Why Did 'Battleborn' Fail? - A Postmortem Analysis
1Why Did 'Battleborn' Fail? - A Postmortem Analysis
Hey there, gaming gurus, welcome back to the "Veteran Game" channel! Today we're diving into the turbulent waters of a gaming postmortem. The patient on our table? 'Battleborn'—a game that came out guns blazing, only to quickly fizzle out and retreat into the shadows of gaming obscurity. Grab your detective's cap, as we delve into how confusing marketing, unclear game mechanics, and the behemoth competition from Blizzard's 'Overwatch' contributed to its failure.
Picture this: It's 2016, and the hype around team-based shooters is heating up like a grenade primed to explode. Gearbox Software, the brains behind the successful Borderlands series, throws their hat in the ring with 'Battleborn'. With a blend of first-person shooter and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) elements, Battleborn seemed poised to make a splash in the genre. But alas, a series of unfortunate events meant it fell short of the mark.
Firstly, we can't ignore the elephant in the room—Battleborn's marketing, or rather, its lack of clear messaging. Picture yourself as a potential buyer. You're hit with phrases like 'hero shooter', 'MOBA', 'FPS', and 'co-op narrative campaign.' You're simultaneously intrigued and bewildered. You may find yourself asking, "So, what exactly is Battleborn?"
The confusion didn't stop at marketing. Battleborn's game mechanics suffered a similar fate. With a roster of over 25 unique heroes, each with their own abilities and leveling systems, Battleborn gave players plenty of choices. But with great choice comes great confusion. Some gamers love complexity, but many more prefer easy-to-grasp gameplay. With a plethora of heroes, game modes, and leveling mechanics, Battleborn was like going to a buffet and being handed a dozen different forks—sure, they all have their purposes, but which one should you use?
What made this worse was the tutorial—or rather, the absence of an effective one. Without a well-structured introduction to its varied heroes and game modes, many players found themselves lost in the chaos of Battleborn's rich but overwhelming world. Imagine getting a new board game with dozens of pieces, but the instructions are written in an alien language. That's what playing Battleborn felt like for many new players.
But perhaps the biggest blow to Battleborn's chance at glory was the timing of its release. When you're heading into a boxing ring, you want to know who your opponent is. Well, Battleborn found itself facing off against Mike Tyson in his prime. In this case, Mike Tyson was Blizzard's Overwatch.
Launched just three weeks after Battleborn, Overwatch also offered a team-based shooter with a variety of unique heroes. However, it presented this with much simpler mechanics, sleek and stylish graphics, and the weight of Blizzard's reputation. It was as if Battleborn turned up to a gunfight armed with a rubber chicken. Overwatch instantly drew the attention of the gaming community, while Battleborn struggled to hold its ground.
Overwatch's success was like a shadow that loomed over Battleborn. It wasn't just about the direct competition between the games. The media and players constantly compared the two, and more often than not, Battleborn was left in the dust. It's tough to find your audience when you're perpetually standing in the shadow of a gaming titan.
So, there you have it—the tragic tale of Battleborn. An intriguing concept that got lost in translation, a complex game that struggled to guide its players, and a promising contender that was overshadowed by a heavy-hitting rival. It's a cautionary tale of how even the most promising games can stumble if they don't clearly define and communicate what they are.
Remember, gamers, sometimes being ambitious can lead to unforgettable success. But other times, it leads to you standing in the middle of a battlefield, holding a dozen forks and a rubber chicken, wondering where it all went wrong. Until next time, happy gaming, folks!