A “social deduction game” is being pulled from Steam due to declining player counts, something that is not too surprising given the number of social games that have spawned in the wake of Among Us.
This game, however, was based on the hit comic book and TV show, The Walking Dead. An asymmetrical mutilplayer title, The Walking Dead: Betrayal, launched only a few months ago to a lukewarm reception. However, since then the play numbers have dropped to just single digits leaving the developer, Other Ocean Interactive and publisher Skybound Games, no other alternative than to shut down the game and refund players.
The Walking Dead just can't catch a break at the moment
According to the developers, all players will receive a full refund and the game’s shutdown will be explained via the game’s Discord channel and Steam page. The Walking Dead: Betrayal will begin removal from Steam 11 December and will be shutdown completely 15 December.
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The publisher had this to say on the game’s shutdown, “Despite the hard work put into the game, we were not able to find a path to build the spirited community of backstabbers we originally envisioned.” Fans who found enjoyment in the game are understandably upset, but these multiplayer games need an installed player base to continue operation.
Why the game didn’t see players is a bit of a mystery; it could be due to the genre’s popularity and the number of these social deduction titles out there which has saturated the market. Or, it could be due to the overwhelming number of games released in 2023. Given the subject material of The Walking Dead, the game would have felt like a surefire hit to the developer, but even the tie-in material couldn’t help this game take off.
Players can find full details on acquiring their refund through Steam or other relevant retailers.