Stormgate, developed by ex-Blizzard veterans, entered early access last year with grand promises of being a StarCraft-style real-time strategy game. Unfortunately, it fell short of expectations, launching in what Frost Giant Studios’ CEO Tim Morten candidly described as an “undercooked” state. The initial feedback was overwhelmingly negative, and despite significant updates, the full release last month hasn’t managed to turn the tide.
Morten recently took to LinkedIn to reflect on the game’s difficult journey, outlining the missteps and the formidable challenge of a potential comeback. He highlighted how rare successful recoveries are, citing Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky as exceptional “unicorns” in the industry.
The real-time strategy title had its sights set on emulating the success of StarCraft, focusing heavily on competitive PvP with distinct factions designed for a dynamic meta. However, its rocky start proved hard to overcome.
Currently, Stormgate holds a ‘mixed’ rating on Steam with 49% positive reviews. More recent player feedback paints an even bleaker picture, with only 39% positive reviews, leading to a ‘mostly negative’ recent rating. This clearly indicates that the full launch failed to resonate with players.
Morten accepts full responsibility for the challenging early access launch, explaining that “product scope, implementation speed, and available time/capital all played a role, compounded by some regrettable communication moments.”
Looking back, Morten suggests he would have limited the early access scope, focusing solely on the campaign and 1v1 modes, and introducing additional modes only after those core experiences were polished. He also mentioned being more stringent with deadlines.
Despite acknowledging that Frost Giant “overhyped and underdelivered,” Morten firmly believes that Stormgate still possesses “genuine potential.” However, he underscores the immense difficulty of realizing this potential after such a problematic debut.
He emphasized that a launch, even one labeled “Early Access,” often leads to a “binary outcome that rarely changes.” The examples of No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk 2077, in his view, are anomalies, making a similar recovery for Stormgate “extremely difficult.”
Considering a hypothetical re-launch today, in a different economic climate, Morten speculates that Frost Giant would need a “more radical production approach,” which could include increased outsourced labor from outside North America and leveraging AI technologies.
The idea of using AI to salvage Stormgate is certainly unconventional, and perhaps a measure born out of necessity given the persistent funding challenges in game development. Even with a substantial double-A budget, the combination of a poor first impression, issues with Kickstarter backer communication, and a disappointing full launch has resulted in a meager average of just 89 players this month.
If you’re seeking a competitive RTS experience beyond Stormgate, consider exploring other great strategy games available on PC. There’s also a vast selection of excellent free PC games to enjoy.
Are you one of the few players still engaging with Stormgate? Share your thoughts on what it might take to revitalize a fundamentally flawed video game.