These developers don’t grasp live service game management

[Kenny]

Red Barrels excels at crafting singleplayer experiences, they’re masters of storytelling, environment design, music, and building tension. However, it’s evident that they haven’t quite grasped what it takes to manage a live service game, even after several years since this game entered early access.

As another user mentioned, there are still game breaking bugs that have persisted since before the last update. For instance, here’s what happened to me recently: https://streamable.com/aim6h6. I’ve also experienced falling through the map, rendering me unable to interact with anything, which led to my death on multiple occasions.

Then there’s the issue of content. We only recently received a new prime asset, but we haven’t seen any new enemy types. We’re still stuck with just six maps, and the latest one doesn’t even have MK challenges as of now. While the content they do produce is of high quality, and the maps are fantastic, it takes them months to deliver even a small amount of new content.

The release of Escalation raises questions about its intended design. On one hand, it seems like they aim for an endless mode where death is the only end. But in reality, players can progress significantly, only stopping because they’re exhausted or because other players quit. There’s also no option to resume a run, making it impossible to play endlessly, which contradicts the mode's concept. Additionally, variators become repetitive after trial 35, and pills can literally break the game.

There’s no doubt that Red Barrels has talented developers with a strong artistic vision, and the content they create is worth experiencing. However, the harsh truth is that players need a game that can be replayed frequently, with enough content and support to keep it engaging. The developers have stepped into the live service model but aren’t acting in a way that makes it sustainable.

The lack of communication following updates is another significant issue, especially when some bugs or flaws could be easily fixed within a day. Instead, we’re left waiting for months, hoping for something to change—if it ever does.

[>< V ><]

This isn't a live service game.

Stop with this idea that you pay for a game and then expect it to constantly evolve. You paid for a product and you got that product. You are entitled to nothing else beyond that.

When you bought Outlast 1 or 2, you got nothing else beyond what you paid for. Did you complain there?

When you bought Outlast 1 or 2 did you make the argument that "the harsh truth is that players need a game that can be replayed frequently?"

Look Outlast, fun game, but let's not pretend that the game had any replayability. Once you know where spawns are you can just literally run right through the game. I can complete Outlast 1 in less than an hour by just running through it.

You have more time in The Outlast Trials than Outlast 1 and 2 combined. Easily. Does your brain process that when you think about content?

I think The Outlast Trials was a very smart evolution of the game. The Outlast franchise now has vastly more replayability to it then it ever has. Your having more hours in The Outlast Trials than the others combined is evidence of that.

Use your brain.

[Neonyi]

Originally posted by >< V ><:

Use your brain.

I'd tell you to use your brain too. The game cant be played offline can it? No. Because you need to constantly be connected to the server
So it's live service. ggs

[Ice]

Originally posted by Neo:

Originally posted by >< V ><:

Use your brain.

I'd tell you to use your brain too. The game cant be played offline can it? No. Because you need to constantly be connected to the server
So it's live service. ggs

Exactly!

[Ice]

I agree with everything you wrote

[Mickterminator30]

Originally posted by >< V ><:

This isn't a live service game.

Stop with this idea that you pay for a game and then expect it to constantly evolve. You paid for a product and you got that product. You are entitled to nothing else beyond that.

When you bought Outlast 1 or 2, you got nothing else beyond what you paid for. Did you complain there?

When you bought Outlast 1 or 2 did you make the argument that "the harsh truth is that players need a game that can be replayed frequently?"

Look Outlast, fun game, but let's not pretend that the game had any replayability. Once you know where spawns are you can just literally run right through the game. I can complete Outlast 1 in less than an hour by just running through it.

You have more time in The Outlast Trials than Outlast 1 and 2 combined. Easily. Does your brain process that when you think about content?

I think The Outlast Trials was a very smart evolution of the game. The Outlast franchise now has vastly more replayability to it then it ever has. Your having more hours in The Outlast Trials than the others combined is evidence of that.

Use your brain.

L take...why not look in the mirror with this one and see how dumb this sounds.

[Dundo]

Originally posted by >< V ><:

This isn't a live service game.

Categorically, The Outlast Trials is an always online game as a service. It is a quintessential GAAS game.

[Punani]

I do not agree.

The game got released in March and received updates in April, May and July. Which is really decent for a live service game.

I only recently purchased it but in my 25 hours I have not encountered a single issue with the game. Maybe very small ones that I simply forgot due it's insignificance.

With that being said, not a single game can be free of any issues or glitches.

Last thing, just because an issue can seem very simple it does not mean it is also simple to fix in just a day.

[Kag]

Played since Early access release day one and never experienced a glitch, I remember touting it as a good example of a great early access game. Would be nice to get Prime assets a little more quickly as this is really the first new one in the games life span so far, wasn't the biggest fan to the progression change recently but I can adjust!

[Kenny]

Originally posted by TheKagarin:

Played since Early access release day one and never experienced a glitch, I remember touting it as a good example of a great early access game. Would be nice to get Prime assets a little more quickly as this is really the first new one in the games life span so far, wasn't the biggest fan to the progression change recently but I can adjust!

Just because you never experience a glitch, doesn't mean there aren't any.

[Kenny]

Originally posted by Punani:

I do not agree.

The game got released in March and received updates in April, May and July. Which is really decent for a live service game.

