The End of Dread Hunger: Another Studio Forced to End Game Service

The Rise and Fall of Dread Hunger

With 2023 now drawn to a close, the gaming industry sees another studio forced to end a game service, marking a continuation of an unfortunate trend. Continuing the trend of studio closures, layoffs, and game cancelations in 2023, the social deduction game Dread Hunger has ended support for official servers. While social deduction video games have proven popular in recent years, the gaming industry has seen both AAA and indie studios struggling to keep up with rising costs.

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Launched in early access in April 2021, Dread Hunger was a social deduction game that saw players take on the role of Explorers surviving aboard a wayward vessel in the Arctic, as they fight to determine who is a traitor and who remains loyal to the Expedition. The game fully released in 2022, but the developer has now ended support for the official servers. Noting rising server costs and repeated DDOS attacks, the Dread Hunger developers ended support for the official servers on January 1. The game currently holds 'Mixed' reviews on Steam, with many comments highlighting the difficulty of random online matchmaking and long wait times between spawns. With players facing varying challenges with the different classes in Dread Hunger, fans felt that the game was too imbalanced to make for an enjoyable experience. In spite of complications, the game had a dedicated fanbase, and audiences have been saddened by the end of developer support for Dread Hunger.

When and Why Did Dread Hunger End Server Support?

January 1, 2024 - Support for official servers ended by developer. While the official Steam servers for Dread Hunger closed on January 1, the original announcement of the shutdown came back in November 2023. The studio noted repeated DDOS attacks as one of the main reasons for the servers needing to be shut down, though the mention of rising maintenance costs for official servers raised a few eyebrows. The developer has assured fans that the studio is working to share the necessary files for players to set up and use community servers, which would allow audiences to continue playing the game without support from the developer. Multiple companies saw massive layoffs and shutdowns in 2023, frequently due to backend issues and financial reasons, and it would seem that Dread Hunger has been forced to face a similar fate.

As fans look forward to upcoming game releases in 2024, it seems that the unfortunate trend of industry struggles has already started to carry over from 2023. Indie developers were not the only studios to suffer from financial and structural complications, as major companies like Sony and even Embracer Group got hit by layoffs. Whether the end of official server support for Dread Hunger is an indicator of what the gaming industry will face in 2024 remains to be seen, but many are hoping that the negative trends of 2023 will stay in the past.

The Future of Gaming Industry

The closure of official server support for Dread Hunger raises questions about the future of the gaming industry. With the continued trend of studio closures, layoffs, and game cancelations in 2023, the gaming community is concerned about the challenges that lie ahead. Indie developers, major companies, and even popular titles have been affected by financial and structural complications, indicating a turbulent period for the industry.

As the gaming community anticipates upcoming releases in 2024, there is hope that the industry can overcome the negative trends of the past year. The closure of official server support for Dread Hunger serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by developers and players alike, but it also highlights the resilience and dedication of gaming enthusiasts. Whether 2024 will see a turnaround for the industry remains to be seen, but the passion and creativity of the gaming community continue to drive the pursuit of innovative and engaging experiences.