Stormgate's early access launch on Steam has sparked a variety of reactions among fans and backers. Delve into the concerns raised by its Kickstarter supporters and the current state of the game post-launch.
Stormgate Launches with Mixed Reviews
Backers Upset Over Stormgate’s Microtransactions
Stormgate, the eagerly anticipated real-time strategy game poised to be the spiritual successor to Starcraft II, has experienced a rocky launch on Steam. Despite raising over $2.3 million on Kickstarter and securing a hefty $35 million in initial funding, the game is facing significant backlash from its backers who feel misled. Those who contributed $60 for the "Ultimate" bundle were under the impression they would receive the full early access content, a promise that appears to have been unmet.
Many supporters viewed the game as a passion project from Frost Giant Studios and were eager to contribute to its success. Although marketed as a free-to-play title with microtransactions, the aggressive monetization strategy has left many backers feeling disappointed.
Purchasing a single campaign chapter, which consists of three missions, costs $10. Similarly, a single co-op character is priced at $10, which is twice the cost of characters in Starcraft II. Backers who pledged $60 or more on Kickstarter expected access to three chapters and three characters. With substantial sums already invested, they anticipated a complete early access experience. However, the addition of a new character, Warz, on launch day, which was not included in the Kickstarter rewards, left many feeling betrayed.
"You can take the developer out of Blizzard, but you can’t take Blizzard out of the developer," remarked Steam reviewer Aztraeuz. "Many of us supported this game because we wanted to see it succeed. A lot of us are hundreds of dollars deep into this game already. Why are there pre-day 1 microtransactions that we don’t own?"
In response to the outcry, Frost Giant Studios took to Steam to address the concerns and express gratitude for the support.
Despite efforts to "make the content in our Kickstarter bundles clear during the campaign," the studio acknowledged that many expected the "Ultimate" bundles to include all gameplay content "available for our Early Access release." As a goodwill gesture, they announced that all Kickstarter and Indiegogo backers at the "Ultimate Founder’s Pack tier and above" would receive the next paid Hero for free.
However, the studio clarified that this offer does not extend to the already released Hero, Warz, as many "have already purchased Warz," making it "unable to make him free retroactively."
Despite this concession, frustration persists over the game’s aggressive monetization approach and underlying gameplay issues.
Frost Giant Studios Addresses Player Feedback After Early Access Launch
Stormgate carries the heavy burden of high expectations. Crafted by veterans who worked on Starcraft II, the game aimed to revive the glory of the genre’s golden era. However, the early access version has presented a mixed experience. While the core RTS gameplay holds promise, it has been critiqued for its aggressive monetization, unclear visuals, missing essential campaign features, lackluster unit interactions, and an AI that fails to offer a significant challenge.
These issues have led to a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with some players dubbing it "Starcraft II at home." Despite these drawbacks, our review acknowledges the game's potential and the opportunity for enhancements in areas such as story and visuals.
For a more in-depth look at our assessment of Stormgate’s Early Access, explore our full review below!
