasons. In comparison, Lies of P, another Souls-like game that recently came out, received critical acclaim for its gameplay and story. More importantly, it was a properly optimized game despite a last-minute addition of DENUVO.
Perhaps this is what happens when the developers focus its efforts towards ensuring gameplay performance, something the developers of Lies of P had confirmed ahead of its launch.
In an attempt to address these performance woes, the developers at Hexworks issued a guide for players, suggesting a handful of temporary solutions. Finally, the publisher, CI Games, has recommended updating to the latest graphics drivers and provided detailed steps for players to send diagnostic files to address bugs.
However, while such responses are a step in the right direction, they might not solve the game’s challenges. It has yet to fully master the intricacies of Unreal Engine 5, and it might take a few more years before games built on this platform can be consistently optimized for mainstream use. But beyond the technical aspects, it’s essential to note the effects of a disastrous launch. The expectations of today’s gamers aren’t just centered on captivating storylines or in its stunning visuals. Performance and optimization stand at the forefront, and any lapse in these areas can overshadow other merits of the game.
In the era of rapid information exchange, where players have platforms to voice their opinions, the developers need to ensure a seamless gaming experience. Otherwise, they risk being the latest to fall victim to yet another review bombing campaign.
It remains to be seen if the latest series of patches have fixed these issues or made them worse.
