Paradox writes down entire cost of The Lamplighters League (320m SEK) citing weak commercial success, “cautiously positive” subscription players

Anno · Oct 10, 2023

Paradox Interactive has today decided to write down capitalized development costs for the game The Lamplighters League, in addition to the regular degressive amortization done during the game's first three months. Overall, this will result in that all of the game's capitalized development costs of MSEK 320 will be recognized as costs in the fourth quarter of 2023. The game's impact on profit before tax for the fourth quarter is estimated to MSEK -248. The write-down stems from a revised sales forecast, which was established after the game's release.

"The Lamplighters League is a fun game with many strengths. Even though we see cautiously positive player numbers in subscription services, the commercial reception has been too weak, which is frankly a big disappointment. Game projects are by their nature always risky, but at the end of the day we haven't performed at the level we should. It is painful but makes us more eager to roll up our sleeves and do better," says Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive.

Very unfortunate but not at all a surprise. The game had financial bomb written all over it for awhile now, and the mixed reception at launch probably made it unlikely to ever surprisingly catch on.

Hopefully HBS comes out the other side of this.

Buckle · Oct 10, 2023

Time to make another Shadowrun game.

...Aww, who am I kidding, they'll just go back to Battletech.

nsilvias · Oct 10, 2023

an oversaturated strategy game market plus being worse than previous games youve made isnt a good combination

Lotus · Oct 10, 2023

Man the bad news just doesn't stop with this game

BringBackSonics · Oct 10, 2023

Ugh. It has to be hard as a developer when you try to go with your own creation/world and it doesn't do what you hope. Hope they have their heads up high

Jawmuncher · Oct 10, 2023

I didn't even realize it was coming out (nor that it was even coming to Game Pass) until literally the week it was about to hit that service.

vixolus · Oct 10, 2023

feel like it could've used an extra month or two of polish and released at a better time + not had the crashing/perf issues (or at least mitigated more)

DontHateTheBacon · Oct 10, 2023

Not a port beg, but man this would have been a purchase on my Switch. I'll throw it on the GamePass queue for now, not sure it competes with the other games on my Xbox/PS5 right now though. I would have loved to play this handheld in bed while winding down.

CubeApple76 · Oct 10, 2023

Was mildly interested at one point, enough to try on GP anyway. Poor reviews and it coming in a stacked window really made it plummet down my list unfortunately. Not exactly in a mainstream genre either.

Zukkoyaki · Oct 10, 2023

Still very interested in this. Waiting for a few patches before giving it a go.

Buckle · Oct 10, 2023

Harebrained Schemes earned my love forever with their Shadowrun games but honestly, I could never muster up much interest for Lamplighter's league.

It doesn't look terrible, it just didn't look that intriguing or in depth compared to their previous two projects. Theres no "hook" for me thats drawing me in.

SirKai · Oct 10, 2023

This really, really sucks. It looks like a cool game, but it came out at such a poor time.

sedael · Oct 10, 2023

oof a $22 Million hit in one quarter is tough for a game like that

ragolliangatan · Oct 10, 2023

Didn't it only come out a week ago? Really sucks that it didn't turn out as well as it could and that it seems to have been a sales failure.

Jaded Alyx · Oct 10, 2023

The poor reviews meant that I didn't even bother to download it on Game Pass.

Steam CCU peaked at a paltry 773.

For a comparison to another TBS that released this year, Jagged Alliance 3: 25,366.

(Seriously, wtf? Why does Jagged Alliance 3 have over 2k people playing it right now?)

Anno · Oct 10, 2023

ragolliangatan said:
Didn't it only come out a week ago? Really sucks that it didn't turn out as well as it could and that it seems to have been a sales failure.

I think the writing has been on the wall financially for awhile now unfortunately. When you don't even hit 1k concurrents on a game that wasn't cheap to develop it's a pretty bad time.

Jaded Alyx said:
(Seriously, wtf? Why does Jagged Alliance 3 have over 2k people playing it right now?)

