Stormgate’s early access launch on Steam has stirred a variety of reactions from its dedicated fans and Kickstarter backers. Dive deeper to understand the concerns raised by its supporters and the game's current state 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, encountered a rocky start upon its Steam launch. Despite successfully raising over $2.3 million on Kickstarter, on top of an impressive $35 million initial funding, the game has faced significant backlash from its backers, who feel deceived by the game's monetization approach. Those who contributed $60 for the "Ultimate" bundle were under the impression that they would receive comprehensive early access content—a promise that has not been fully met.
Supporters viewed Stormgate as a passion project by Frost Giant Studios, eager to contribute to its success. While marketed as free-to-play with microtransactions, the aggressive monetization strategy has left many backers feeling betrayed.
The cost of a single campaign chapter, comprising three missions, is set at $10, matching the price of a single co-op character. Backers who pledged $60 or more during the Kickstarter campaign anticipated access to three chapters and three characters. With considerable sums already invested, they expected to fully engage with the game during its early access phase. Disappointment surged when a new character, Warz, was introduced on launch day but not included in the Kickstarter rewards.
"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 uproar, Frost Giant Studios took to Steam to address the community's concerns and express gratitude for their support.
The studio emphasized efforts to "make the content in our Kickstarter bundles clear during the campaign," yet acknowledged that many expected the "Ultimate" bundles to include all gameplay content "available for our Early Access release." As a conciliatory gesture, they announced that all Kickstarter and Indiegogo backers at the "Ultimate Founder’s Pack tier and above" would receive the next paid Hero at no additional cost.
However, they clarified that this offer does not extend to the already released Hero, Warz, citing that many "have already purchased Warz," making it "unable to make him free retroactively."
Despite this move, frustration persists among many over the game’s aggressive monetization tactics and various gameplay issues.
Frost Giant Studios Addresses Player Feedback After Early Access Launch
Stormgate shoulders the expectations of a community eager for a revival of the RTS genre's glory days, crafted by veterans of Starcraft II. Yet, the game's early access version presents a mixed experience. While the core RTS mechanics show promise, the game has drawn criticism for its aggressive monetization, subpar visuals, missing essential campaign features, lackluster unit interactions, and an AI that fails to challenge players.
These shortcomings have contributed to a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with some dubbing it "Starcraft II at home." Nevertheless, our review acknowledges the game's potential and the room for enhancement in areas such as storytelling and visuals.
For a comprehensive analysis of Stormgate’s Early Access, explore our full review below!
