negative reviews Archives

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

Mega Crit responds to the panic over Slay the Spire 2’s 1st balance pass, saying these changes are ‘the first of many’: ‘No change is necessarily permanent’

Slay the Spire 2 has experienced financial success and positive player feedback, but recent balance changes led to negative reviews on Steam. The controversy centered around the card Prepared, which was changed to Prepare in a beta patch, altering its cost and functionality. Mega Crit acknowledged community concerns and emphasized the importance of player feedback in their patching process. They stated that the beta branch is for testing experimental changes and that adjustments are based on player input, metrics, and design philosophies. The studio remains optimistic about future changes, indicating that nothing is permanent at this stage of development.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Capcom ditches Resident Evil 4 Remake’s new, performance-choking DRM

Capcom's recent decision to replace Denuvo DRM with Enigma Protector for the Resident Evil 4 Remake lasted only 28 days due to performance issues reported by players. Digital Foundry confirmed that CPU performance suffered compared to the Denuvo version, leading to a rise in negative reviews despite the game maintaining a high Steam user score. On March 3, Capcom removed Enigma Protector from Resident Evil 4, leaving the game without any third-party DRM currently listed on its Steam page. There is no indication that Denuvo has been reinstated. GOG offers DRM-free alternatives but does not host Resident Evil 4 or the newly released Requiem.

AppWizard

February 17, 2026

‘This shouldn’t be normal’: developers speak out about bigotry on Steam, the world’s biggest PC gaming storefront

Steam has faced criticism for its inadequate moderation policies, allowing abuse and bigotry to proliferate, particularly affecting marginalized creators, including those from the transgender community. Developers have reported issues with bigoted reviews and campaigns against games deemed politically incorrect by Steam curators. Nathalie Lawhead, a designer, experienced harassment and found it difficult to have harmful reviews removed, with Steam moderators initially clearing abusive comments that violated community guidelines. Despite some reviews being removed after public outcry, the moderation process highlighted systemic issues, with developers feeling unsupported and overwhelmed by the volume of support tickets. Some games have been targeted by organized campaigns based on developers' perceived political stances, contributing to a hostile environment for marginalized creators. The lax moderation has economic implications for developers, as negative reviews can significantly impact a game's success on a platform that dominates the gaming market. Many developers feel compelled to endure this hostile environment to maintain visibility and sales on Steam, leading some to enhance their security measures or challenge hateful comments publicly.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

2023 PC Game Now 100% Free on Steam for 48 Hours

RewindApp's Initial Drift Online is available for free on Steam for approximately 48 hours until January 18. Players can claim the game during this period, and it will be theirs to keep after downloading. The game features street racing in Japan and has received 792 user reviews with an overall approval rating of 79%, though it currently sits at 58% during the promotional period. Some users have reported server issues due to an influx of new players, while others have had a smooth experience.

AppWizard

December 17, 2025

Painkiller’s creator “disagreed with every single thing” the reboot does, says it “wasted” the IP

Adrian Chmielarz, co-founder of The Astronauts, has contributed to the development of notable video games, including the Gears of War series, Bulletstorm, and Painkiller. He expressed concerns about the upcoming 2025 reboot of Painkiller by Anshar Studio, stating it lacks the essence of the original game. Chmielarz criticized the design choices of the reboot, noting that it feels disconnected from the foundational elements of Painkiller. He emphasized the importance of atmosphere in gaming, arguing that previous iterations had failed to capture the original's spirit by focusing too much on mechanics rather than immersion. He believes that rebranding the game could have resulted in a more positive reception, as many fans are disappointed with the current direction. The 2025 version has received a 'Mixed' rating of 55% on Steam, with negative reviews highlighting its disconnect from the original. Chmielarz is currently working on Witchfire, an early-access first-person RPG.

