What the hell is going on with Hellblade 2 on Steam? Why is it so low on charts?
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I would take it one step further and say if you asked regular gamers what Hellblade is, they would assume it is a DLC weapon in Helldivers 2 that they haven't unlocked yet.
Because it's just not interesting? The first game was better received in the reviewer circle than the general gaming community, and nobody really asked for a sequel. It's $50 for a very short game with no replay value, and people are struggling to pay for food.
1.- The first installment was a niche game (I don't understand why some users treat the sequel like a Big Blockbuster and the savior of Xbox).
2.- The game comes out on Gamepass = many fewer potential sales.
3.- Microsoft and Its Marketing
2.- The game comes out on Gamepass = many fewer potential sales.
3.- Microsoft and Its Marketing
Part of it is bad marketing, the stuff they have shown was just not that great besides the graphics.
I for one was immediately turned off hearing from a preview it's very much like the first game. And I have started playing it a few weeks ago and I couldn't anymore after the first two hours. It is very bland. Shame.
Because it was the game Microsoft revealed their next generation console with and it looks amazing graphically.
I for one was immediately turned off hearing from a preview it's very much like the first game. And I have started playing it a few weeks ago and I couldn't anymore after the first two hours. It is very bland. Shame.
Because it was the game Microsoft revealed their next generation console with and it looks amazing graphically.
I don't think it's a marketing problem, the game has been dvertised on many MS events and on TGA.
It's just a 8 hours game, sequel to a game that didn't sell well (1m in a year on ps4+PC), with a record of 5.600 ccu on Steam and that is releasing day one on GP.
It's just a 8 hours game, sequel to a game that didn't sell well (1m in a year on ps4+PC), with a record of 5.600 ccu on Steam and that is releasing day one on GP.
Horrible marketing. It's a game that was shown and popped up in countless shows by them over the years, but kept ending with no update on release or even a release year. Even on a forum like this where people are really tuned into general news I feel a lot of people don't realize this releases in less than two weeks.
It is ultimately a followup to a more budget/niche title though, so I wasn't really expecting it to light the world on fire and they probably aren't either. Of course given…this entire week that now is like a giant alarm blaring.
It is ultimately a followup to a more budget/niche title though, so I wasn't really expecting it to light the world on fire and they probably aren't either. Of course given…this entire week that now is like a giant alarm blaring.
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i do think that the hyper focus on graphics is not really that much of a selling point nowadays as it was a couple of gens ago
+ heavy cinematic focus... definitely a game that has a relatively narrow appeal. the pitch for the original was "indie game with AAA prod values" IIRC. doesnt seem that the scope has grown massively since, despite NT being part of xbox. Like, I think that genuinely may be a good thing for them though, in this market condition.
+ heavy cinematic focus... definitely a game that has a relatively narrow appeal. the pitch for the original was "indie game with AAA prod values" IIRC. doesnt seem that the scope has grown massively since, despite NT being part of xbox. Like, I think that genuinely may be a good thing for them though, in this market condition.
Basically it's the studio that has been doing all the marketing. New video.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVBxvlRV0d4
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVBxvlRV0d4
This is how it is for me, at least. The first game wasn't particularly good as a game, and even though I'm sure the sequel will look absolutely mindblowing on my brand new PC, I'm just not interested in playing trauma porn games just because of graphics.
It's basically the same reason I bailed on TLOU after the first game. I'm just...not really cool with playing games that exist to make me feel like shit and stress me out. Even if they look absolutely incredible, that kind of subject matter just isn't appealing to me.
Considering length of the game, I would think a game like this is definitely one where some people might be doing some Game Pass subbing over buying it for $50. Especially if you're on the fence.
This "there is no marketing!" stuff is silly and just the latest hivemind idea that is popping up. I think it's just not that appealing broadly. Like, truly. I don't think it's that appealing of a premise.
This "there is no marketing!" stuff is silly and just the latest hivemind idea that is popping up. I think it's just not that appealing broadly. Like, truly. I don't think it's that appealing of a premise.
That's just not true, the game was very well received within the gaming community. It's sitting at 90%(!!!) on steam, with over 50k reviews.
I don't know what bubble you guys live, honestly. Sure, nobody seems to care about the sequel, but to say the first game was not that well received is one hell of a take.
Yeah the industry has changed so much since the release of the previous game.
My understanding was the first was developed extremely efficiently and was successful because of that + cinematic games being a major focus of the industry at the time.
