The recent release of Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm has left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans of the co-op roguelite. The game currently holds a dismal 79% ‘mostly negative’ rating on Steam, indicating a significant level of dissatisfaction among players. This backlash stems from a multitude of issues plaguing the DLC, with reports of game-breaking bugs and glitches disrupting core gameplay mechanics.
In response to the mounting criticism, Gearbox, who acquired Risk of Rain from Hopoo Games in 2022, released a blog outlining the known issues they are working to address. They have urged players to continue submitting bug reports in an effort to expedite the resolution process. Some of the highlighted issues include a boss named Mithrix becoming invincible (which the developers claim was not intentional) and a peculiar bug that caused players to become stuck while “smelling the flowers.”
The community remains divided on the matter, with co-creator Duncan Drummond expressing a mix of emotions regarding the situation on Xitter. While acknowledging the challenges faced by both players and developers, Drummond remains cautiously optimistic about Gearbox’s commitment to resolving the issues and embracing player feedback. Lead programmer and co-designer Jeffrey Hunt also chimed in, commending the team’s efforts but lamenting the rushed nature of some of the changes that have compromised the quality of their work.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the current turmoil, Randolph P. Itchford has assured fans of his active involvement in addressing and rectifying the issues faced in the game. While the fallout from the DLC release has been significant, it appears that the player base had previously been content with Gearbox’s handling of the game. The addition of free content such as lizards in May had been seen as a positive sign for the game’s future. However, the recent acquisition of Gearbox by Rockstar parent company Take-Two in March, which resulted in layoffs, may have had an impact on the studio’s ability to deliver on player expectations.
Overall, the release of Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm has highlighted the challenges faced by developers in maintaining a beloved game franchise. While the current situation may seem dire, there is still hope that Gearbox will be able to address the issues and restore player confidence in the game. Only time will tell if the storm clouds will part, allowing for a brighter future for Risk of Rain 2 and its dedicated community.
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