The gaming industry isn't all roses and unicorns. There are some bad things that happen, and usually at the expensive of the consumer.
In 2016 there were plenty of gaming tragedies, many of which sparked discussion for the months to come. We've decided to look at these games and decide on the five that sparked the most controversy. You can read about our picks in the gallery below.
The Most Controversial Games of 2016
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The Most Controversial Games of 2016
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4. DOOM (Bethesda Review Policy)
If you were to only pay attention to DOOM's beta feedback and Bethesda's handling of launch, you'd be under the impression that it's an awful game. Yet here we are at the end of the year and it's received several game of the year awards.
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rnMore than anything, this is owed to Bethesda's new review policy which prevents its games from being reviewed prior to launch. It's a move that makes sense at the surface level; it can ensure that reviewers play a finished product and don't tamper with pre-orders. But it's incredibly anti-consumer given the attractive pre-order bonuses.
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rnThe good news is that DOOM turned out to be a great game. The bad news is that Bethesda's review policy is now affecting every game it publishes. -
5. Mafia 3
In what has been one of the most politically divisive years in world history, Mafia 3 debuted to ensure that gaming got a piece of the action. Starring a black male living in a racially torn 1968 New Orleans, the story was unlike anything that has been told in recent years. It featured abrasive yet powerful moments seen through a new perspective, one that was hard to stomach for some.
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rnMafia 3 was controversial for other reasons, too. For one, Deluxe Edition PC versions without a Steam activation key, and the PC version in general was a complete mess until patches addressed the problem. It might have been one of the top 5 most anticipated games of 2016, but it quickly became a PR nightmare. -
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Call of Duty is currently downtrending as gamers learn to invest in other games during the holiday season. Activision isn't happy about that, so this year it tried something clever. Instead of introducing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered as a standalone product, it bundled it exclusively with the Deluxe edition of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. Thus, not only did thousands of people not interesting in a new Call of Duty feel like they had to buy it, but it cost $20 more.
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rnThe move has worked, but only to a point. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is said to be struggling in terms of sales (at least compared to prior games in the series), and now many fans are furious about being taken advantage of. It'll be interesting to see what Activision does next year to bring in sales. -
2. Pokemon GO
Pokemon GO was the biggest game of 2016, and arguably the most interesting. Encouraging people to head outside, it was unlike anything the world has seen before. As with anything similarly ambitious, it caused quite a stir in multiple ways.
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rnWithin a day of release there were several reports of people being hit by cars while distracted by Pokemon GO. Although that might not have been the game's fault 'per se', the way the game sent people to physical locations was. Unsuspecting business owners and even parks became destinations for thousands of Pokemon addicts looking to "catch 'em all". In many cases this was a good thing as it brought in foot traffic to stores, but it also presented security issues and many awkward moments.
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rnPokemon GO also earned controversy due to its unfinished state. Serious issues with tracking were met with unsatisfying resolutions that, in the eyes of many, made matters worse. Game systems being unexplained, and impactful alteration of game code caused weekly drama that propelled the game out of the spotlight after only a couple weeks. -
1. No Man\'s Sky
No Man's Sky is the epitome of controversy in every sense of the term. It all started with pre-release promises that drummed up the game as some remarkable. Something... industry-changing. When it arrived not only were many of its systems underdeveloped, but it was missing content that was shown during pre-release.
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rnFor everything No Man's Sky did right, there were at least two things wrong with it. For example, it was enjoyable to come upon a new planet unknowing of what type of atmosphere and topology it would have. However, most planets were boring and lifeless. This made long-term enjoyability a serious issue, as travel was costly and time consuming.
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rnAnd then there's the issue of pricing. Made by a small studio that traditionally sells its games for $20, No Man's Sky was a full $60. It's no wonder it's now the most commonly refunded Steam game in history.
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rnNo Man's Sky was cool to make fun of. It drew in tons of traffic across every website and social media post that mentioned it. Instead of facing the fire, developer Hello Games instead chose to remain silent for months while working on post-release patches. It didn't want its name to be laid to waste, but that's exactly what happened.
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rnUltimately, No Man's Sky serves as an example of what not to do as a developer. For that, it takes our #1 spot.