It seems now nobody even cares about cinematic experiences outside of ones tied to established IP. Hellblade theming is a niche as you can get, plus this game seems to have taken FOREVER to develop (the budget must be insane)... There is just zero chance this is profitable unless word of mouth takes over in huge way (ala a mini Helldivers 2) after launch. I just don't see it happening.
It's a shame because the game looks amazing.
There's been no real Hype/Marketing for the title and truth be told, once it was told that it wasn't the "Big" title people expected, more interest dropped as well (Which isn't a bad thing, but so much of its pre-release marketing had people thinking this was their answer to God of War). You can tell Xbox basically see's it as a lost cause (Such as Sarah bringing up Indiana Jones as a soon release instead of the game slated for this month).
Ninja Theory is likely closing after the release of this game going by the current Microsoft Trends. Though they might keep them around just a tad longer to get the PS5 port out.
Ninja Theory is likely closing after the release of this game going by the current Microsoft Trends. Though they might keep them around just a tad longer to get the PS5 port out.
What's weird is that for years Microsoft has positioned Hellblade II as a big tentpole title for the Series X. If I remember right wasn't it one of the first games announced for the system? And they had that big presentation for it at the Game Awards. But it feels like after that Microsoft just gave up? Realized this wasn't going to be the big hit they were trying to force it to be. Which doesn't bode well for Ninja Theory.
There's also this. Whenever a game fails most people will immediately blame marketing or lack thereof, and while that can be a factor, a lot of sometimes it just can be a case of people not being interested. It's a direct sequel to a game that, while critically praised and sold well enough, wasn't this huge hit. It was never going to be anything more than a sequel to Hellblade.
I have this same preference. I don't play games to get depressed or have depressing themes take up my gaming hobby time. A two hour drama? Sure. Let's do it. A 30 hour game? No, I don't want to come back to this world for two weeks straight - thanks.
I'll play this because it's shorter and on Game Pass, but I am not really in any rush. And it might take me some time to beat it.
Yeah I was going to say the same thing, there may be a lot of marketing in the next 10 days before it releases but right now it feels like they have very low expectations for the game in terms of impact
I thought the first had terrible gameplay, never finished it. Got gamepass ultimate and a way more than capable PC - just no interest in the game
Gamepass on fire with Eiyuden for me though, ive fallen in love with that game.
Gamepass on fire with Eiyuden for me though, ive fallen in love with that game.
I've always found it a weird game to try and make a tentpole - the original was the definition of AA gaming, very ambitious and well-executed by a solid developer, but small-scale and with pretty rote gameplay. One of my favorites of all time, but I've been skeptical that more money is necessarily going to make a better game, or a huge success.
I think it'll do fine, but I doubt it's going to be the hit Xbox needs, and I'm worried for Ninja Theory.
I think it'll do fine, but I doubt it's going to be the hit Xbox needs, and I'm worried for Ninja Theory.
OP
OP
I thought the IP has decent-ish following, that's why I even made this thread. I liked the first one enough and remember similar sentiment around back then when it came out.
Yeah like, game looks great and ninja theory is talented. But "psychosis" simulator and heavy trauma drama over the focus on action aren't big selling points for a lot of people. The game just has limited appeal.
(We need games like this, I'm not saying it should bomb and I hope for it doesn't)
Microsoft's marketing of it is almost non existent and the fact that they're not even bothering to sell a physical version Xbox tells me they have long given up on this selling.
Plenty of game pass games sell well on steam, including first party xbox games.
Personally, graphics and great cinematics aren't that appealing to me. When I want a great narrative, I'd rather read a book. From the outside I just don't find the game that appealing. Hopefully the devs achieve well enough.
Personally, graphics and great cinematics aren't that appealing to me. When I want a great narrative, I'd rather read a book. From the outside I just don't find the game that appealing. Hopefully the devs achieve well enough.
They really need something like PS Blog to keep pumping content for their twitter. Their ratio of gimmick tweets to helpful tweets is way too high.
I think NT said that the first game was played by like 6.7 million people or something like that, so there is definitely some audience there especially since the game tends to be praised by those who played it
Am I? Who here says that?
Hi-Fi Rush is one of the very few critically acclaimed titles out of Microsoft Studios this entire gen, so obviously Tango's closure is a lot more baffling to most people. Obviously it's discussed a lot more.
