Day One Xbox Game Pass Game Generates Massive Disappointment: Find Out Why
Regrettably, the publisher themselves deems a newly-launched day one Xbox Game Pass title a 'major letdown,' leading to a disappointing experience for players
Highlights
The Lamplighters League has been labeled a "big disappointment" by its publisher, Paradox Interactive, due to weak commercial reception.
The game's release during the busy fall gaming season, alongside other highly anticipated releases on Xbox Game Pass, has exacerbated its challenges.
Despite receiving mixed reviews, enthusiasts of the genre can still experience the game firsthand on Xbox Game Pass and form their own judgments.
The Lamplighters League, a turn-based strategy game developed by Harebrained Schemes, has been deemed a "big disappointment" by publisher Paradox Interactive. Inspired by 1930s pulp magazines and XCOM, the game was released on October 3 as a day one Xbox Game Pass title for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Unfortunately, The Lamplighters League has faced numerous challenges. Reviews have been mixed, and it has been launched amidst a frenzy of highly anticipated new games during the fall gaming rush. Given its unproven intellectual property and varied reviews, the game faces an uphill battle. Additionally, Xbox Game Pass has recently seen a surge of high-quality new releases, further diminishing The Lamplighters League's prospects. Consequently, the game has failed to meet the expectations of its publisher.
Paradox Interactive has announced its decision to write off the capitalized development costs for The Lamplighters League. The game was initially praised by Paradox for its "fun" and "many strengths," but unfortunately, the commercial reception fell short. Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester expressed his disappointment with this outcome, stating that it was a significant letdown. However, Wester did mention that Paradox is observing cautiously positive player numbers in subscription services, hinting at the game's performance on Xbox Game Pass.
The exact number of players currently enjoying The Lamplighters League through Xbox Game Pass remains ambiguous. However, given the intense competition, it wouldn't be surprising if the player count falls below expectations. Many Xbox Game Pass subscribers are engrossed in Bethesda's expansive sci-fi RPG Starfield and the recent release of Forza Motorsport. Additionally, popular titles like Soulslike Lies of P and party game Party Animals have also made their way to Game Pass in the past month.
Regrettably, The Lamplighters League and other smaller Game Pass games face an uphill battle. The service shows no signs of slowing down, continuously adding new games. More titles are slated to join the service before October concludes, including day one releases. Furthermore, several games have already been confirmed for Xbox Game Pass in November 2023, with numerous others expected to arrive in 2024.
If you're a fan of this genre and haven't given it a try, consider exploring The Lamplighters League to see if it catches your interest. One of the great advantages of Xbox Game Pass is the freedom to experiment with games that may not have been praised by critics but could still provide enjoyment, without requiring a significant financial investment. It is highly probable that The Lamplighters League will be accessible on Xbox Game Pass for at least one year, and whenever the time comes for its removal, fans will be notified well in advance.
