In a shocking turn of events, Fntastic, the studio behind the much-anticipated survival MMO, “The Day Before,” has abruptly closed its doors. The company has also promised to refund customers who bought the game. The Day Before made its way to Steam only five days ago. The game is also no longer available on Steam.
The Day Before’s journey began in 2021 with an impressive teaser. People started comparing the game with acclaimed titles like The Last of Us and The Division. Not many people had confidence in the AAA game from a company that had an indie background. The game was initially set for a June 2022 release, but the launch was pushed back to March 1, 2023, citing a transition to Unreal Engine 5 for enhanced gameplay.
In January 2023, the game suffered another eight-month delay, attributed to a trademark dispute with a calendar app. After this incident, the game disappeared from Steam and the company faced accusations of misleading its community. The game’s trailer also vanished from the studio’s YouTube channel. It further raised questions about the game’s credibility. The game was finally released on December 7, 2023.
The Day Before remained on Steam’s most-wish-listed list for an extended period and created a lot of hype. When the game was launched early access on Steam, it fell short of expectations, leading to an overwhelmingly negative reception. The game was criticized for resembling more of an extraction shooter. Many people highlighted technical issues and uninspiring gameplay. Gamers were also not happy with Fntastic’s communication during this time.
On Monday, Fntastic announced its closure, attributing it to the financial failure of The Day Before. The company will use all income to settle debts with partners. This incident has raised questions about the future of The Day Before and Propnight. However, the company assures that the servers will remain operational, at least for the time being.
Hours after the company confirmed its shutdown, The Day Before was removed from sale on Steam. The once-promising title now stands as one of the lowest-rated Steam games.
