The Day Before servers are shutting down in January

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.