The Effects of “Launch First, Repair Later” on Player Trust and Game Quality

The gaming industry’s revenue skyrocketed to an impressive $282 billion in 2024. However, this achievement is somewhat overshadowed by a concerning trend where unfinished games are launched, relying heavily on post-release patches just to meet basic standards. This "release now, patch later" approach, driven by strict corporate timelines and a focus on live-service models, has not only changed how games are developed but also damaged the trust of players.

Glitches at Launch and Their Economic Impacts

We’ve seen high-profile flops like Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020 and Battlefield 2042 in 2021 that really highlight this issue. Cyberpunk needed a massive 43 GB patch right out of the gate, yet still faced lawsuits and was even removed from the PlayStation Store due to severe bugs on consoles. Battlefield 2042 had its own problems, launching without key features such as voice chat, which led to a 75% drop in its player base on Steam within just a few months.

The crunch to meet fiscal targets often results in these hastily launched titles. Ubisoft’s XDefiant is a prime example; it was scrapped by mid-2025, resulting in 277 layoffs after failing to keep players engaged. Mistakes like these hurt a company’s reputation. In fact, a 2022 PCMag survey revealed that 68% of gamers now prefer to wait a few months post-launch before buying a new game.

iGaming’s Lessons on Updates

In the iGaming realm, updates are constant, but their purpose is more about keeping players engaged rather than fixing issues. This is especially true in online casinos like SIA casinos, where new promotions and premium slot experiences are rolled out regularly.

The industry employs AI-driven personalization tools to enhance gaming sessions by customizing bonuses, game types, and tournament offers in real time. What sets these updates apart is their proactive nature, aimed at enhancing player enjoyment rather than patching up errors.

Embracing the Live-Service Model

Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) have made ongoing updates a norm. Games such as Fortnite and Apex Legends dedicate 60-70% of their updates to post-launch content. This strategy steers studios towards focusing on sustained monetization instead of ensuring a perfect initial release. While this approach works wonders for successful franchises—Monster Hunter World from Capcom, for instance, boosted its player base by 72% through free expansions like Iceborne—it poses substantial risks for smaller studios. Where hits like Genshin Impact grossed $3.7 billion in 2023 through regular updates, many live-service games flounder within a year due to unsustainable development expenses.

Rebuilding Player Trust

The focus on fixing issues post-launch has clearly left players skeptical. The same 2022 survey by PCMag found that nowadays, 68% of gamers prefer to wait for reviews or substantial updates before buying new games, a steep rise from just 45% in 2018. This cautious approach is the result of repeated releases that fall short of expectations. There’s also the headache of ever-growing day-one patches, sometimes over 50 GB, which can seriously inconvenience players with limited storage or slower internet speeds.

The push to release games underdeveloped is primarily fueled by the pressure to meet corporate financial targets. On the flip side, studios like Nintendo take a more thoughtful approach by delaying releases, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 2023, to ensure a polished product from the get-go. If gaming companies want to regain and maintain player trust, they must prioritize high-quality releases and use updates as enhancements rather than solutions for pre-existing issues.

Given that the global gaming market is set to expand from $262 billion in 2023 to $312 billion by 2027, it’s clear that studios have a golden opportunity to realign their practices with what players truly expect. Successfully striking this balance could be the key to lasting success.