Released on May 11 for PC and Xbox Series (and on May 14 for PS5 and Switch), Outbound is currently receiving « mostly positives » reviews on Steam, with 70% of the 500 online reviews being favorable.
Of course, not everyone is satisfied with the game, and some have made their dissatisfaction known. This is the case for one user who explains in their review that the gameplay mechanics are « incredibly shallow » and that the game « is certainly not worth the asking price ». Square Glade Games responded to this person by suggesting they contact Steam support to request a refund, while stating that they understood their feelings.
However, the studio also specified that in the event of a refund, « we would appreciate it if you would edit or delete your negative review. » This suggestion did not go over well and had the opposite effect. As a result, other users decided to post negative comments to express their dissatisfaction. So much so that the studio had to apologize.
« First and foremost, we truly apologize for how our recent replies have come across. We understand that our communication has felt wrong to many of you, and for that, we are genuinely sorry.
To be completely honest, the 24 hours since the launch have been incredibly overwhelming. While we started with a lot of excitement, the reality of a launch brings a lot of pressure and intense emotions. Looking back, we realize that the way we communicated was not the right approach, and we didn’t handle the situation with the care it deserved.
We will no longer be asking anyone to change their negative reviews, and we have also deleted our previous comments. We respect your honesty and appreciate the feedback, even when it’s tough to hear. It helps us make the game better. »
It’s great to see developers taking accountability and engaging with their community. Open communication like this can really help strengthen relationships with players. Looking forward to seeing how Outbound evolves!