Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm was highly anticipated by fans of the co-op roguelite genre when it was released last Tuesday. However, the reception has not been positive, with the DLC currently holding a 79% ‘mostly negative’ rating on Steam. This has prompted a wave of complaints from disappointed players.
One of the main grievances among players is the abundance of bugs and glitches present in the DLC. Many have reported that these issues have not only affected the new content but have also disrupted the core systems of the base game. Gearbox, the company that acquired Risk Of Rain from Hopoo Games in 2022, has acknowledged these problems and released a list of known issues they are working to address. Among these issues are a boss named Mithrix becoming invincible and a bizarre bug that allowed players to get stuck while ‘smelling the flowers’.
Community Response
The negative reception of Seekers of the Storm has not gone unnoticed by the community. Co-creator Duncan Drummond expressed his disappointment on Xitter, stating that while it’s exciting to see new content for the game, it’s disheartening to witness the struggles of the development team in real-time. Fans too have lamented the loss of functionality in a game they hold dear, while also sympathizing with the developers at GBX who are likely under immense pressure to resolve the issues.
Despite the current predicament, Drummond remains hopeful about Gearbox’s commitment to addressing the problems and listening to player feedback. He believes that the team at Gearbox cares deeply about Risk of Rain and is dedicated to making improvements. Lead programmer, co-designer, and concept artist Jeffrey Hunt also chimed in, expressing sympathy for the development team’s challenges. While acknowledging their efforts, Hunt highlighted the detrimental impact of rushed changes on the quality of the game.
Randolph P. Itchford, another member of the development team, took to Xitter to assure fans that they are actively working to rectify the situation. He mentioned being in the ‘digital war room’ all day to address issues with RoR and provide solutions, communication, and compensation to players. Itchford’s statement suggests that the team is committed to improving the player experience, despite the setbacks faced with the DLC release.
Overall, the turbulent release of Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm has been a disappointing experience for both players and developers. While technical issues and bugs have marred the initial reception of the DLC, there is a glimmer of hope for improvement. With the dedication and effort of the development team at Gearbox, it is possible that the game will overcome its current challenges and provide an enjoyable experience for players in the future.