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[Draugoth]

As first noticed by Kotaku’s Ethan Gach (via Game Developer), several ex-Reflector Entertainment employees have taken to social media to confirm that they are no longer with the company.

Anna Karina Bermudez, a former narrative and game designer on the project, wrote on LinkedIn:

“Unfortunately, I was affected by the layoffs at Reflector Entertainment, which means I’m currently looking for a job as a Narrative Designer or Game Writer. If you hear of any opportunities, please let me know.”

Manou Deneuvel, a former brand manager on the project, wrote: “Hi everyone. I was affected by the layoffs at Reflector Entertainment, and I’m seeking a new role in Marketing or Social Media/Community Management, effective immediately. If you hear of any opportunities or just want to catch up, please reach out.”

Unknown 9: Awakening was released on October 17. At the time of writing, the game has 74 user reviews on Steam, suggesting the game hasn’t sold particularly well.

Source

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

Sweet Baby touch of death strikes again.

 

[SJRB]

I hope the comic, TV show, anime, movie, board game and musical are unaffected.

 

[winjer]

Those rare incel victories just keep on going and going....

 

[Donald mac Ronald]

Regardless of sweet baby input or not this game looked like some generic 3rd person game from the PS3 era. Nobody was buying that.

 

[Digital-Aftertaste]

I hope the comic, TV show, anime, movie, board game and musical are unaffected.

Geez! U weren't kidding

"Christophe: In our case, we believe we have a new, different, and fresh approach because the game is part of a transmedia universe with a deep lore. Within this lore, there is the Unknown 9, a secret society, and a parallel dimension."

“Our IP is about humanity as a whole”: Creative Director Christophe Rossignol Discusses the Heart of Unknown 9: Awakening’s Transmedia

Unknown 9: Awakening is Reflector Entertainment and BANDAI NAMCO's upcoming title set within a transmedia narrative universe.

www.gosugamers.in

 

[Jaybe]

They have more employees than reviews. People called the game AA but that’s just because it looked terrible. It cost a lot to develop.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

Regardless of sweet baby input or not this game looked like some generic 3rd person game from the PS3 era. Nobody was buying that.

I think it would’ve bombed either way. But the “average looking, modestly dressed Strong Female Protagonist” was part of what made it look so generic. That’s like the equivalent of the “generic bald space marine” of the PS3 days.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

I hope the comic, TV show, anime, movie, board game and musical are unaffected.

Damn, you weren’t kidding. They really thought this was going to be some massive transmedia universe, competing against Concord:

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

the concord effect

 

[Skifi28]

There was no universe where this was selling, woke or not. It was sent out to die a silent death.

 

[MudoSkills]

Imagine the creative powerhouse it would generate if they partnered with the talented (and recently available) ex-staff of Firewalk, and founded their own studio.

 

[kruis]

They have more employees than reviews. People called the game AA but that’s just because it looked terrible. It cost a lot to develop.

I've heard through the grapevine they're now working on a new game: "Shitscared 145: The Sackening"

 

[Lucifers Beard]

Out of pure interest I had a quick go at this at on a stand in EGX in London. I didn't pay any attention to the story since it was just a demo, but it was fucking terrible. Combat was absolutely dire.

 

[Hookshot]

145 employees made a game that peaked at 285 players on steam.

 

[elbourreau]

145 employees made a game that peaked at 285 players.

 

[Schmendrick]

145 employees made a game that peaked at 285 players.

and most of those were probably

 

[Saber]

Let me guess, its anybodies fault except them.

 

[Spiral1407]

Idgaf about the culture war, but anyone could see this flop coming from a mile away. Most generic game I've seen all year.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

 

[Braag]

I didn't expect anything less.

 

[YOU PC BRO?!]

Obligatory…

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

They have more employees than reviews. People called the game AA but that’s just because it looked terrible. It cost a lot to develop.

Bandai Namco bought this company in 2020 and apparently liked what they saw so much, they funded several different media projects in the same universe.

I really would like to know how much money they threw at this. It’s like a mini Concord

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

Game had horrible reception as well as sales, so both bad things combined making it the worse scenario for them. Which is not a surprise and well deserved for any of the garbage woke games. Another one among the many woke shit this year.

Not even 100 total reviews on steam and with a overall 45%. Bad score, bad reception, bad sales. Nothing good about it.

