The Rise of Godus
Godus, a god game developed by 22cans, first made its debut in September 2013 after a successful Kickstarter campaign. The game was met with high expectations due to the ambitious promises made by developer Peter Molyneux. However, as the game progressed, it became evident that many of these promises would go unfulfilled, leading to a tumultuous journey for Godus and its developer.
Video Games Play As God Godus Houses
One of the initial ambitious plans for Godus was to allow a single person to serve as the god of the game and share in its revenue. However, these plans were ultimately abandoned, and the PC version of Godus was left in a state of neglect just a few years after its early access launch. Despite these setbacks, 22cans released mobile versions of Godus, which received a relatively more positive reception. Additionally, the studio launched an RTS version of Godus called Godus Wars, although this game garnered an overwhelmingly negative overall rating on Steam.
The Controversy and Delisting
Steam users were highly critical of both Godus and Godus Wars, leading to their delisting from the platform. The decision to remove the games from Steam was attributed to an upcoming technical change to Amazon Web Services, as confirmed by 22cans. However, existing owners of Godus and Godus Wars were assured that they could continue playing the games. The delisting of the games marked a significant turn of events for the studio, prompting reflections on the reception and impact of their creations.
The negative reviews and reception of Godus and Godus Wars indicated that most Steam users were unlikely to miss the games following their removal from the digital storefront. While 22cans expressed gratitude for the support of their players over the past decade, it was evident that the journey of Godus had reached a controversial and contentious end.
The Legacy and Future of 22cans
Beyond the controversy of Godus and Godus Wars, 22cans has had mixed responses to its more recent efforts. While some of its titles, such as The Trail: Frontier Challenge, received mostly positive reviews on Steam, the studio's venture into blockchain NFT gaming with Legacy stirred up further controversy. Despite the mixed reception, 22cans remains a resilient force in the gaming industry.
Peter Molyneux, renowned for his contributions to games under Bullfrog Productions and Lionhead Studios, has continued to play a key role in 22cans' development endeavors. The studio, although facing rejection from traditional gamers, is still forging ahead, with Molyneux gearing up for a more hands-on role in the next game, slated for release on PC and consoles. With the hope that lessons have been learned from past experiences, there is anticipation for a new chapter in 22cans' journey.
