Gamers Demand Quality: Publisher Discovers Acceptance Issues with Bugged Releases

Paradox Interactive Shifts Strategy After Game Setbacks

Following the cancellation of Life By You and the troubled launch of Cities: Skylines 2, Paradox Interactive is outlining its revised approach to game development and release. The company acknowledges a shift in player expectations and a reduced tolerance for post-launch bug fixes.

Paradox CEO Mattias Lilja and CCO Henrik Fahraeus discussed this evolving player sentiment with Rock Paper Shotgun. Lilja highlighted increased player expectations and decreased trust in developers' ability to rectify post-release issues. The Cities: Skylines 2 launch served as a crucial learning experience, emphasizing the need for more rigorous pre-release quality assurance.

Fahraeus emphasized the importance of expanded pre-release player testing to gather feedback and refine the game. He stated that broader player access prior to launch would have significantly benefited Cities: Skylines 2. Paradox aims for greater transparency and collaboration with its player base moving forward.

The delay of Prison Architect 2 exemplifies this new approach. While Lilja confirmed positive gameplay, technical challenges necessitated the delay to ensure a high-quality release. He clarified that the delay differs from the Life By You cancellation, stemming from difficulty in resolving unforeseen technical hurdles rather than fundamental design flaws.

Lilja acknowledged the heightened player expectations in today's competitive gaming market, where players are less willing to accept prolonged post-launch bug fixing. He noted the "winner-takes-all" nature of the industry and the tendency for players to abandon games quickly, particularly in recent years.

The Cities: Skylines 2 launch resulted in significant player backlash, prompting a joint apology and a "fan feedback summit." Even the game's first DLC was delayed due to performance issues. The Life By You cancellation highlighted internal challenges, with Lilja admitting a lack of full understanding of certain development issues. Paradox's revised strategy emphasizes improved quality control and increased player engagement throughout the development process.