The Day Before: The Controversial MMO That Never Was

The Promise and the Reality

The Day Before, a highly anticipated MMO game from Fntastic, has faced severe backlash from players and developers. Promised as a massive multiplayer online (MMO) game, it failed to deliver on this vision, revealing a much different reality.

The Day Before MMO claim Steam

The game's launch was widely lambasted due to its departure from the promised open-world MMO experience. Instead, players were met with a limited extraction shooter that fell short of expectations. This departure included a smaller map, clunkier combat, and the absence of progression mechanics, a far cry from the skills and survival elements that were initially marketed.

What's more, it was revealed that the game never was an MMO to begin with, as reported by DualShockers citing an ex-Fntastic staffer who worked on the game. This revelation has left both fans and industry insiders questioning the integrity of the project and its developers.

The Fallout and Controversy

In the aftermath of the game's disappointing launch, The Day Before developer took an extreme step by deleting itself from the internet. This move came after the game's widely lambasted release, leaving players and the gaming community in shock.

The controversy surrounding The Day Before continued, with the game's Steam page still claiming it as an MMO despite the revelations. The backlash led to the cancellation of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S ports, as well as a flood of negative reviews accusing the game of false advertising.

Furthermore, insight into the game's development shed light on the numerous delays and the challenges faced by the development team. The constant changes made by the founders, Aisen and Eduard Gotovtsev, led to massive portions of the game being redone multiple times. Despite the efforts of the development team to offer feedback, it was met with resistance, with reports of team members being dismissed for voicing concerns.

The Aftermath and Closure

The aftermath of The Day Before's release saw the closure of Fntastic, with the company using any remaining income to settle outstanding debts. Mytona, the game's publisher, has been approving Steam refunds for players, regardless of their total playing time.

The closure shed light on the five-year development journey of The Day Before, during which the project never lived up to its promised MMO status. The revelation of the game's true nature has left a lasting impact on players, developers, and the gaming industry at large, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and the ethical responsibilities of game developers and publishers.