 

[Bridges]

Transmedia has to happen organically. It's there even a single example of a game coming out like this that was actually successful? Focus on making a good game. If it released to acclaim, start looking into expanding the universe through books or making a movie (unless it's GOTY tier don't do both). Probably don't even do that though, just make a sequel. If the universe is compelling enough it will make sense to pursue. I can't imagine putting all your eggs in one basket like this. When the main title fails you look like an idiot and have nothing to show for it.

 

[Gorilla Shark]

So is that a No on the merch? Is my lunchbox pre-order cancelled? Pencil eraser tips too?

 

[Calico345]

 

[Complistic]

Woopsie

 

[bender]

Never hard of it. You could almost say it's unknown to me.

 

[Denton]

Unknown 9: Awakening was released on October 17. At the time of writing, the game has 74 user reviews on Steam, suggesting the game hasn’t sold particularly well.

lol

lmao even

 

[xrnzaaas]

I can't remember when last time so many big(ger) games bombed hard within the same year. To be fair, most of them deserved it for focusing on things that won't lead to good sales numbers.

 

[Sharius]

“Hi everyone. I was affected by the layoffs at Reflector Entertainment, and I’m seeking a new role in Marketing or Social Media/Community Management, effective immediately. If you hear of any opportunities or just want to catch up, please reach out.”

lmao

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I can't remember when last time so many big(ger) games bombed hard within the same year. To be fair, most of them deserved it for focusing on things that won't lead to good sales numbers.

Game development period is on average 3-5 years these days, culture shifts happen at any time without warning, about 3-5 years ago was about when everything suddenly woke at once, now wokeness is dying as fast as it arose, and games which started development during the period of peak woke are being released this year and next

The trick is to try and make games which have timeless themes instead of chasing the latest cultural zeitgeist which changes on a dime but I think we'll need a really big publisher/studio like Ubisoft to go bankrupt first before the era of peak woke in gaming finally convincingly ends

 

[semiconscious]

There was no universe where this was selling, woke or not. It was sent out to die a silent death.

yep. there's a certain art to making successful, clever, unique, interesting b-games. &, sadly, it's something of a lost art...

 

[Gorilla Shark]

The AA game devs need to learn. Want a game to sell? Make it appeal to people more. This requires more than girl boss power fantasies.

They should have the plan for their games decided on by 10 year old boys. Chicks in bikinis fighting robots while riding dinosaurs? Done. That would actually sell.

 

[Kacho]

Hey Compulsion Games

 

[DarkstarRising13]

Regardless of sweet baby input or not this game looked like some generic 3rd person game from the PS3 era. Nobody was buying that.

Unknown 9: Awakening wouldn't last against PS3/Xbox 360 games during that era.

Damn, you weren’t kidding. They really thought this was going to be some massive transmedia universe, competing against Concord:

Judging from that empty slot next to Passage, it appears that a possible TV series or movie might be in the works...unless plans were scrapped after Unknown 9: Awakening's failure.

Pathetic! Truly, freaking pathetic that Namco would even consider that this game would spawn a franchise everyone will be gobbling up for.

Just cut your losses and shut down Reflector Entertainment and write Kim Blackmail's "masterpiece" of a franchise off as a tax write-off. Her name alone is enough to cause 99% of gamers to avoid it like the plague.

 

[Big Baller]

 

[Buggy Loop]

145 employees made a game that peaked at 285 players on steam.

And the game was GIVEN with any AMD CPU or GPU buy for a while.

Sad

 

[{insert code here}]

 

[Mossybrew]

It's a real shame, but Unknown 8: Going Nitey Nite was not that great either, I think the series is just done at this point.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

They have more employees than reviews. People called the game AA but that’s just because it looked terrible. It cost a lot to develop.

Updated.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Idgaf about the culture war, but anyone could see this flop coming from a mile away. Most generic game I've seen all year.

Couldn't agree more. It was a project with almost no marketing, and felt completely void of passion. It felt like it was being sent to fail from a mile away.

 

[DarkstarRising13]

Couldn't agree more. It was a project with almost no marketing, and felt completely void of passion. It felt like it was being sent to fail from a mile away.

What'd you expect from a DEI, pathetic excuse of a writer that is Kim Blackmail of Sweet Baby Inc.?

 

[DarkstarRising13]

Updated.

Oooh, so does this mean the studio has effectively shut down?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

i dont like how this dude talks and makes his videos...but the information might be relevant.