Fall and Redemption: How Some Broken Games Fought Their Way Back

Written By Ryan Hayden

In today’s gaming landscape, cautious optimism isn’t just smart, it’s a survival strategy. Since 2020, we’ve seen a wave of high-profile releases launch in broken, incomplete, or deeply flawed states. But not every failure stays that way. Some studios have fought to rebuild trust, overhaul systems, and deliver the experience players were promised. This is the story of games that fell hard, and the few that rose again.

Cyberpunk 2077: From Disaster to Phantom Liberty

When Cyberpunk 2077 launched in December 2020, it was a mess. Game-breaking bugs, missing features, and poor performance on last-gen consoles led to mass refunds and a temporary delisting from the PlayStation Store. CD Projekt Red’s reputation suffered a significant blow.

But they didn’t walk away. Over the next three years, the studio issued dozens of patches, reworked core systems, and released Phantom Liberty in 2023, a massive expansion that overhauled combat, AI, and progression. Critics praised it as the redemption arc the game needed. Today, Cyberpunk 2077 is cited as a case study in post-launch recovery done right.

No Man’s Sky: The Blueprint for Redemption

Though it launched in 2016, No Man’s Sky didn’t stop evolving through the 2020s. Hello Games transformed a barebones space sim into a sprawling universe filled with base-building, multiplayer, story content, and seasonal events. Updates like Origins, Expeditions, and Echoes turned skepticism into admiration.

The key? Consistent updates, zero monetization, and a clear commitment to player feedback. It’s now considered one of the most successful comebacks in gaming history.

Marvel’s Avengers: A Fall Without Recovery

But not every game gets a second chance. Marvel’s Avengers launched in 2020 with iconic characters but a lifeless live-service model. Bugs, grind-heavy progression, and repetitive missions drove players away. Despite multiple updates and the introduction of new heroes, the core systems have never undergone a meaningful evolution.

In 2023, Square Enix announced the game’s end-of-life support. It’s a reminder that redemption requires more than content drops; it needs systemic change.

Battlefield 2042: Abandoned, but the Franchise Fights On

Not every franchise finds redemption in the same installment. Battlefield 2042 launched in 2021 with bold ambitions and a long list of missing features. The removal of the class system, the introduction of Specialists, and the lack of basic tools like scoreboards and voice chat alienated long-term fans. Bugs, balance issues, and uninspired map design only exacerbated the problems.

By late 2023, EA had clearly shifted focus away from 2042. Major updates slowed, community engagement dropped, and the game was quietly left behind. At the time, it seemed as though the franchise might be over.

But just two years later, in October 2025, Battlefield 6 launched, and it’s already being hailed as a return to form. The class system is back, destruction is front and center, and the pacing feels tighter. It’s not just a new installment; it’s a course correction. While 2042 was abandoned, Battlefield 6 shows that EA hasn’t given up on the series entirely. And for now, it’s pointed in the right direction.

What Redemption Actually Takes

Redemption isn’t just about fixing bugs. It requires:

  • Systemic overhauls, not surface-level patches

  • Transparent communication with players

  • Consistent updates that respect player time

  • A clear vision for what the game wants to be

Studios like CD Projekt Red and Hello Games earned their second chance by doing the hard work. Others faltered by treating updates as marketing tools rather than meaningful change.

Final Thought

Since 2020, gamers have learned to wait. To verify. To hold final opinions until the systems speak for themselves. Some games stumble and fade. Others rise, reshaped by failure and fueled by player trust. The difference lies in commitment and whether the studio views players as customers or collaborators.

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Ryan Hayden
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