It seems that some companies never learn, and Red Thread Games is legitimately - the prime example. Their failure of a "game", Dustborn, is still being aggressively promoted at the Tokyo Game Show, in what can only be described as a desperate and pathetically misguided attempt to push their propaganda onto the masses. As more details about the exhibit surface, one can’t help but marvel at the sheer wasted resources and, even worse, taxpayer money that’s being funneled into promoting a "game" nobody ever wanted to play.
A picture of Dustborn’s pop-up exhibit (Above) at the Tokyo Game Show recently surfaced online, and it’s nothing short of embarrassing. In the image, three seats are set up for attendees to play the game, but all three are completely empty. Not a single person is sitting down to experience this supposed "revolutionary" narrative-driven action-adventure game. It's almost poetic—a perfect visual representation of Dustborn itself: a hollow, uninspired, and utterly ignored attempt to push an agenda rather than deliver engaging gameplay.
Still Looking For That "Modern Audience"
While Red Thread Games insists on promoting Dustborn with lavish displays and showroom space at one of the biggest gaming events in the world, the game's performance on Steam tells a very different story. As of writing, there are only 8 people playing the game on Steam. That’s right—just 8 people out of millions of Steam users are currently interested in Dustborn. And this isn’t an isolated moment at all... The game’s all-time peak of concurrent players? A pitiful 83 people. It’s a staggering number for a game that’s been promoted as an important "narrative" experience.
But it gets worse. There have been multiple instances where Steam’s concurrent player count for Dustborn has hit zero. Times when literally no one in the world is playing this 'new' game, yet Red Thread Games somehow feels justified in blowing money on extravagant artwork and renting prime floor space at the Tokyo Game Show.
A Waste of Taxpayer Money
What makes the situation even more absurd is how much taxpayer money has been funneled into this project. Red Thread Games has benefitted from public funding and grants, all of which are essentially being thrown away on what is shaping up to be a massive flop.
Instead of using public funds responsibly to develop a product gamers actually want to engage with, they’re squandering it on extravagant exhibitions and marketing efforts over in Tokyo that are more focused on pushing propaganda than providing any actual entertainment... Really makes you wonder...
Despite countless opportunities and backing from industry heavyweights, Dustborn has consistently failed to gain traction. The game was published by Quantic Dream, a studio with a reputation for pushing narrative-driven experiences, yet... even their influence couldn’t save this project from mediocrity. Dustborn was given prime promotional spots at major events like The Game Awards and GamesCom, where it had trailers featured during key moments. Xbox also threw its weight behind the game, pushing it to their audience as a notable release. The marketing efforts didn’t stop there—companies like Mi5 Communications were hired to promote the game, even going as far as to recruit streamers to play it. The sheer push behind this trash makes you wonder what more was going on behind the scenes... There was even a physical release, with copies making their way all the way to Japan, showcasing how much was invested to make this game a success. Yet despite all this, Dustborn continues to fall flat, proving that no amount of marketing or high-profile partnerships can fix a fundamentally flawed product.
Gamers have made it clear: they don’t want to play this trash game. It’s not our fault that Dustborn can’t muster any genuine interest outside of Hypnotic begrudgingly livestreaming the trash heap... Or When Madam Savvy did a gut-wrenching playthru... Instead of listening to feedback or recognizing their mistakes, Red Thread Games continues to double down, wasting even more resources on promotion for a game that’s been dead on arrival.
A Sad Summary
The image of Dustborn's empty exhibit at the Tokyo Game Show is more than just a snapshot—it’s really the chef's kiss - a perfect summary of the game's trajectory. No one's interested, no one's playing, and yet, somehow, the developers think it's wise to throw more money down the drain. This relentless push, funded by EU taxpayers, serves as yet another reminder that you can’t force people to care about something they don’t want. The numbers on Steam don’t lie, and neither does the empty booth. Gamers have moved on, and it’s time for Red Thread Games to accept that reality.
But first... we laugh.
~Smash
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