I only recently purchased it but in my 25 hours I have not encountered a single issue with the game. Maybe very small ones that I simply forgot due it's insignificance.

With that being said, not a single game can be free of any issues or glitches.

Last thing, just because an issue can seem very simple it does not mean it is also simple to fix in just a day.

I don't care how often they release an update, if these updates don't bring much to the table. The game is scarce of content and the glitches we talk about have been there for a long time. It's not about being perfect, it's about working things in a good timeframe that justifies the live service title of this game.

[Kenny]

Originally posted by >< V ><:

This isn't a live service game.

Stop with this idea that you pay for a game and then expect it to constantly evolve. You paid for a product and you got that product. You are entitled to nothing else beyond that.

When you bought Outlast 1 or 2, you got nothing else beyond what you paid for. Did you complain there?

When you bought Outlast 1 or 2 did you make the argument that "the harsh truth is that players need a game that can be replayed frequently?"

Look Outlast, fun game, but let's not pretend that the game had any replayability. Once you know where spawns are you can just literally run right through the game. I can complete Outlast 1 in less than an hour by just running through it.

You have more time in The Outlast Trials than Outlast 1 and 2 combined. Easily. Does your brain process that when you think about content?

I think The Outlast Trials was a very smart evolution of the game. The Outlast franchise now has vastly more replayability to it then it ever has. Your having more hours in The Outlast Trials than the others combined is evidence of that.

Use your brain.

The others have already pointed out how ridiculous your response was, so I won't dwell on it. I just want to highlight that Outlast 1 and 2 are single-player games with a defined beginning and end. Outlast Trials, on the other hand, abandons the narrative-driven format of those games, instead focusing on replayability with levels that are designed to be randomized and replayed multiple times. Yes, this game certainly offers more replay value than the first two, but the error lies in comparing it to them. Outlast 1 and 2 are narrative-driven experiences, period. Outlast Trials is a live service game, always online, and revolves around repeatedly playing the same levels.

The main problem with this game is its heavy reliance on maps for content; there's only so much you can do with the same map.

[Wabbit]

Originally posted by Kenny:

As another user mentioned, there are still game breaking bugs that have persisted since before the last update. For instance, here’s what happened to me recently: https://streamable.com/aim6h6. I’ve also experienced falling through the map, rendering me unable to interact with anything, which led to my death on multiple occasions.

I've never had this bug before but have you tried reporting this issue to Red Barrels in their discord? I highly doubt they would check the forums but their support tickets are incredibly active. Some gamebreaking bugs I've reported there were silently fixed in future patches but not all of them yet.

If this is a persisting bug, then yeah it's weird how they haven't fixed it unless nobody has actually reported it to them.

[Kenny]

Originally posted by Timber Kay:

Originally posted by Kenny:

As another user mentioned, there are still game breaking bugs that have persisted since before the last update. For instance, here’s what happened to me recently: https://streamable.com/aim6h6. I’ve also experienced falling through the map, rendering me unable to interact with anything, which led to my death on multiple occasions.

I've never had this bug before but have you tried reporting this issue to Red Barrels in their discord? I highly doubt they would check the forums but their support tickets are incredibly active. Some gamebreaking bugs I've reported there were silently fixed in future patches but not all of them yet.

If this is a persisting bug, then yeah it's weird how they haven't fixed it unless nobody has actually reported it to them.

It's known that the shuttle can be buggy, and not just in this case. It also happened once that the players outside could not join, the timer finished. I went out the shuttle and fell under the map.

I doubt they are not aware, the problem is that it takes too long for anything to be done.

[Wabbit]

Originally posted by Kenny:

Originally posted by Timber Kay:

I've never had this bug before but have you tried reporting this issue to Red Barrels in their discord? I highly doubt they would check the forums but their support tickets are incredibly active. Some gamebreaking bugs I've reported there were silently fixed in future patches but not all of them yet.

If this is a persisting bug, then yeah it's weird how they haven't fixed it unless nobody has actually reported it to them.

It's known that the shuttle can be buggy, and not just in this case. It also happened once that the players outside could not join, the timer finished. I went out the shuttle and fell under the map.

I doubt they are not aware, the problem is that it takes too long for anything to be done.

Yeah, I got a feeling they're struggling to get that specific bug fixed after that one hotfix that claims they fixed the issue of falling under the map but people are still posting about this bug.

Hopefully, they're planning to release hotfix this week based on constant weekday updates in their test builds from SteamDB.

[Player9682]

i would suggest you to stop playing the game as much (don't get salty on me, i have taken days off from this game which help), i myself have been playing since play test...since then i have done every trials either solo or with others so many times i can easily speed run the entire game and rebirth every other hour. it gets boring so i understand your point about wanting more maps or things to do. However you do have to keep in mind that RB is a small dev team i'm not sure how large they are but i'm pretty sure they don't have a massive studio if they did...then we would probably see content every month or so. While they do deliver with good quality content i do agree it's not enough to keep folks satisfied but like i have stated if that is a massive issue i would simply suggest taking a break from this game until we get more updates and such. If you don't want to take breaks try and take your time in the trials and just mess around by playing differently or trying new things with friends or randoms. as for the bugs i've reported a good amount and they always inform me that they have received numerous reports from others saying they have experienced the same thing...i trust they are actively trying to patch them though i am not tech savy i know these things take time.