Why 'The Day Before' Remains Delisted on Steam Even After Weeks Since Launch

Highlights

The Day Before has faced numerous controversies during its development process, including changes in visuals, a trademark dispute, and a contentious gameplay trailer.

Fntastic, the development team, has faced justified criticism regarding its utilization of "volunteers" and inadequate transparency, which has raised apprehensions among potential purchasers.

The absence of The Day Before's Steam page may possibly be attributed to an extended trademark dispute surrounding its title; however, Fntastic may be contemplating a new name for the game.

The Day Before, an MMO survival game, has gained notoriety for its turbulent development process. As its release date draws near, concerns arise due to the absence of substantial updates. Fntastic has been diligently working on the game since 2019, encountering numerous obstacles that have negatively impacted its reception among fans. These challenges include visual and engine changes, a trademark dispute, and controversy surrounding its gameplay trailer. The game, once highly anticipated, has faced several controversies, including being delisted from the Steam page. Despite Fntastic's success with games like Propnight, a multiplayer hide-and-seek game, their development of The Day Before, an open-world survival game reminiscent of titles such as The Last of Us and The Division, has been met with less enthusiasm from the public. It is evident that significant effort and dedication have been poured into the game throughout its four-year development period. However, the use of "volunteers" and a lack of transparency regarding gameplay and the trademark dispute have resulted in valid criticisms from potential buyers.

The Day Before's Development Has Been Rife With Controversy

Controversy surrounding Fntastic's hiring work model emerged last year regarding their approach to The Day Before development. Many developers were working on the game on a "volunteer" basis. The company claimed to employ both paid employee-volunteers and external volunteers, but it remains unclear how many team members fall under the latter category and how they are being compensated. This issue was further highlighted by a peculiar YouTube video titled "Life at Fntastic," uploaded by the company in January. The video lacked concrete game footage and presented an overly idealistic depiction of the company's work culture. It is important to note that this occurred before the game's delay to November 10.

In February, a gameplay trailer for The Day Before was released, which received mixed reactions. Some viewers noted a lack of vitality and engagement in the game's world. A few weeks later, Fntastic uploaded a Dev Vlog that garnered much better feedback due to its transparency. The video provided insights into the changes that the game underwent during its four-year development cycle. It showcased a significant overhaul in the graphics department, as the art direction shifted from a stylized approach, similar to Propnight, to a more gritty and realistic style. This transformation involved retexturizing environmental elements, implementing zombie dismemberment, and transitioning to Unreal Engine 5.

Prior to the release of this video, Fntastic addressed a trademark dispute on social media concerning The Day Before and the game's presence on Steam and YouTube. Fntastic stated that they were contesting a claim on the game's title, The Day Before. However, there have been no recent updates from the company regarding the dispute, and the game's official Steam page has yet to be restored, despite its scheduled release date of November 10. The company's most recent update on social media platform X was made on August 2, featuring a screenshot of a car model from the game.

There is speculation that Fntastic may be considering changing the name of The Day Before to "Dayworld," based on a new trademark filing. However, this has not been officially confirmed. The trademark dispute is believed to be the reason for the game's delay until November and the blocking of its Steam page. The development team is undoubtedly facing significant challenges, as they are dealing with the legal battle while simultaneously working on completing the game. The lack of updates has understandably been frustrating for potential buyers, particularly since there is limited gameplay footage available just two weeks before its release.

The Day Before is set to release on November 10 for PC.