It's great!

Jawmuncher · Oct 10, 2023

What's odd is a similar game (aesthetic wise) Strange Brigade unended being kind of a big bomb too.

I think that "Adventure" setting of the 1920s-1930s just doesn't seem to be very appealing to most.

Dyle · Oct 10, 2023

Even with the quality of its launch aside, it shouldn't come as a surprise after the failure of Indiana Jones this summer. Early 20th century adventures is a toxic trope these days. The genre is simultaneously overdone and played out while too tied to its misogynistic and racist roots

Mupod · Oct 10, 2023

I was interested in this until I played it...it's way jankier than expected and the real time stuff is super fiddly. I gave up when I couldn't get people to go up a ladder without switching spots with one another and alerting guards.

But yeah, I mentioned it a few times in the discords I'm in and there seemed to be zero interest at all.

overthewaves · Oct 10, 2023

The mediocre reviews screwed this game

UnluckyKate · Oct 10, 2023

I never heard of it...

Jaded Alyx · Oct 10, 2023

Anno said:
It's great!

Oh I know, but it's been 3 months! I expected it to be lower by now.

DrScruffleton · Oct 10, 2023

Jawmuncher said:
What's odd is a similar game (aesthetic wise) Strange Brigade unended being kind of a big bomb too.

I think that "Adventure" setting of the 1920s-1930s just doesn't seem to be very appealing to most.

I love the setting and really enjoyed strange brigade. I was excited for this when I initially saw it, then lost all interest when I found out it was turn based

SageShinigami · Oct 10, 2023

Jawmuncher said:
What's odd is a similar game (aesthetic wise) Strange Brigade unended being kind of a big bomb too.

I think that "Adventure" setting of the 1920s-1930s just doesn't seem to be very appealing to most.

Pulp adventure hasn't been appealing in decades, I think.

bytesized · Oct 10, 2023

I mean, a game about lighting lamps? Who wants that?

Uzzy · Oct 10, 2023

Ouch, that's real rough. Been a grim time for developers lately.

Mr Paptimus · Oct 10, 2023

Well I wasninterested but just don't have free cash or time to play it at the moment. I still plan on giving it a go eventually.

It's a shame, it looked really unique.

Paroni · Oct 10, 2023

Jawmuncher said:
What's odd is a similar game (aesthetic wise) Strange Brigade unended being kind of a big bomb too.

I think that "Adventure" setting of the 1920s-1930s just doesn't seem to be very appealing to most.

Curious Expedition games are pretty popular and they fully embrace the pulpy exploration backdrop. Another pulp adventure strategy game Pathway, while not very popular and also not excellent, also got roughly three times more players in launch than The Lamplighters did.
That being said they are cheap indie games.

Ostron · Oct 10, 2023

Sad to see, I didn't even know it was out before a couple youtubers put out promotion videos. That said I cannot see myself or really anyone paying full price for a new game like this with all the big hitters out there... Steam numbers really reflect that.

Jaded Alyx said:
(Seriously, wtf? Why does Jagged Alliance 3 have over 2k people playing it right now?)

Because it's a great game, a big name, and a huge comeback for a starved fanbase!

Shirkelton · Oct 10, 2023

Jawmuncher said:
I didn't even realize it was coming out (nor that it was even coming to Game Pass) until literally the week it was about to hit that service.

Really? I saw it advertised constantly.

Chairman Yang · Oct 10, 2023

Paroni said:
Curious Expedition games are pretty popular and they fully embrace the pulpy exploration backdrop. Another pulp adventure strategy game Pathway, while not very popular and also not excellent, also got roughly three times more players in launch than The Lamplighters did.
That being said they are cheap indie games.

Also, among physical card games, the Arkham Horror LCG is one of the most popular, and has been for years now.

The setting isn't the problem.

