Beloved franchises in decline
It’s tough to see beloved franchises decline, and sometimes, it feels like nothing can be done to turn the sinking ship around. We’ve picked out some examples of games that had potential but failed due to various factors like release timing, lack of content, poor design choices, and disappointing marketing campaigns.
Titanfall 2
Titanfall 2 had everything going for it. Its predecessor was well-received, it had a great marketing campaign, and it was one of the best FPS games of 2019. However, the game’s release timing proved to be its downfall, coming out one week before a new Call of Duty game and one week after Battlefield One.
“EA wanted Titanfall 2 to fail so they could acquire Respawn cheaply,” one user comments. There’s no evidence to support this statement, but it’s true that EA acquired Respawn shortly after the game’s release.
Anthem
Anthem had potential but lacked enough content and suffered from poor design choices. For example, competing with teammates to even play the game.
“There was nothing wrong with the core gameplay,” one user comments, “it just needed more polish and more content, but EA didn’t want to put more money into it.” Another user remarks that “the game’s marketing campaign was really disappointing,” with a humorous side comment referencing the absence of “veggies, mashed potatoes, and definitely no gravy” in the discussion.
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite disappointed players with its mediocre campaign, lack of forge or customs at launch, and the removal of split-screen. While these features were added later, users still believe the game has fallen far from its pedestal.
The decline of the Halo series is partly attributed to a lack of vision and polish since Bungie stopped working on it. Another user suggests that 343 should have stuck with the formula of Halo 4 instead of trying to reinvent the series.
“The gameplay loop was missing progression rewards,” one user remarks, “something successful games like Fortnite have.” Another user points out that Halo Infinite’s open world concept failed because “the game had limited exploration and repetitive environments.”
Battleborn
Battleborn failed to gain traction due to its release timing alongside Overwatch, but some users believe it could find success if released today. “It was a great game that just didn’t get the time it needed to succeed,” one user comments. Another user suggests that “if Overwatch 2 had been released a year later, it would have made a big difference.”
Battlefield 2042
Battlefield 2042 marked the downfall of the series, with many users suggesting that sticking to the formula of Battlefield 4 would have been more successful.
“The marketing campaign was awful,” one user comments, “with the slogan ‘believable is more fun’ claiming to be the most realistic Battlefield yet.” The marketing campaign dismissed player complaints, with another user remarking that “BF5 claimed to be the most realistic but wasn’t even close.”
Battlefield 5
The most recent installment to the Battlefield series was heavily criticized for not delivering on its marketing promises. The game’s marketing campaign, claiming to be the most realistic Battlefield yet, was criticized for not delivering on that promise and dismissing player complaints.
“The marketing was really bad,” one user remarks, “they focused on the wrong things and downplayed their game’s biggest selling point, the gameplay.” Another user expands on this point, “the game was marketed as the most realistic Battlefield game yet, but it was one of the least realistic in the series.”
Splatoon 2
Splatoon 2 was a great follow-up to Splatoon 1, but the game’s poor handling of Splatoon 2’s ranked mode and poor Splatoon 2 support have caused the multiplayer game to decline.
