The Controversy and Refunds Surrounding "The Day Before"

**Background of the Controversy**

"The Day Before," once among Steam's most wishlisted games, experienced a swift downfall that left many players frustrated and seeking refunds. This highly anticipated zombie game was quickly pulled from sale, leading to chaos and confusion within its community.

**Refund Policy and Developer's Response**

Developers Fntastic, in collaboration with publisher Mytona and Valve, announced that refunds would be available to all Steam players requesting them, regardless of their game time. The offer for refunds came amidst the closure of Fntastic and the removal of the game from Steam sales. Fntastic confirmed they received no profit from the game's sales and emphasized that this situation was part of their learning curve as developers.

**Root Causes of Player Dissatisfaction**

1. **Unfulfilled Promises:** The game was mired in controversy from the start, failing to meet the massive expectations set by its promotional materials. Players found the actual gameplay experience to be lacking, with the promised MMO aspects playing more like a bare-bones extraction shooter.

2. **Misleading Marketing:** Accusations arose regarding the game's marketing, including a trailer that allegedly borrowed footage from another popular game, "Call of Duty Zombies."

3. **Communication Issues:** The game's launch was further troubled by what appeared to be inadequate communication from the developers, leaving Discord moderators to manage the growing unrest among players.

4. **High Refund Rate:** An alleged leaked message suggested that nearly half of the buyers sought refunds, indicating widespread dissatisfaction among the player base.

**Conclusion**

The situation surrounding "The Day Before" serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of clear communication, managing player expectations, and the challenges faced by game developers in delivering on their promises. The controversy and subsequent refunds highlight the complexities of game development and the high standards of the gaming community [[❞]](https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-day-before/refunds#:~:text=The%20Day%20Before%20refunds%20are,working%20with%20Valve%20on%20them) [[❞]](https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-day-before/refunds) [[❞]](https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-day-before/refunds#:~:text=This%20is%20followed%20by%20the,t%20happens.%E2%80%9D) [[❞]](https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-day-before/refunds).