Even though the game is dead, it’s still being talked about, and one developer of The Day Before is fighting back to protect the coffin of his deceased creation. We’ll explain everything to you.
Developed by Fntastic, The Day Before video game 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, billed as a massively multiplayer open-world survival experience, has turned into a real chaotic soap opera.
The Day Before, a story in several acts
Announced on January 29, 2021, The Day Before attracted attention with an impressive trailer that promised a mix of survival and fighting against zombies in an open and interactive world. Compared to hits like The Division and The Last of Us, the game seemed ideal for survival fans.
Although The Day Before project began with great enthusiasm, concerns quickly arose. The game’s announced move to Unreal Engine 5 technology, combined with several release delays, has raised doubts about Fntastic’s reliability. In addition, revelations about the use of volunteers in the company triggered critical reactions.
When it launched in early access on December 7, 2023, it emerged that The Day Before was plagued with several technical issues and deviated significantly from the original promises. This disappointing launch sparked a wave of negative reviews, particularly noticeable on platforms like Steam.
A grotesque defense
Fntastic, which was reportedly shut down days after release, released a statement on Twitter blaming a hate campaign for tarnishing perceptions of the game. The company denied any differences between the trailers and the final game, but acknowledged the absence of some minor features.
The tweet in question has since been deleted but read:
Some bloggers made a lot of money by creating early fake content with huge titles to gain views and subscribers, taking advantage of 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 stereotypes of certain bloggers who make money from hate have influenced the perception of the game.
For those curious, the whole thing is still visible below:
The servers have been shut down since January 22nd.
