Dark and Darker lead apologizes for "inconsistent decisions" as the RPG slumps

Despite having already navigated some major obstacles like platform delistings and court battles, extraction RPG Dark and Darker is finding itself in one of its toughest spots yet. The last few days have been difficult for the game, with Steam player counts dropping to alarmingly low levels and fans bombarding it with negative reviews after a controversial update. Now, in a series of messages to the community, Dark and Darker's game director has apologized for his "extreme approach to problem-solving" and acknowledged there have been "inconsistent decisions and shallow responses to feedback."

The catalyst for Dark and Darker's recent slump is the "semi-wipe" that arrived with update 6.5. Resetting players' inventories is part and parcel of an extraction-based game like DaD, so that's not the issue here. However, some of the gameplay changes that were delivered alongside the wipe have gone down like a lead balloon, such as the unification of solo, duo, and trio queues into one matchmaking system and alterations to the value of loot.

The result? Dark and Darker's daily peak player counts on Steam have fallen to around 3,000 - prior to the update, they were hovering around 5,000 - 6,000. Its Steam review rating has also taken a big hit - while its lifetime rating sits at a 'mixed' 64%, over the last 30 days only 24% of the review have been positive. That's not a good look when you're trying to make it as one of the best free PC games around. Forums have also been riddled with negative comments, with a lot of the frustration targeted specifically at Dark and Darker's game director, known as 'SDF,' who is being criticized for not listening to player feedback.

Over the last couple of days, SDF has been addressing fans in the game's Discord server, attempting to rebuild trust with players and acknowledge past mistakes.

In one of the messages that were first collated by GamesRadar, SDF admits that "we're not particularly good at developing games" that require chasing or replicating "currently successful formulas." Having originally designed Dark and Darker to suit his own preferences, he says that its increased popularity has seen Ironmace look more towards what players want, and that has led to a muddled vision for the game.

"My inconsistent decisions and shallow responses to feedback from various types of players have led to the current state of the game, and I now believe that this outcome is not ideal," he says in another message. "That was entirely my mistake, and I will not repeat it again. From now on, I will move forward with clear focus toward the final vision we have for the game. This does not mean that I will stop listening to player feedback. Rather, it means that I want to stay true to the direction we're aiming for, filtering feedback through that lens without being easily swayed."

"I sincerely apologize to those who have experienced inconvenience due to my extreme approach to problem-solving," he adds. "Please understand that our ultimate goal is to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment for all players who love this game."

This messaging about the game's vision and SDF's opinions on the value of player feedback sound a bit muddled to me. However, in some more recent messages, he does at least address some of the specific gameplay grumbles players have had.

"We are fully committed to finding a solution that can satisfy solo players. If the current matchmaking system - where various group types play together - cannot provide that satisfaction, then we will confidently bring back the solo queue. In fact, we would then shift our focus toward fine-tuning dungeon balance and design specifically for solo play to make it more engaging and enjoyable.

"We also plan to enhance the sense of satisfaction in looting, and to give the act of obtaining loot more meaning. Whether that means reintroducing random modifiers or adapting the approach previously used for unique items in a new form, our goal is clear: to ensure that players can feel truly rewarded through loot within a structure that doesn't require adding more gear brackets beyond Normal and High Roller, yet still allows for meaningful gear progression and gaps."

As a free-to-play game that's still in the refinement process in early access, seeing the levels of negativity Dark and Darker is facing right now is a concern. It does appear though that the volume of players' criticism has allowed their feedback to be heard.

For some similar experiences with less of a focus on PvP and extraction, check out our guide to the best RPGs. Alternatively, head to our best multiplayer games list if you're after something new that's still got that competitive edge to it.

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