Gearbox's recent foray into the world of Risk of Rain has not unfolded as many had hoped. The studio's acquisition of the beloved franchise in 2022 raised eyebrows among fans, who expressed concerns about potential missteps. Now, with the release of the first expansion under Gearbox's stewardship, titled Seekers of the Storm, those fears have materialized into a series of significant issues.
Pricing Discrepancies and Community Backlash
One of the most glaring problems with Seekers of the Storm is its pricing structure. The expansion has been met with criticism for its regional pricing disparities, which have resulted in some players facing costs that are markedly higher than others. For example, players in Brazil reported paying double the price compared to their counterparts in the United States, where both the new expansion and the previous Survivors of the Void were listed at similar prices. In response to the backlash, Gearbox announced adjustments to the pricing in select markets, advising those who overpaid to seek refunds through Steam and repurchase the expansion at the corrected price.
However, the pricing issue pales in comparison to the broader technical problems that have plagued the expansion. A recent update accompanying Seekers of the Storm has introduced bugs that affect all players, not just those who purchased the expansion. Perhaps the most concerning of these issues is the unintended linkage of the game's physics systems to its frame rate. This has led to a cascade of gameplay problems, including imbalances in attack speed and movement mechanics.
In a candid admission on Discord, Gearbox developer GBX-Preston acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating that the frame rate-related issues were not intentional and are among the top priorities for the team to resolve. As a temporary measure, he recommended that players lock their frame rates at 60 fps to mitigate some of the adverse effects. He further conceded that the PC version of Risk of Rain 2 is currently "in a really bad place," a stark acknowledgment of the challenges facing the game.
Community Response and Future Outlook
The fallout from the expansion's launch has been palpable, with Seekers of the Storm currently holding a "mostly negative" rating on Steam, where only 34% of user reviews are positive. This has dragged down the overall reviews for Risk of Rain 2 to a "mixed" status, a setback for Gearbox that comes on the heels of its struggles with the reception of the Borderlands movie.
Despite the turmoil, the community has found a silver lining in the form of memes, with players humorously lamenting the state of the game and expressing their frustrations. Gearbox has stated that it is closely monitoring player feedback and is committed to addressing the issues raised, starting with the recent pricing adjustments. The company has promised to keep the community updated as it works through the reported problems.
