The Day Before: A Promising but Problematic Early Access Launch

 

The Day Before, a multiplayer open-world survival game set in post-apocalyptic America, has finally launched in early access on Steam on December 7, 2023. 

The game, developed by Fantastic and published by Mytona, has been one of the most wish-listed games on Steam since its announcement in 2021, generating a lot of hype and expectations among fans of the genre. 

However, the game’s early access launch has been far from smooth, as players have encountered numerous issues, bugs, and controversies that have tarnished the game’s reputation and raised questions about its future.

The Day Before is a game that combines elements of survival, looting, crafting, exploration, and combat in a vast open world that is populated by zombies, hostile survivors, and wildlife. 

The game also features a realistic weather system, a dynamic day and night cycle, and a variety of vehicles and weapons to use. 

The game’s premise is that a mysterious virus has wiped out most of humanity, leaving behind a world of chaos and danger. 

Players have to scavenge for resources, fight for survival, and cooperate or compete with other players in online servers.

The game’s early access launch was supposed to be a milestone for the game’s development, as well as a chance for players to experience the game for the first time and provide feedback to the developers. 

However, the launch has been plagued by several problems that have frustrated and disappointed many players. Some of the most common complaints include:

Server issues: Many players have reported that they are unable to connect to the game’s servers, or that they experience frequent disconnections, lag, and crashes. 

Some players have also claimed that they have lost their progress or items due to server errors. 

The developers have acknowledged the server issues and have promised to work on improving the stability and performance of the game’s online infrastructure.

Bugs and glitches: The game’s early access version is riddled with bugs and glitches that affect the gameplay and immersion. 

Some of the bugs include clipping through walls, floating objects, invisible enemies, missing textures, broken animations, and more.

Some players have also encountered game-breaking bugs that prevent them from completing quests, accessing certain areas, or using certain features. 

The developers have stated that they are aware of the bugs and glitches and that they are working on fixing them as soon as possible.

Misleading marketing: Some players have accused the developers of misleading them with false or exaggerated claims about the game’s features, content, and quality. 

Some of the examples include the game’s trailers, which show scenes and gameplay elements that are not present or different in the actual game, such as the zombie horde, the vehicle customization, the voice acting, and the graphics. 

Some players have also pointed out that the game’s screenshots and videos on Steam do not reflect the game’s current state and that they are misleading potential buyers. 

The developers have not directly addressed these accusations, but they have updated some of the game’s screenshots and videos on Steam to show the game’s early access version.

Lack of content and polish: Some players have complained that the game’s early access version lacks content and polish and that it feels like an unfinished and unoriginal product. 

Some of the criticisms include the game’s bland and repetitive environments, the game’s shallow and generic gameplay, the game’s lack of variety and creativity, and the game’s poor optimization and performance. 

Some players have also compared the game unfavorably to other similar games in the genre, such as DayZ, The Division, and State of Decay, and have argued that the game does not offer anything new or innovative. 

The developers have defended the game’s early access version and have stated that they have a lot of plans and ideas for the game’s future development and that they hope to add more content and polish to the game with regular updates and patches.

Despite the game’s early access launch being a giant mess, the game still has a loyal and supportive fan base that is willing to give the game a chance and to help the developers improve the game with constructive feedback and suggestions. 

The game also has a lot of potential and promise, as it has a compelling premise, a realistic and immersive world, and challenging and rewarding gameplay. 

The game’s early access version is not the final product, and the game can still change and improve over time with the developers’ hard work and the players’ input.

The Day Before is a game that has been surrounded by a lot of controversy and confusion, but it is also a game that has been eagerly awaited by many gamers who are looking for a new and exciting survival experience. 

The game’s early access launch has been a rocky and disappointing start, but it is not the end of the game’s journey. 

The game still has a long way to go before it reaches its full potential and vision, and it will need the support and patience of its community to achieve that. 

The game’s early access launch is not a final verdict, but a first impression, and it is up to the developers and the players to make that impression better.

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