The Settlers (2022) disappointed us even before the release. Our two experts, Fabiano and Maurice, were able to try out the game before the beta started and gave a poor testimonial in the preview.
Since January 20, 2022, some interested parties have been able to play in the closed beta themselves – of course we wanted to know your opinion. And obviously you have an urgent need to speak: our survey recorded well over 5,000 votes and 115 comments. So much in advance: You too are disappointed.
Your thoughts on the Settlers beta
Here you can see the results of our survey at a glance (as of January 23, 2022, 2 p.m.). Thanks to everyone who participated!
Almost half, namely 47 percent, voted “I don’t like it at all”. Another large part states that they don’t play the beta at all – and in the comments it becomes clear that many simply don’t feel like it anymore. But more on that in a moment.
First some numbers: A meager ten percent of you gave a positive or neutral answer. Clearly the beta is not living up to what many of you would expect from a settler. This is also clear from previous surveys in which you told us about your wishes for the new part.
more on the subject
The settlers: You would have actually wished for that
In particular, the low map variety, the stupid AI, the compressed production chains and the RTS elements meet with little love from you. Let’s take a look at your comments.
Your comments on the settlers beta
The comment that garnered the most thumbs by far is from DorianTheGray. He explains why our pre-reporting put him off the beta:
I’d add one more point to the poll: “After your lousy opinion on the game, I’m getting tired of it.” That’s not blame, just the fact: after reading and hearing your professional opinion on it, I would it feels like a waste of time even to download the beta.
Waste of time is mentioned more often in comments. Or »That’s not a real The Settlers!«. Mikutse, for example, who has already taken part in the alpha, writes about this. He has a clear message for developers:
(…) Altogether one can say: It looks like an RTS. It plays like an RTS. It’s bad, even for an RTS. If you bring it out like that, that’s the end of it for the brand, absolutely no one wants this game.
I would show you respect if you stamped the thing, apologized and said “Sorry, we got lost, we couldn’t find a clear line” and simply gave the rights to the brand to Volker, who can do with it what he wants. But tossing out this full-price settler wannabe RTS rehash would be a farce. (Editor’s note: What is meant is the inventor of the settlers, Volker Wertich)
Occasionally there is also praise in the comments, for example for the pretty look, which Maurice also praises in his video conclusion.
20:36
The Settlers – Maurice is appalled at what Ubisoft has made of the big comeback
And GameStar reader Favorite13 is also satisfied with the settler beta and is optimistic that a lot will happen before the release:
I’ve been in the beta for 6 hours now and I have to express myself very positively. It’s already fun, even if it’s a little different to play than Settlers 3 (or even more Settlers 2). However, this is the 8th part – if I want to play Settlers 3, then I also start Settlers 3.
I really have nothing to complain about – this is an extremely slimmed down multiplayer demo (by that I mean that the AI is still pretty much switched off, not all maps are up yet, etc.). (…) I like it.
What are players saying elsewhere?
Of course, settler fans also express their opinions in other places. For example, under a video from Ubisoft in which the studio explains the “vision behind the new settler”: They want to pack the core values of the series in a modern guise and hope that the players will like it:
link to YouTube content
When looking at the comments, the criticism clearly outweighs the critique: “Streamlining”, i.e. the deliberate slimming down of the game mechanics, is not well received by most. Youtube user Ani Deh, for example, left this comment and found a lot of approval:
I am shocked, saddened and incredibly disappointed. This is no longer a settler for me.
And viewer Random Sushi is quite annoyed under the video:
Should this be an ironic video? You should communicate that more clearly, otherwise someone will still think that what is said here is meant seriously!
The final release for The Settlers (2022) is scheduled for March 17, 2022. It remains to be seen whether the beta conclusion of the players will change the schedule or the content. Of course we will always keep you up to date! And if you need good news from the strategy cosmos now: Total War: Warhammer 3 seems to be going really, really well.