Six years after the early demise of the first-person hero shooter LawBreakers, game director Cliff ‘Cliffy B’ Bleszinski attributes the game’s failure to the overwhelming success of Blizzard’s Overwatch.
LawBreakers, launched in 2017 by Boss Key Productions, saw its life cut short within a year despite generally positive reviews. Bleszinski, known for his work on Gears of War and the Unreal series, explained that Overwatch‘s 2016 release significantly impacted LawBreakers‘ potential success.
Key Points:
- Market Timing: Bleszinski mentioned that the release of Overwatch before LawBreakers created a competitive and crowded market. The similarity in style and gameplay between the two games led to unfavorable comparisons.
- Studio Reaction: Upon seeing Overwatch‘s trailer, Boss Key’s team felt overshadowed. Their attempts to differentiate LawBreakers by incorporating unique features and a distinct aesthetic were not enough to shake off the perception of it being an Overwatch clone.
- Marketing and Development Choices: Reflecting on the game’s development, Bleszinski noted that with hindsight, he would have scaled down the project. Instead of aiming for a triple-A shooter, he would have opted for a simpler game with a smaller team to navigate the competitive market more effectively.
Despite the brief success of LawBreakers, Boss Key Productions closed in 2018. Bleszinski hinted at a potential new project in 2023 but later expressed disinterest in continuing game development.
