Developer Fntastic, responsible for the controversial The Day Before , announced the cancellation of the game Escape Factory , after the Kickstarter campaign failed to reach its fundraising goal. The studio, which asked for US$20,000, failed to raise the desired amount. Even so, the team did not give up on winning over the public and revealed that they were working on a new project called ITEMS! , described as an action game with horror elements.
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The company said it plans to create a demo version of the game before launching another crowdfunding campaign or looking for other launch alternatives. At the same time, the studio will focus on developing games for mobile platforms, with the aim of generating sufficient resources for a future return to consoles and PC.
Studio bets on mobile games to finance returns
After the failure of Escape Factory , Fntastic explained that its current strategy is to use mobile games as a source of financing to return to the console and PC market. The company stated that the revenue obtained in this area will allow it to create the “dream game” for your audience. However, the announcement was met with skepticism from players, especially on social media.
The Fntastic studio has already suffered a lot of criticism due to the way it handled its previous projects. The negative reception intensified after the release of The Day Before , a game that promised an immersive open-world zombie experience, but which proved to be a huge disappointment for fans.
History of controversies
The Day Before , initially one of Steam's most anticipated games, saw its reputation crumble before it even debuted. The studio faced complaints regarding the working conditions of its employees. In addition to accusations of plagiarism for allegedly using promotional images and assets from other titles without permission. These issues shook the confidence of the community, who expected a revolutionary title, but ended up receiving an incomplete and flawed game.
Day Before release was marred by technical issues and widespread criticism. Frustration with the game was so great that Fntastic decided to stop sales and shut down the servers just days after launch. Although it announced the end of activities at the time, the studio's return shows that the team is still looking for a new chance to redeem itself.
Fntastic's next steps after Kickstarter failure
Despite the difficulties faced, Fntastic does not seem willing to give up its position in the gaming market. The new ITEMS game ! it will be the studio's latest attempt to win back players and leave its history of failures behind.
However, the challenge for the studio will be great. With the poor reception of The Day Before and the financing failures of Escape Factory , public confidence is shaken. Furthermore, the mobile games market, which the company intends to use as a source of capital, is highly competitive and may not be sufficient to finance large productions in the future.
