It may sound a bit cruel, but not every game announcement is received with super-positive first impressions and high expectations. Instead, some of them trigger that collective feeling of “something doesn’t smell right”.
Whether due to shy marketing, troubled development, a lack of initial polish, questionable creative decisions, bad timing, or simply a weird trailer, these gamessplit the community’s opinionsand carry the stigma of ending up being a flop even before the final product hits the shelves.
And I have some bad news because I woke up feeling quite pessimistic today, so how about we list some of these cases in this article?
Let’s take a look at some upcoming titles that seem to have started the race at a disadvantage and sadly seem destined to flop as soon as they hit the market.
Of course, there is always the chance of a surprising twist when these games finally come out (and we are cheering for that!), but keep in mind that we have considered the factors already mentioned above for selection.
9Lost Soul Aside
Lost Soul Aside
When we notice that a game has been in development for almost a decade and shows significant changes from one trailer to another, it is hard not to get a little suspicious that something is going on – and it is no different withLost Soul Aside.
The game actually sounds good on paper, since it is an ambitious ARPG with combo-based weapons andcolossal bosses, but there are speculations about a troubling backstage.
It seems that a proper, full development did not come together until around 2021, and that some content may have been scrapped. Add that to some fans’ disappointment with the game’s visuals and gameplay from the latest trailers, and you definitely have a bad sign.
8The Sinking City 2
Better Swim Not To Sink
The Sinking City 2
After a troubled development and release (involving legal issues that led to a temporary delisting from digital stores), the originalThe Sinking Cityhas a lot of rough edges with janky combat, but it managed to conquer some cosmic horror fans.
Despite being a niche title, its sequel is in development. However, it seems that most players are not vibing with it since they are expecting more of the same in general – even its previous mistakes.
Add to that the fact that a different studio, which had nothing to do with the creation of the original title, is leading the new game, and you have more concerned fans.
That said, if everyone’s worries come true, not even Cthulhu himself is going to prevent it from being forgotten by the gaming community.
7Borderlands 4
Claptrap, Do Something
Borderlands 4
The Borderlands series is quite huge (I am a fan too), but it looks like the players’ excitement for new projects from the franchise is not so strong after the live-action movie hits theaters in 2024.
Also, the gaming community is not so happy about Randy Pitchford’s most recent statements about game prices, which mentioned a potential $80 price tag forBorderlands 4.
However, the game’s release date is what worries me the most, since October is already filled with other long-awaited Triple-A titles, such as Ghost of Yōtei, Battlefield 6, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Ninja Gaiden 4, and The Outer Worlds 2.
If the Gearbox’s shooter does not bring something pretty incredible to the table, it could be buried by its competitors.
6Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
Not Much To Be Seen
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
Sadly, I feel thatMoonlighter 2: The Endless Vaultis not going to repeat its predecessor’s success due to the lack of news and significant changes.
First, many preview impressions are not looking so hot, mentioning a lack of content despite its 3D graphics. If I may add to that idea, I even participated in the 11-bit studios Hands-On Event in May 2025 and played the game for a little bit, which left me with same feelings. Literally, the only reminder that I was playing Moonlighter’s sequel was its visuals.
Second, its trailers, promotional art, and overall marketing are not getting players hooked (even among the indie community), causing many players to be unaware that Moonlighter 2 is on its way.
Finally, the game is scheduled to be released in 2025, so it will also have to compete for attention with other highly anticipated sequels such as Ghost of Yōtei, Battlefield 6, and the ones I just mentioned above.
5Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Sands of A LOT of Time
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2026)
When it was first announced five years ago, the remake ofPrince of Persia: The Sands of Timewas not so well-received due to its lack of polish on visuals, leading to multiple launch delays and even a shift in studios - which is never a good sign.
It is expected to be a modern take on the 2003 classic, which is an ambitious and flashy idea by itself. To this day, however, it has passed through many hands and different creative visions that it may end as a clumsy, patched-up version of a masterpiece.
And we must not forget that Prince of Persia is a very big and traditional franchise in the gaming universe, so fans are quite demanding of the quality of any project tied to its name, so they need to get it right; otherwise, it is not going to be pretty.
4Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
I may be poking into someone’s hopes and dreams by mentioningMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater(and I am really sorry for that), but we are tired of knowing that building a new version of a classic without its original creator is a risky undertaking.
Despite that, this isexactlywhat Konami is doing by tampering with Hideo Kojima’s greatest masterpiece – without Hideo Kojima himself, of course.
Not that I want to remember what we got for the Metal Gear franchise when Mr. Kojima was no longer involved (yes, Metal Gear Survive, I am talking about you), but it is hard not to feel suspicious about it, especially if you are a huge fan like me.
Anyway, I hope I’m wrong and that we do not get asoulless remake– as we all know that Konami has done before. Hopefully, the developer has also learned from its own mistakes and did not let Comic Sans get anywhere near this one.
Concord Feelings, Anyone?
Talking about questionable creative decisions, we haveMarathonfrom the Bungie studio, which has been receiving very mixed reactions since its announcement.
While some find the gunplay and visuals quite promising, others are extremely skeptical about its ability to compete with already-established extraction shooters (such as Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown), attract a broader and passionate audience, or even surpass Destiny’s success.
Personally, I have to say that the formula of not having a solo mode (with a little more narrative focus), but having an incredibly deep lore to be used as a simple background in a genre known for its“pick up and play” strategydoesn’t seem like the best of ideas. I must confess that I am a little curious, though.
2Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
A Bite That May Hurt More Than It Should
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
It hurts like a bite (see what I did there) to write this, butVampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2is another case of a title that has been too long in production, and players are already losing hope.
The game was announced in 2019, and it has been through a reboot in development, some delays, a shift in studios, and even pre-sale refunds, so we are already getting rid of every garlic we find to give the vampires a chance.
With so many changes throughout its tough development, it is hard not to think that we will end up with a very unstable game in terms of quality, especially when we are talking about a franchise that is known for its complex lore, multiple paths, diverse gameplay, and depth. But let’s hope for the best, I think?
1Beyond Good and Evil 2
Hoping It Is Just Beyond Good
Beyond Good and Evil 2
Forget about two, five, or even ten years of production – we are now 16 years (!!!) from the original announcement ofBeyond Good and Evil 2, with no end to development apparently in sight.
The game was first revealed back in 2008 (and sorry if you are feeling old because of that), then it got somewhat of a “re-reveal” in 2017, just when we werestartingto get a little suspicious. And now it has been a very long time since we had anything substantial from Ubisoft about the game.
Many players already believe that the game is not even going to be released - even joking that Ubisoft is going to do a “re-re-reveal” only to disappear with the project again -, but if it does happen (by some miracle), the troubles behind the scenes will likely be reflected in the final version somehow.
