LawBreakers, the first-person hero shooter developed by Boss Key Productions, faced a tragic end six years after its release. The game’s director, Cliff ‘Cliffy B’ Bleszinski, recently opened up about the factors that he believes led to the game’s failure, with a significant portion of blame being placed on the emergence of Blizzard’s Overwatch.
In a candid interview with Edge magazine, Bleszinski revealed that the proximity of LawBreakers’ launch to that of Overwatch in 2016 played a crucial role in the game’s demise. The studio’s decision to incorporate heroes and abilities in LawBreakers, influenced by their experiences playing MOBAs, unintentionally created similarities with Overwatch that proved detrimental to the game’s reception.
Bleszinski acknowledged that LawBreakers faced challenges beyond the shadow of Overwatch. The market for multiplayer first-person shooters was already saturated, making it difficult for a new entrant like LawBreakers to gain a foothold. Additionally, the studio’s marketing efforts fell short in creating the necessary buzz around the game, further contributing to its lackluster performance.
The Lessons Learned
Reflecting on the experience, Bleszinski expressed regret about certain decisions made during LawBreakers’ development. He mentioned that in hindsight, he would have taken a different approach by opting for a smaller, more agile team to deliver a simpler game quickly, rather than investing years in the production of a triple-A title. This shift in strategy could have potentially shielded the game from the challenges it ultimately faced.
Despite Bleszinski’s cryptic hints about a possible resurrection of LawBreakers in 2023, the prospects of the game making a comeback seem bleak. The closure of Boss Key Productions following the failure of LawBreakers raises questions about Bleszinski’s future in the game development industry. Whether he will return to create new gaming experiences or pursue other ventures remains uncertain.
LawBreakers serves as a cautionary tale of the impact of market dynamics and competition in the gaming industry. While it showcased innovative gameplay mechanics and received positive reviews, the game ultimately faltered under the weight of external factors, highlighting the challenges faced by developers in a crowded market. The legacy of LawBreakers and the lessons learned from its downfall will shape the future endeavors of those involved in its creation, serving as a reminder of the importance of strategic decision-making in the fast-paced world of gaming.
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