Six years have passed since the demise of LawBreakers, the first-person hero shooter that failed to make a lasting impact in the gaming industry. The game’s director, Cliff ‘Cliffy B’ Bleszinski, recently opened up about the factors that led to the commercial failure of Boss Key Productions’ debut title. One major reason cited by Bleszinski was the unfortunate timing of LawBreakers’ launch, which came just a year after the massive success of Blizzard’s Overwatch.
In an interview with Edge, Bleszinski reflected on the multiple factors that contributed to the downfall of LawBreakers. He acknowledged that the market was crowded and the marketing campaign was lacking, but he emphasized that the release of Overwatch in 2016 was the biggest blow to his team’s efforts. When the devs at Boss Key Productions saw the trailer for Blizzard’s game, they reportedly knew they were in trouble.
Bleszinski admitted that the decision to incorporate heroes and abilities into LawBreakers was influenced by the team’s love for MOBAs but ultimately led to comparisons with Overwatch. Despite efforts to differentiate their game from Blizzard’s, accusations of copying were hard to shake off. The director expressed regret over not anticipating the challenges LawBreakers would face in maintaining an active player base, hinting at the need for a different development approach.
Lessons Learned
Looking back, Bleszinski acknowledged that he would have approached the project differently, opting for a smaller team and a simpler game to ensure a quicker turnaround. The failure of LawBreakers served as a learning experience for the legendary game designer, prompting him to reevaluate his strategies for future projects. While there have been hints of a possible revival for LawBreakers in the future, the fate of Boss Key Productions remains uncertain.
As fans eagerly await news of Bleszinski’s return to game development, the industry watches with bated breath to see if the mastermind behind Gears of War will bounce back from past failures. Whether or not he will make a comeback and redefine his legacy in the gaming world is a question that remains unanswered. Only time will tell if Bleszinski’s next venture will be a success story or another cautionary tale in the ever-evolving landscape of game development.
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