The launch of ‘Dustborn’ has been anything but smooth. The game’s developers recently opened up about the unexpected challenges, which have left both fans and the team at a loss. Here’s an in-depth look at what went wrong and why.
It’s been a tough time for Red Thread Games, the studio behind Dustborn. What was meant to be an exciting new entry in the gaming world ended up catching the team off guard with a reception that was, to put it lightly, brutal.
Dustborn was anticipated as a narrative-driven action-adventure game that tackled big themes like prejudice, belonging, and freedom of expression. But it seems that lofty ambitions don’t always translate to stellar gameplay—or fan approval.
To be honest, the whole concept behind Dustborn seems poorly conceived. I mean, government money funded this? Really? The game received funding from the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI) and Viken Filmsenter, both of which are state-supported entities aimed at fostering creativity in Norway.
It’s shocking, given the game’s flaws, that taxpayer money ended up supporting something that many players see as an “activist simulator” rather than a well-rounded gaming experience. (Norwegian Film Institute)
A Launch That Left Everyone Stunned
Ragnar Tørnquist, CEO of Dustborn developer Red Thread Games and the game’s director, offered his thoughts on players’ rejection of his studio’s latest game during a recent interview given to Mikkjell Lønning, the Editor-in-Chief of the Norway-based video game news outlet Gamer.no, on the subject of the Dustborn backlash.
“He stated, ‘It caught us completely off guard. We were very surprised by the extreme reaction to the launch, and we had no plan for how to handle it.’ The development team had been genuinely passionate about Dustborn, with a vision that included deep storytelling and an emotionally engaging experience. But, despite their dedication, it seems players weren’t as enamored with the final product.
The primary complaints from players have been the game’s technical problems, lackluster gameplay mechanics, and a narrative that, ironically, many found less engaging than expected.
According to Bounding Into Comics, Tørnquist seemed unwilling to acknowledge the game’s failure.
They stated, ‘We don’t feel we’ve made a game that’s primarily about politics,’ even as players criticized the overtly preachy and activist tone of the game (Bounding Into Comics.)
The stubborn attitude only fueled more backlash, as it appeared that the development team was unwilling to engage honestly with the criticisms levied against them.
Cringeworthy Mechanics and Player Reaction
To make matters worse, some of the mechanics in Dustborn are, quite frankly, laughable. According to Niche Gamer, the game’s developers responded to negative criticism specifically surrounding these mechanics, particularly the ‘Cancel’ and ‘Triggered’ features, which were received poorly by the gaming community (Niche Gamer.)
The game features characters who can “Cancel” other characters and trigger reactions akin to being “Triggered.” Players and critics alike found these features cringeworthy and pandering, with many comments highlighting that it felt like the developers were trying too hard to be relevant.
The idea of gamifying cancel culture didn’t land well, leading to a backlash that made it hard for players to take the narrative seriously. TigerDroppings, a popular gaming forum, even went so far as to call it ‘the worst game in existence,’ highlighting the community’s disdain for the forced social commentary and unengaging mechanics. (TigerDroppings)
Sales Figures Tell a Similar Story
Sales figures tell a similar story. According to reports, Dustborn grossed only around $92,969, which after fees, refunds, and Steam’s cut, left the developers with about $27,425. The game peaked at just 83 concurrent players on Steam, which is remarkably low for a game that was meant to make a big impact. (PC Gamer, Eurogamer)
The Curse of High Expectations
Part of what made Dustborn’s failure so surprising was the hype surrounding it. The trailers were promising, and many players expected a journey that would echo the emotional depth of games like Life Is Strange or Oxenfree.
Instead, early players reported performance issues, confusing combat mechanics, and story beats that didn’t land as powerfully as intended.
The gaming community on platforms like Reddit was quick to voice its disappointment. Many of the negative reviews emphasized how the game’s big themes ended up feeling forced, and how the lack of gameplay fluidity took away from the overall experience.
It’s the classic case of a game not living up to its trailers—and unfortunately, when expectations are high, the fall can be even harder.
Developer Reflection and Future Plans
Tørnquist and the rest of the development team have expressed a desire to learn from this experience, but their comments haven’t inspired much confidence among players.
During the interview, Tørnquist also spoke about an alleged wave of harassment and death threats he and his team had received from critics, admitting to Lønning, ‘You can easily ignore what’s said on forums or on X. Emails feel a little closer to home, but receiving text messages where someone wishes you dead, is unsettling.’
Statements like, ‘We don’t feel we’ve made a game that’s primarily about politics,’ from Ragnar Tørnquist, show a disconnect with what players see in the game.
The lack of acknowledgment regarding the game’s shortcomings suggests an unwillingness to fully learn from their mistakes. They’re taking player feedback to heart, aiming to improve Dustborn with post-launch updates that could salvage some of the game’s potential.
Whether or not the game can be redeemed remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Red Thread is not giving up just yet.
Explain It to Me Like I’m Five
- Red Thread Games: A video game studio that created Dustborn.
- Dustborn: A game about friendship, struggles, and fitting in, which was supposed to have an engaging story but ended up with lots of bugs and issues.
- Norwegian Film Institute (NFI): The government entity that helped fund Dustborn.
- Cancel and Triggered Mechanics: Features that let characters “Cancel” others or get “Triggered,” which players found cringeworthy and forced.
- Sales Figures: Dustborn only made $92,969 in gross sales and had very few players, which was far below expectations.
The developers worked really hard and showed some cool previews that got everyone excited. But when the game finally came out, it had lots of bugs and didn’t feel as fun as people expected. Now, the people who made it are trying to fix it, but a lot of players already feel let down.
Final Thoughts
Yikes. Honestly, Dustborn is beyond parody at this point. The fact that government money went into what feels like an “activist simulator” blows my mind. And those “Cancel” and “Triggered” mechanics? Come on. Gamifying cancel culture and expecting it to resonate with players just shows a complete misunderstanding of what gamers actually want.
Have you played Dustborn yet? What are your thoughts on its rocky start, and do you think Red Thread Games can turn things around? Drop your thoughts in the comments below or join us on social media to share your experiences.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the current state of the game and the developer’s public comments as of the time of writing.
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