The Day Before’s server shutdown date is official. Fntastic is closing the doors on The Day Before on January 22, 2024, marking the end of a short-lived and controversial title.
Announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) on December 22, the decision follows the bankruptcy of the developers. The creators initially planned to keep the game playable for those who had purchased it during its four-day availability on Steam. But, as has been the case for everything related to Fntastic, this turned out to be a scam. The game’s servers will now be shut down, disappointing the community and concluding a turbulent chapter in the game’s history.
The Day Before, available on Steam from December 7 to December 11, faced numerous challenges right from its early access release. The game, initially marketed as an MMO, eventually revealed itself to be more of an extraction shooter, which failed to meet player expectations. This mismatch between marketing and reality, combined with several other controversies, led to the game’s commercial failure and the subsequent closure of Fntastic. The two brothers behind the development, Eduard and Aysen Gotovstev, were already known for abandoning previous projects, further contributing to skepticism about the game’s success.
https://twitter.com/playdaybefore/status/1738112110385914052
The game’s servers were virtually empty shortly after its release, despite it once being Steam’s most wishlisted title. This lack of player engagement was due to the game’s many bugs and an experience that didn’t align with expectations set. Even with the increased number of zombies, which added a more challenging aspect to the gameplay, the overall experience failed to captivate players.
To no one’s surprise, the shutdown announcement was met with mostly negative reactions from the community. Many players expressed their disappointment and frustration, some even suggesting that the studio be charged with fraud. The overwhelming sentiment was that of skepticism and disillusionment, with players calling for transparent actions to address the aftermath. The refund process, facilitated by Steam in collaboration with the publisher Mytona, was a small consolation for the players who felt deceived by the game’s marketing and development.
This isn’t even considering the fact that people could have actually bought copies of The Day Before after the shutdown from resellers looking to take advantage of the entire situation.
Ultimately, The Day Before has become yet another cautionary tale in an industry full of them. It serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning marketing narratives with the actual experience and the repercussions when this alignment isn’t achieved. The game’s rapid decline post-release highlights the fragility of gamer trust and interest. The decision to shut down the servers is a reflection of the complex challenges that arise when a game fails to meet its promises, and the significant impact this has on both developers and players.
2023 has been especially kind to gamers as it gifted audiences with several all-time titles, starting with Baldur’s Gate 3 and followed by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Alan Wake 2, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Unfortunately, it has had its fair share of unforgettable duds as well. Aside from The Day Before, this year also saw the release of Skull Island: Rise of Kong and The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.
