Square Glade Games Apologizes After 40,000 Played Outbound and Review-Removal Requests Sparked Backlash
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · May 12
Square Glade Games Apologizes After 40,000 Played Outbound and Review-Removal Requests Sparked Backlash
6 articles · Updated · Kotaku · May 12
Square Glade Games said it was sorry for replies that offered refunds while asking players to update or remove negative Steam reviews of Outbound, calling its launch communication the wrong approach.
The backlash spread after a screenshot of one such reply circulated on Steam and Reddit, prompting additional negative reviews from players who said the studio was trying to silence criticism instead of fixing problems.
Mixed user reviews had already hit the May 11 Early Access launch, with complaints centered on the game's short length, shallow survival systems, bugs and a $25 price tag.
More than 40,000 people played in the first 24 hours, and the studio said it will stop asking for review changes while prioritizing multiplayer stability, UI improvements and bug fixes in the next patch.
The stumble contrasts with Outbound's strong prelaunch momentum: the cozy co-op survival sim was a February Next Fest standout and had topped 1.5 million wishlists on Steam.
After trying to silence critics, can a developer truly regain player trust with just a patch and an apology?
Is the cozy gaming boom creating rushed titles that betray the genre's promise of relaxation?