When developers update a game, they’re supposed to be making it better in some way. Perhaps, they’re fixing several troublesome bugs or adding new content for fans to enjoy. So, it should be a positive thing. Yet, it doesn’t always work out like that.
Occasionally, an update can actually make a game worse. They can create new glitches, or the fresh content can actually hurt the overall appeal of a game. In most of these cases, it just makes the game a bit worse, but there have been some updates that have completely ruined a title. Here are some examples.
Some of these updates have been undone or fixed, but at one point, they did ruin their respective games.
Despite originally releasing in 2008, Fallout 3 received an update in 2021. The main purpose was to eliminate the need for Games for Windows Live, which had been defunct for some time. Its existence meant it was difficult to launch the game through Steam, so its removal should’ve been a positive thing.
However, the update also stopped the Fallout Script Extender from working. As a result, many of the game’s mods no longer worked. This was a significant issue because Fallout 3 is renowned for its numerous excellent mods, and by 2021, they had become crucial in keeping the game fresh and engaging.
Runescape isa game that many people continue to play repeatedlysince its release in 2001. With a game like that, you want to be cautious with any updates, as it has a dedicated fan base that you don’t want to alienate by changing the game too much. Unfortunately, the developers changed the game a lot in 2012 with the Evolution of Combat update.
As the name suggests, it overhauled the game’s combat system, introducing all sorts of new things. Sadly, though, it was a bit of a mess upon release, as it had many technical bugs and balance issues. It pushed numerous players away from the game, even if some of those issues were eventually fixed.
At one point in time, Uncharted 2 wasa single-player game with an excellent multiplayer mode. Yet, some fans thought the developers ruined the multiplayer component with their 1.05 title update. This is because, as part of the update, they rebalanced some of the weapon damage, making them far more powerful and allowing them to kill people much quicker.
As a result, the multiplayer fundamentally changed. Before the update, you had time to get into cover and climb things without being killed instantly, making it feel like Uncharted. After the update, it felt more like a generic PvP shooter.
Nobody likes microtransactions, but at least if they’re included at a game’s launch, you can just take a stand and not buy the game in the first place. When they’re added later, though, you may have already bought the game. This is the situation plenty of players were in with PayDay 2 when the CrimeFest 2015 update was released.
It added unlockable safes that could only be opened with drills that you had to pay for. Once they opened, you got a random item. So, they were loot boxes, and some items inside actually provided gameplay bonuses. For many fans, this ruined the game’s appeal. Thankfully, once Starbreeze fully acquired the PayDay IP, the game moved away from microtransactions.
Bayonetta is one ofgaming’s best female protagonists, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that her addition to any game would be a positive one. That is not the case, though, as shown by her addition to Super Smash Bros. on the Wii U. The woman was super overpowered, due to having impressive combos, a good recovery move, and excellent defense.
She was easily the best character in the game. Therefore, she almost ruined the title’s competitive scene since everyone would have to select her or else they would struggle against those who did. Some competitions had to ban her.
Star Wars Galaxies was an online MMO that included a deep character customization system. It all started with you selecting one of many chosen professions and building your character up. The system was complex and well-crafted. Much of it was undone, though, with the NGE (New Game Enhancement) update.
This update streamlined the game, removing many of the professions and allowing you to build up your character more quickly. Many felt that this removed much of the game’s appeal. It didn’t help that it enabled new players to quickly earn powers that took older players a lot of time to unlock.
One good thing about video game remasters is that they give you a reminder of what games used to be like. After all, while games have improved in some areas, other aspects have become worse. For instance, newer titles are often filled with pay-to-win or live service elements.
Thankfully, none of that nonsense was included in the remastered version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare when it initially released. Then, an update occurred that added dreaded microtransactions, such as supply drops, CoD Points, and similar features. Therefore, that nostalgic feeling of playing a classic shooter quickly faded away.
While the original Far Cry wasn’t as famous as more recent entries, it did have plenty of things going for it. Yet, much of what the game did right was undermined by the 1.4 patch. With this update, enemies could suddenly see through and sometimes shoot through walls.
Naturally, this poses a significant problem in a first-person shooter, as it makes it much harder to find suitable cover. Additionally, the game features stealth, which is significantly less effective when guards can see you from pretty much anywhere. Of course, this wasn’t an intended feature by the developers. It was a very problematic glitch that was accidentally created.
