Gamers Reject Buggy Game Releases, Publisher Finds

Paradox Interactive Explains Recent Games' Cancellation and Delay

Players Have Expectations, and Some Technical Problems are Hard to Fix

Paradox Interactive, following setbacks like the cancellation of Life By You and the troubled launch of Cities: Skylines 2, has shared insights on how they plan to move forward with their game development. During a recent Media Day, Mattias Lilja, CEO of Paradox Interactive, and CCO Henrik Fahraeus discussed players' evolving attitudes towards game launches. Speaking to Rock Paper Shotgun, Lilja noted that gamers now have "higher expectations" and are "less trusting" that developers will resolve issues post-launch.

Reflecting on the challenging release of Cities: Skylines 2 last year, Paradox Interactive is now focusing on being more meticulous in addressing game issues. The company believes in the value of early player access to gather crucial feedback. Fahraeus mentioned that had they been able to involve more players in testing Cities: Skylines 2 earlier, it could have significantly helped. He expressed a desire for "a larger degree of openness with players" before future game launches.

In response to these insights, Paradox Interactive decided to indefinitely delay Prison Architect 2. Lilja stated that while the gameplay is strong, they encountered "quality issues" that necessitate further work to meet player expectations. This decision contrasts with the cancellation of Life By You, which was due to unmet demands. Lilja clarified that the delay of Prison Architect 2 stems from their inability to maintain the desired development pace and the presence of technical issues that were harder to resolve than anticipated. He emphasized that these issues are primarily technical rather than related to game design, aiming to ensure a stable release that meets the high standards players now expect.

Lilja also highlighted the competitive nature of the gaming industry, describing it as a "winner-takes-all type of environment." He noted that players are more likely to abandon games quickly, a trend that has become more pronounced in recent years. This insight comes from their own experiences and observations of the market.

The launch of Cities: Skylines 2 last year was marred by significant issues, leading to a fan backlash and a subsequent apology from Paradox Interactive and developer Colossal Order. They proposed a "fan feedback summit" and delayed the game's first paid DLC due to performance problems. Life By You was canceled earlier this year as further development wouldn't bring the game up to the standards expected by Paradox and its community. Lilja admitted that some of the challenges they faced were not fully understood initially, taking full responsibility for these oversights.