The Mysterious Demise of The Day Before: A Look into the Rise and Fall of an Ambitious Survival Game

The Day Before, a promising open-world multiplayer survival game, garnered significant attention and excitement from fans and gamers alike. However, after a short-lived stint in early access on Steam, the game and its developer, Fntastic, vanished without a word, leaving many questions and concerns in their wake.

Was The Day Before a Scam or Not?

It's impossible to definitively say whether The Day Before was a scam or not. Although the game's early access launch was met with largely negative reviews, with nearly 20,000 players expressing their dissatisfaction, the developer has issued a statement explaining the game's failure and commitment to refunding players.

While Fntastic has not responded to requests for an interview, their statements and actions suggest a genuine effort to make amends with players and rectify the situation.

When Will The Day Before's Servers Shut Down?

The Day Before's servers will officially shut down on January 22, 2024, as announced on the game's official Twitter account.

How to Get a Refund for The Day Before

To receive a refund, players must request one under Steam's policy, which states that refunds can be issued if the game has been played for less than two hours and the request is made within 14 days of purchase.

However, Fntastic and Mytona have stated that they will work with Steam to process refunds for all players, regardless of playtime, providing a glimmer of hope for those seeking reimbursement.

What Happened to The Day Before?

The Day Before was first announced in 2021 with a trailer on IGN's YouTube channel. Although the game's development was shrouded in mystery, it appeared to promise a unique blend of survival and extraction elements in a post-apocalyptic world.

However, following the game's early access launch on December 7, 2023, fans and critics alike discovered numerous bugs, glitches, and technical issues, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and negative reviews.

The game's poor reception, coupled with allegations of poor communication and management by the development team, led to Fntastic's announcement on December 11, 2023, that the game had failed financially and that they would be ceasing development.

The Fallout from The Day Before's Failure

Following the announcement, several former employees and developers came forward, sharing their experiences and insights into the game's troubled development and Fntastic's questionable business practices.

One such interview, conducted by PCGamesN, reveals that the game's ambitious goals and poor planning led to numerous delays, crunch time, and a stressful development environment.

Another developer interview, published by Dualshockers, reveals that the game was never intended to be a traditional MMO, but rather a third-person shooter with co-op mechanics.

As the dust settles on The Day Before's failure, the gaming community is left to pick up the pieces and wonder what could have been, had Fntastic been more transparent and communicative with their fans and the development team.

The story of The Day Before serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of hype, the importance of transparency, and the challenges of developing ambitious, complex games.