Even dead, the game is still talked about, and a developer from The Day Before strikes back to protect the coffin of his late creation. We will explain everything to you.
The video game The Day Before, developed by Fntastic, has had a tumultuous journey to say the least, marked by promising announcements, successive delays, and finally, a disastrous reception. Then finally, death. The story of this game, announced as a massively multiplayer open world survival experience, has transformed into a real chaotic soap opera.
The Day Before, a story in several acts
Announced on January 29, 2021, The Day Before captivated attention with an impressive trailer, promising a mix of survival and combat against zombies in an open and interactive world. Compared to hits like The Division and The Last of Us, the game seemed to be ideal for survival fans.
Although the start of The Day Before project was marked by notable enthusiasm, concerns quickly emerged. The game’s announced move to Unreal Engine 5 technology, combined with multiple release postponements, has cast doubt on the reliability of Fntastic. Furthermore, revelations concerning the use of volunteer workers within the company have provoked critical reactions.
Upon its Early Access launch on December 7, 2023, The Day Before was revealed to be plagued with multiple technical issues, deviating significantly from initial promises. This disappointing launch was met with a wave of negative reviews, particularly pronounced on platforms such as Steam.
A grotesque defense
Fntastic, allegedly shut down days after launch, released a statement on Twitter, blaming a hate campaign for affecting perceptions of the game. The company denied differences between the trailers and the final game, while admitting the lack of some minor features.
The tweet in question has since been deleted but it read:
Some bloggers made huge money by creating fake content with huge titles early on to gain views and subscribers, exploiting the lack of information about the game’s development. Their actions sparked a stampede. gold among content creators due to the game’s popularity in preview.
[…] The negative prejudices established by certain bloggers who make money from hatred have affected the perception of the game.
For the curious, the entirety is still visible below:
Since January 22, the servers have been shut down.