Why Did 'LawBreakers' Fail? - A Postmortem Analysis
1Why Did 'LawBreakers' Fail? - A Postmortem Analysis
Greetings, gaming gurus, joystick jedis, and keyboard warriors alike! Welcome back to our beloved "Veteran Game" channel, where we dissect, reminisce, and sometimes even mourn the trials and tribulations of the gaming universe. Today, we're donning our forensic gloves for a postmortem analysis of a game that, let's face it, stumbled right out of the gate – 'LawBreakers'.
'LawBreakers' was a multiplayer first-person shooter game developed by Boss Key Productions and published by Nexon. It was released in August 2017 and was intended to compete with the heavy-hitters of the arena shooter genre. However, the game was met with a lukewarm reception and ended up being less of a trailblazer and more of a tumbleweed. By April 2018, the servers were quiet, and 'LawBreakers' was officially declared a commercial failure. So, let's break down the 'LawBreakers' saga and see why it fell rather than flew.
'LawBreakers' was the brainchild of Cliff Bleszinski, the designer behind the legendary 'Gears of War' series. It was his first project since leaving Epic Games, and it promised a fresh, gravity-defying take on the competitive shooter genre. The game's central hook was its use of varied gravity mechanics that allowed players to zip around the maps like superheroes on a caffeine rush, a unique selling point that distinguished it from other games in the genre.
From a purely mechanical standpoint, 'LawBreakers' delivered on its promises. It was polished, it was smooth, and it was different. The problem, however, was that 'LawBreakers' found itself up against some fierce competition. In particular, it was taking on Blizzard's 'Overwatch', a juggernaut in the arena shooter genre, boasting a massive player base, incredible character diversity, and, importantly, a friendly, welcoming style. The competition was as tough as an old boot, and 'LawBreakers' struggled to carve out its niche.
When it came to marketing, 'LawBreakers' seemed to be facing an identity crisis. Despite its unique gameplay mechanics, it was often compared to 'Overwatch', and not always favorably. While 'Overwatch' had its colorful, appealing characters and a vibrant universe that players could invest in, 'LawBreakers' had a grittier tone and a generic sci-fi aesthetic that failed to stand out from the crowd. It was like turning up to a costume party wearing the same outfit as someone else, but they're also wearing a flashing neon hat. It’s tough to outshine that kind of competition.
Another important aspect was the game's business model. 'LawBreakers' was launched as a premium title, with players having to purchase the game upfront. Contrast this with the then emerging trend of successful free-to-play models with cosmetic microtransactions, and 'LawBreakers' seemed a tad out of touch. The paywall only served to limit the influx of new players, resulting in low player counts and longer matchmaking times, which further contributed to player frustration.
Finally, the game had a struggle in maintaining its player base post-launch. Despite the initial interest, the game's player count dropped significantly after release. It's one thing to attract players, but it's an entirely different challenge to keep them. 'LawBreakers' struggled with this retention. The competitive gaming scene is fiercely loyal and, once a game loses momentum, it can be nearly impossible to bring players back.
So, in conclusion, 'LawBreakers' was a bold experiment that unfortunately fell short of its aspirations. Its unique gameplay mechanics and high-flying combat weren't enough to distinguish it in a crowded market, its marketing failed to effectively communicate what made it special, and its business model and lack of player retention ultimately led to its downfall.
But let's remember, folks, failures are often the stepping stones to success. Each misstep in the gaming industry teaches us valuable lessons and contributes to the evolution of better, more immersive experiences.
So, as we sign off from this postmortem, let's raise our joysticks to 'LawBreakers' and all the games that dare to be different. Even if they don't always hit their mark, they help make the gaming world the diverse and exciting place it is today.
Stay tuned to "Veteran Game" for more insights, overviews, and reviews from the wild world of gaming. Keep those thumbs nimble, and as always, keep on gaming!