Marvel’s Midnight Suns has been out for a few months at this point but many out there are still not entirely sure what to make of it.
This game stood out from other common superhero projects we’re all used to because it combined grid based strategy gameplay with some intriguing social simulation elements from games like Fire Emblem: Three Houses as well as deck building the likes of which you can find in Slay the Spire.
However, the writing was kind of a roadblock given the game’s emphasis on constant communication, though.
It’s safe to say that the whole thing, while creative, was also pretty bizarre as a whole.
Considering how unique and unexpected the game was, it is possible that its commercial failure is not entirely unexpected, however.
Although we are still waiting for the full interview for context, Strauss Zelnick, the head of publishing at Take Two, told Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier that he thought the game’s December release might not have helped either.
However, that being said, he went on to stress that he was still optimistic it would end up succeeding just like other works from the skilled developer known as Firaxis.
Some news: Marvel's Midnight Suns was a critical success but a commercial flop. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told me in an interview this afternoon that "it's possible the release window wasn't perfect" but that he thinks it could have a long tail, like other Firaxis games
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) February 6, 2023
Jason Schreier took to social media to state that “We have already seen this release get some pretty deep discounts, and it is also possible that the generally positive word of mouth surrounding it will elevate its status over time.”
“Ultimately, though, while we respect the title’s unorthodox approach, we do not think the execution was quite strong enough to elevate it to the must-play status. And for that reason, it is probably going to remain a difficult sell,” Schreier goes on to tweet.
All in all, it remains to be seen if the lukewarm response to the Marvel’s Midnight Suns game will affect its commercial status long term or not.