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

Despite a disaster launch, Blair Witch inspired horror game sells over 100,000 copies as dev commits “to face everything head on”

Multiplayer horror games have gained popularity due to platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Recent successful titles include R.E.P.O, Phasmophobia, and Lethal Company, inspiring indie developers to create multiplayer experiences. Digital Cybercherries is developing a game called Don't Scream Together, which combines cooperative gameplay with a found footage horror aesthetic. The game faced challenges at launch, receiving negative reviews primarily due to microphone calibration issues and player confusion about mechanics. Despite this, it sold 100,000 copies within days, with 60,000 on the first day. The developers engaged with the community and addressed feedback, leading to updated reviews from some players. They released a patch to fix audio problems linked to Windows 11 Audio Enhancements and committed to improving microphone calibration. Don't Scream Together is currently available at a 38% discount on Steam until December 10.

AppWizard

December 5, 2025

Minecraft rival Hytale skips Steam at launch to dodge negative reviews, and its developer says it “might never need” Valve’s store

Hytale will not be available on Steam at its early access launch in January 2026. The game, originally canceled by Riot Games, has been revived by its creator Simon Collins-Laflamme and his team at Hypixel Studios, which prefers using its own launcher. Executive director Patrick 'Lyall' Derbic stated that they do not see Steam as a necessity and want to focus on community feedback. The game will be released in a rough state to encourage collaborative development. The initial release will be limited to PC, with plans for Mac and Linux support to be determined later, and console versions expected afterward. Premium editions will offer exclusive content during early access, but this will not carry over to the full release. There will be no pay-to-win options, and modders can create visual mods without overriding official cosmetics. Some features, like pets and tamable animals, will not be available at launch, nor will proximity chat, although it is nearing completion.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

Diablo 4 challenger confirms paid DLC classes are coming, and its Steam reviews have taken a massive hit

Eleventh Hour Games (EHG) is set to release Last Epoch's first major expansion, Orobyss, for free to existing players in late August or early September 2026. New players will need to purchase an updated base game bundle. The expansion will follow Seasons 4 and 5, with Season 4 introducing a new seasonal mechanic and several updates. EHG has announced the introduction of paid downloadable content (DLC) in the form of 'Paradox Classes,' which has led to backlash from the community due to concerns about balance and monetization. CEO Judd Cobler explained that the decision to monetize classes was driven by the lack of profitability from the first three seasons and the need for alternative revenue streams. The game's Steam review ratings have shifted from 'Mostly Positive' to 'Mixed' due to community dissatisfaction. EHG has also been acquired by Krafton, raising concerns about potential changes in monetization strategies.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

My new RPG obsession has a toxic player problem, but its dev refuses to “whack on a leavers penalty” and call it a day

Fellowship, a multiplayer online dungeon adventure from Chief Rebel, has a daily peak user base of approximately 9,000 to 11,000 on Steam. Players have expressed frustrations regarding player behavior, particularly the lack of penalties for those who leave groups or queues, which affects match wait times. Community director Hamish Bode discussed plans to address these issues, including the development of an Eternal matchmaking system and improved communication tools. The team is also considering rewarding players who complete dungeons together to encourage positive interactions. Bode emphasized the need for a balanced approach to managing player behavior, acknowledging the complexities of implementing punishment systems alongside communication improvements.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

Escape From Tarkov shoots to the top of Downdetector, debuts on Steam to ‘Mixed’ reviews as players struggle to log in: ‘Best extraction shooter that you CAN’T play’

Escape From Tarkov has achieved significant success without major digital storefronts like Steam and has established the extraction shooter genre. Its Steam debut coincides with the game's 1.0 release, leading to hundreds of connection issue reports per hour on Downdetector. This has resulted in a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with players expressing frustration over technical difficulties. The developers have acknowledged these issues and are working to stabilize the servers. Players have reported being unable to create accounts due to website maintenance and have encountered various error codes. Despite these challenges, Escape From Tarkov is currently the second best-selling game on Steam, with around 19,000 concurrent players.