Developer of Forever Skies addresses feedback on game's launch: "It's hard not to notice that the game didn't reach the high standards expected by numerous players."
Skyward Odyssey: The Rough Launch of Forever Skies
Hear ye, hear ye! Forever Skies, the exciting skybound successor to the beloved Subnautica, landed on Steam with a thud, leaving players either bewildered or utterly disappointed. While the concept of exploring the skies on an airship sounds like a dream, the reality has fallen just short for some.
The game, developed by the clever lads over at Far From Home, had a promising start with a 'Very Positive' overall Steam rating. Yet, its recent reviews have plummeted to a 'Mixed' rating, causing ripples among the gaming community. Players voice complaints about the repetitive exploration, shallow storyline, and a lack of post-survival-loop activities.
Though it may seem the developers are ready to cut their losses and move on, a recent Steam post titled "The Future of Forever Skies and Patch" suggests otherwise. The post acknowledges the disappointment felt by a significant part of the player base and assures us that Far From Home isn't just going to shrug their shoulders and call it a day.
"It stings that the game didn't meet expectations," says CEO Andrzej Blumenfeld in the post. "But we're not going to wave a white flag and call it quits. No siree! We're in this till the end, fixing the issues, and listening to your feedback."
Take Flight: Fixes and Updates
The statement is followed by a bar chart made an appearance, something I've yet to see in a Steam update. It highlights areas of concern: technical and performance issues, alongside complaints about repetitive exploration and dull mechanics. Far From Home has committed to focusing on resolving these issues in upcoming updates.
In the recent patch, the studio addressed issues they were working on prior to identifying the core areas for improvement. This means small and sporadic changes such as improvements to animations, new loading screens, an alternative death screen, and bug fixes.
I've taken a spin aboard the launch version of Forever Skies, and I've got to agree with the naysayers. The airship, though fun to pilot, is contained within a dull expanse of ruined towers, struggling to make the skybound setting interesting. But fear not, dear gamers, for Far From Home is rallying its troops to make corrections and provide an engaging experience that will make Forever Skies shine brighter than the sun!
The Skies Await: A Fascinating Journey
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Rick LaneRick's been friends with PC gaming since he was but seven years old, sneaking into his dad's office for some covert sessions of Doom. He's been devouring poor-for-him games ever since, with a fondness for Quake, Thief, Half-Life, and Deus Ex. Rick served as games editor of Custom PC magazine and associated website bit-tech.net from 2013 to 2022. He's been falling, rolling, and pistol-whipping in freelance games journalism for publications like Edge, Eurogamer, the Guardian, and, of course, PC Gamer. While he'll play anything shootable by a keyboard and mouse, he has a soft spot for first-person shooters and immersive sims!
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
Forever Skies, developed by Far From Home, received criticism for its repetitive exploration, lackluster story, and technical issues. To address these issues, the developers plan to focus on implementing updates and improvements:
Planned Updates and Improvements
- Technical Issues Resolution:
- The developers intend to address technical issues affecting the gameplay experience[2].
- Variety in Exploration:
- Efforts are underway to increase the diversity of the game's environments to provide a more exciting experience for players[2][3].
- Gameplay Mechanics Overhaul:
- Plans include revamping gameplay mechanics to make them more engaging and enjoyable[2].
- Regular Updates and Fixes:
- Far From Home intends to release regular updates and fixes to address identified issues[2][5].
- Player Feedback Integration:
- The developers are committed to listening to player feedback and incorporating it into future updates[1][2].
- Recent Patch Details:
- A recent patch saw minor adjustments and bug fixes, such as animation improvements, new loading screens, alternative death screens, and various bug fixes[1][2].
Future Direction
Far From Home aims to elevate Forever Skies to the same level as successful survival games like Subnautica[1][3]. Their ultimate objective is to meet and surpass player expectations.
- Amidst the mixed reactions to Forever Skies, players and industry observers alike eagerly await updates to enhance the game's entertainment value, including resolving technical issues, diversifying exploration, and revamping gameplay mechanics to create a more engaging experience.
- In an effort to compete with other successful games such as Subnautica, the developers have promised to incorporate player feedback into their updates and strive for continuous improvement, turning Forever Skies into a standout title.
- To elevate Forever Skies' status, bettors continue to have their eyes on this troubled yet promising 'ps' game during the current season, hoping for its resurgence and success in thearetically-rich realm of gaming entertainment.