That doesn't mean the other closures are in any way justified. Again, show me posters that feel this way.
Heh; I'm the opposite. I find most gaming stories so mind-numbingly boring that its refreshing when a game comes around and makes me feel something.
Plaques Tale: Requiem was another one of those games that I absolutely loved cause it wasn't the usual 'and they lived happily ever after' type experience.
But I can definitely see someone absolutely hating these types of games/movies.
Posting on twitter is not marketing. Especially on a random personal accounts like Greenberg's. The game is being sent to die to justify closing Ninja Theory.
It's one of the downsides of capitalism, that personal spiky stuff the doesn't also find an audience is doomed.
I mean one of the other downsides is destroying the planet but they're both sad
And the thing is, there are dark games I can get into. I loved AW2 and that game is dark as shit. But it's also goofy and weird, and doesn't just mainline "LOOK HOW MUCH EVERYTHING SUCKS" or "LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE, PROTAGONIST - FEEL BAD ABOUT THE STUFF WE FORCED YOU TO DO" the entire way through.
I've really developed a shocking aversion to games that make the player control a protagonist as they do reprehensible things and then spend a huge chunk of the playtime rubbing the player's nose in it. Especially when the reprehensible things I'm forced to do are things I would never for a second even consider doing myself. Like I don't feel BAD that you locked my controls until I murdered that guy, I'm just annoyed.
I honestly can't remember too much about HB1's story - I played it once, when it was brand new, and that was such a long time ago all I really remember was just not enjoying myself at all.
The problem with player numbers is that they're an entirely empty metric. If I play a game for fifteen minutes and go "nah" and never touch it again, I'm still counted as a "player". And in a Game Pass era where people don't even have to spend any money to try a game out, you have LOTS of people who will download a game, boot it up once to see if they like it, and then never revisit it. I would honestly argue that those kinds of players are a negative metric, not a positive one.
Feeling things is great. But when a game is just endless, soul-crushing despair and misery, I just get exhausted and then bored and wander away. I bailed on the second Plague Tale because it was so miserable that the fun I wasn't having with the stealth mechanics just meant that once I hit a difficulty wall, I stopped playing and uninstalled the game. The misery was too much to convince me pushing through the wall was worth it.
Totally normal to openly justify the marketing your doing than to….just do the marketing and let it talk for itself.
It is still a relatively short narrative game, made by a small team (for today's standards) and with a greater focus on technical aspects than on its gameplay.
I think too much responsibility and weight being given to the game, when the franchice has always been niche and NT has never had much popularity.
I mean, it's a game that'll be free to play for Game Pass users, single player, and not super lengthy. Doesn't exactly point to big numbers on Steam.
It's baffling because we're not privy to actually what went on there. It absolutely sucks and I feel terrible for the employees laid off but we don't know why they were closed and MS isn't telling. It could be they lost a lot of staff after HFR, it could be their next pitch was a $300m open world whaling simulator, it could be that they made fun of Phil wearing T-shirts into his fifties we don't know.
Aaron greenberg was always horrible at his job, for years and years xbox fans everywhere have been saying critics after critics for the xbox marketing, that aaron greenberg is the one that many years ago started to show vgchartz graphics to justify xbox selling incredible in twitter, while people was telling him vgchart wasnt reliable at all, and he kept doing it, he is a toxic xbox fanboy, just that since years ago he has a job at xbox and he is bad at it, people defending this kind of marketing for hellblade is why xbox keep doing it, because some fans just accept the bad things they do over and over again
Just feels like the wrong game to sequel and largely keep the same.
... Also the marketing has been weird. They were a lot louder about the game when it was a billion years away as opposed to now, when it's imminent. Senua was on the Las Vegas Sphere with Starfield spaceship and Forza car!
www.resetera.com
... Also the marketing has been weird. They were a lot louder about the game when it was a billion years away as opposed to now, when it's imminent. Senua was on the Las Vegas Sphere with Starfield spaceship and Forza car!
Xbox marketing has reached its final form with the Las Vegas SPHERE
https://x.com/jeffrubenstein/status/1715200416286454173?s=20 Featuring the four games from the recent Power Your Dreams ad (Starfield, Hellblade II, Forza Motorsport, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty) and showcased during their TwitchCon Xbox Mixer (lol the irony in that name amiright). Josh...
www.resetera.com
I don't really understand why he's remained in the same position forever. Don't get the sense big Xbox fans think he does a particularly good job either?