15 Worst Video Game Launches of All Time

Video game launches can spark excitement, promising new worlds and thrilling gameplay. But some releases flop hard, leaving players disappointed and developers scrambling.

I’ve put together a list of 15 disastrous game launches, focusing on what went wrong and why they failed. Let’s dive into these infamous messes.

15. SimCity (2013)

‘SimCity’ aimed to modernize city-building with online features. Its always-online setup led to server crashes, locking players out for days.

Small cities and broken AI caused traffic jams and failing economies. This was a frustrating blow to a beloved franchise.

14. WWE 2K20 (2019)

‘WWE 2K20’ promised wrestling thrills but delivered glitches. Wrestlers clipped through rings or froze mid-match, ruining the experience.

The visuals were a step back, with cartoonish models. Fans got a rushed release that felt like a betrayal.

13. Fallout 76 (2018)

‘Fallout 76’ tried to take ‘Fallout’ online. It launched with an empty world, no NPCs, and broken quests that left players aimless.

Crashes and server issues made exploration painful. Updates helped later, but the launch scarred fans.

12. No Man’s Sky (2016)

‘No Man’s Sky’ hyped endless planet exploration. At launch, it gave repetitive tasks and no multiplayer, making players feel misled.

The small team behind it fixed things over time. Still, the overhyped launch is a lesson in overpromising.

11. Marvel’s Avengers (2020)

‘Marvel’s Avengers’ featured iconic heroes but went heavy on live-service grinding. The campaign was short, and missions felt samey.

Bugs and unbalanced gameplay frustrated players. It never delivered the superhero epic fans wanted.

10. Anthem (2019)

‘Anthem’ promised a vibrant sci-fi shooter. It launched with dull missions, a weak story, and endless loading screens that tested patience.

Crashes and technical issues pushed players away. The live-service pivot flopped, and the game was dropped.

9. Aliens: Colonial Marines (2013)

‘Aliens: Colonial Marines’ aimed to capture the ‘Alien’ universe. It had glitchy AI, with enemies standing idle, and a forgettable story.

Clunky shooting let fans down. This buggy mess failed to live up to the franchise’s name.

8. Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

‘Star Wars Battlefront II’ looked amazing but launched with a pay-to-win loot box system. The unfair progression sparked outrage.

The backlash forced a rework, but the launch drama nearly ruined a solid multiplayer game.

7. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ was a massively hyped RPG. On consoles, it was unplayable, with crashes, bugs, and awful performance.

Missing features and an empty world upset players. Later fixes couldn’t erase the launch’s damage.

6. Crime Boss: Rockay City (2023)

‘Crime Boss: Rockay City’ boasted big-name stars but skimped on gameplay. Clunky shooting and broken stealth made heists feel sloppy.

The budget went to casting, not polish. This forgettable launch fizzled out fast.

5. Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (2024)

‘Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’ ditched single-player for live-service shooting. The story was weak, and gameplay was repetitive.

Technical issues and a grind-heavy focus disappointed fans expecting another ‘Batman Arkham’ hit.

4. Skull and Bones (2024)

‘Skull and Bones’ spent 11 years in development, billed as a top-tier pirate adventure. It launched with repetitive missions and a dull world.

The game lacked the freedom players craved. It was a costly flop for a promising concept.

3. Redfall (2023)

‘Redfall’ came from a studio known for greats like ‘Dishonored.’ It launched with outdated visuals, buggy co-op, and brain-dead enemy AI.

Bland missions tanked this vampire shooter. It was a shocking misfire for a talented team.

2. The Day Before (2023)

‘The Day Before’ teased a stunning zombie survival world. It launched with missing features, poor performance, and an empty map.

The studio shut down days later. This was a notorious case of false promises.

1. Diablo III (2012)

‘Diablo III’ had huge hype but launched with Error 37, a server glitch blocking logins. The always-online requirement frustrated fans.

A controversial auction house clashed with the loot-driven gameplay. Fixes came, but the launch was chaos.

Which game launch let you down the most, or did I miss a flop worth mentioning? Share your thoughts in the comments!