Dev Fntastic’s Relaunch Epic Fail: Can the Former Gaming Giant Revive?
Fntastic’s Second Chance: Can the Dev Team Recover from The Day Before’s Disaster?
After shutting down in the wake of their disastrous survival MMO, The Day Before, the developers at Fntastic are attempting to make a comeback with a new plan, dubbed Fntastic 2.0. The team promises to focus on honesty, transparency, and professionalism, a stark contrast to their previous approach.
Fntastic 2.0: A New Direction
According to a PDF outlining the company’s plan, Fntastic 2.0 will prioritize open communication and provide regular updates on their development process. The team also vows to move away from their volunteer-driven approach, which led to issues with The Day Before, and instead, will "gather industry professionals and specialists" to improve their skills and standards.
Escape Factory: A New Game
Alongside the announcement of Fntastic 2.0, the developer launched a Kickstarter campaign for their new game, Escape Factory. This physics-based, multiplayer co-op escape game has players navigating through dangerous factories, reminiscent of games like Fall Guys and Party Animals. A demo is available on Steam, but the Kickstarter campaign is struggling to gain traction, with only $2,348 raised towards its $15,539 goal in its first week.
A Skeptical Reception
The general tone of discussion on Escape Factory‘s Kickstarter page and the Fntastic official Discord server is pessimistic and accusatory, with many believing Fntastic’s latest project is just another scam. Polygon has attempted to contact Fntastic founders Eduard and Aisen Gotovtsev, but has not received a response.
The Day Before’s Legacy
Fntastic shot to fame in 2021 with The Day Before, but the game’s launch was marred by shallow gameplay and technical issues. The game was shut down within weeks of its debut, and Fntastic lost the rights to The Day Before and another game, Propnight.
Can Fntastic Recover?
If Fntastic’s return hinges on Escape Factory‘s Kickstarter campaign being successfully funded, the company seems unlikely to get its second chance. The developer has "many exciting plans for future games," including a new version of Propnight, but their "2.0" plans do not bode well for a revival of Fntastic.
What’s Next?
Only time will tell if Fntastic can recover from the disaster of The Day Before. Will their new approach and game, Escape Factory, be enough to win back the trust of gamers and investors?
