Remember Battleborn , that shooter-MOBA hybrid that Gearbox poured all of their resources into? Well, it’s not doing so hot. According to Steam Charts, Battleborn has 475 players currently active, with a peak of 707 players over the last 24 hours. That’s abysmal for a AAA game that was in development for over two years. Battleborn peaked at 12,070 users right after it’s release, but has been steadily losing players since.
Battleborn ’s main competitor, Overwatch , has been soaring in popularity. Blizzard’s shooter has over seven million active users, and continues to grow. Why Overwatch exploded in popularity while Battleborn ended up getting a discount three weeks after release is anyone's guess.
If Battleborn hadn’t been released around the same time as Overwatch , it might not have done so poorly. Overwatch is a phenomenon, a breakout hit that’s fun and enjoyable. I didn’t like Battleborn very much; the aiming feels clunky and the MOBA/ shooter combination just didn’t blend very well. If Gearbox wants people to play Battleborn , something is going to have to change. Evolve went free-to-play earlier in the wee k, which might not be a terrible idea for Battleborn to try.
Do you think there’s a way for Battleborn to be successful or will it forever be remembered as “a game that tried but didn’t succeed?” Tell us in the comments!