Hella · Oct 10, 2023

After HBS knocked it out of the park with Shadowrun and especially Battletech I was surprised by how disappointing Lampyleague was. I wasn't in love with the setting but it was the demo that killed it for me. It's the worst parts of XCOM and Mutant Year Zero combined; I think the gameplay loop just didn't come together, and the really weird control scheme/UI (on KB&M) only made it feel worse.

It's a shame to see and I wish HBS the best.

Shirkelton said:
Really? I saw it advertised constantly.

If you play any of the modern Paradox games, there's an ad for it built right into the Paradox Launcher. Other Paradox-published games like Age of Wonders 4 and Empire of Sin got advertised there too.

And geez, I forgot Empire of Sin existed. Maybe that setting is cursed...

AngryMobofSteve · Oct 10, 2023

Anno said:
Hopefully HBS comes out the other side of this.

80% or so of the studio was let go in July ( I was one of them!). There'll likely be some press about it eventually, but otherwise nothing's been reported/released yet, but you can find several ex-HBS people looking for work over LinkedIn the last couple months.

Starlatine · Oct 10, 2023

I was really hyped for it and downloaded day one and I wish I didnt

The game runs like shit and crashes all the time. Still do even post first patch.

It's a shame because I love HBS and you can see the game is good under the mountain of problems but it's kinda hard to argue the cold shoulder they're getting is undeserved. Shit just doesn't work doc

Glio · Oct 10, 2023

Jawmuncher said:
What's odd is a similar game (aesthetic wise) Strange Brigade unended being kind of a big bomb too.

I think that "Adventure" setting of the 1920s-1930s just doesn't seem to be very appealing to most.

Indiana Jones is the only thing with an adventure pulp feel that has managed to succeed.

RedSparrows · Oct 10, 2023

I really, really like the gameplay, once it opens up, and the setting/tone/aesthetic/music is all good. The real-time segments that bookend the tactics aren't great, but the tactics are so much fun.

The issue is technical: it crashes all the time. I think I've figured out a 'fix': rely on the autosaves, not any manual saves at all. Bizarre, and I only keep with it cos I enjoy it so much. I know publishers need games to release etc etc, but such a glaring technical issue will just destroy a game.

Dust · Oct 10, 2023

This is first time I am hearing the title 🤔

CHC · Oct 10, 2023

Real bummer, I was kind of looking forward to it but the impressions were just not good sounding at all and there is too much else to play. I loved Shadowrun Dragonfall so it's a shame to see really.

AngryMobofSteve · Oct 10, 2023

RedSparrows said:
I really, really like the gameplay, once it opens up, and the setting/tone/aesthetic/music is all good. The real-time segments that bookend the tactics aren't great, but the tactics are so much fun.

John Everist really knocked the music out of the park, and it can be really fun once you've tuned a team to their strengths/get to the point where you are near breaking enemy turns apart due to perks/Undrawn Hand hacks.

Hella · Oct 10, 2023

AngryMobofSteve said:
80% or so of the studio was let go in July ( I was one of them!). There'll likely be some press about it eventually, but otherwise nothing's been reported/released yet, but you can find several ex-HBS people looking for work over LinkedIn the last few months.

Fucking hell, that's awful. I had no idea.

Hope y'all find a good home.

Anno · Oct 10, 2023

AngryMobofSteve said:
80% or so of the studio was let go in July ( I was one of them!). There'll likely be some press about it eventually, but otherwise nothing's been reported/released yet, but you can find several ex-HBS people looking for work over LinkedIn the last couple months.

Ah shit :( Sorry to hear that

Glio · Oct 10, 2023

RedSparrows said:
I really, really like the gameplay, once it opens up, and the setting/tone/aesthetic/music is all good. The real-time segments that bookend the tactics aren't great, but the tactics are so much fun.

The issue is technical: it crashes all the time. I think I've figured out a 'fix': rely on the autosaves, not any manual saves at all. Bizarre, and I only keep with it cos I enjoy it so much. I know publishers need games to release etc etc, but such a glaring technical issue will just destroy a game.

I'm waiting por patches but I'm not even sure if they are coming.

Lotus · Oct 10, 2023

AngryMobofSteve said:
80% or so of the studio was let go in July ( I was one of them!). There'll likely be some press about it eventually, but otherwise nothing's been reported/released yet, but you can find several ex-HBS people looking for work over LinkedIn the last couple months.

Very sorry to hear that

Jintor · Oct 10, 2023

AngryMobofSteve said:
80% or so of the studio was let go in July ( I was one of them!). There'll likely be some press about it eventually, but otherwise nothing's been reported/released yet, but you can find several ex-HBS people looking for work over LinkedIn the last couple months.

yikes

ThereAreFourNaan · Oct 10, 2023

When the key art was 3 stylized characters surrounded by a horde of enemies, and is called "____ League" I simply assumed this was some form of competitive or cooperative multiplayer melee/shooter game.

I feel like it's a bit of a branding and/or marketing flub if I, a person who watches a bunch of gaming conferences, and buys almost every Paradox Game, and has a Gamepass Subscription, and enjoys X-Com style games, has no idea that this game which is on Gamepass and published by Paradox Interactive is actually that type of game.

Renteka-Bond · Oct 10, 2023

I'm enjoying it well enough (I don't care for the setting normally due to the obvious racist/misogynistic history BUT this game immediately and consistently disregards that for the better), but I admit I definitely didn't buy it due to the technical issues and just went with gamepass (for comparison, I bought Lies of P so I could play it on my Steam Deck because it was so well optimized even with Gamepass availability).

RedSparrows · Oct 10, 2023

AngryMobofSteve said:
80% or so of the studio was let go in July ( I was one of them!). There'll likely be some press about it eventually, but otherwise nothing's been reported/released yet, but you can find several ex-HBS people looking for work over LinkedIn the last couple months.

AngryMobofSteve said:
John Everist really knocked the music out of the park, and it can be really fun once you've tuned a team to their strengths/get to the point where you are near breaking enemy turns apart due to perks/Undrawn Hand hacks.

I'm really sorry to hear of the layoffs. No wonder the game released with such issues, then! That sucks, especially as, as is often the case, you can feel the love put into the game. Gaming as a business can do one.

As you say, once tuned up the combos and snowballing is so much fun, and the characters all serve such great niches. My Ingrid is an absolute behemoth of death, and there are times where I'm like 'I need to kill 7 targets this round, before I get overwhelmed...' and lo, I do it. So many options and flair. It's great.

Glio said:
I'm waiting por patches but I'm not even sure if they are coming.

The Twitter says updates are coming (the first was a very limited hotfix, it turns out); given the above, I guess a skeleton crew is left at HBS :(

werezompire · Oct 10, 2023

Really liked the Shadowrun games. First time hearing of this. Looking at reviews, real-time stealth but turn-based combat sounds really awkward - would prefer if they had just gone fully turn-based. Also the name is weird and doesn't sound like it matches the genre.

Mentalist · Oct 10, 2023

Oof.
This autumn's a brutal time to release a less well-known game.

It was on my radar, but finances have been pretty awful, so I've had to push buying this back.

RedSparrows · Oct 10, 2023

werezompire said:
Really liked the Shadowrun games. First time hearing of this. Looking at reviews, real-time stealth but turn-based combat sounds really awkward - would prefer if they had just gone fully turn-based. Also the name is weird and doesn't sound like it matches the genre.

The real time bits aren't great, but frankly you're barely ever in them. You're either just exploring grabbing stuff, or in combat. The real-time stealth is an awkward, but brief, interlude between the two states.

It also does away with my main gripe from XCom, which is the start of an encounter where you're moving, turn-based, towards the objectives, over and over again, with nothing really happening.

Paradox writes down entire cost of The Lamplighters League (320m SEK) citing weak commercial success, “cautiously positive” subscription players

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