FuturLab, the developer of Velocity 2X, has shared an interesting look into its recent struggles surrounding the franchise, asking for the help of Switch players in the process.
In a Twitter thread, FuturLab has revealed that it has secretly been working on a new game for years, calling it "the bells and whistles sequel" to Velocity 2X. Despite that game shifting millions of downloads across PlayStation platforms - thanks to it being a free title through PS Plus - publishers aren't showing any interesting in signing up a sequel.
The problem here appears to be down to the lack of "actual unit sales"; with PS Plus downloads being given away for free to subscribers, it's hard to know exactly how a game would have sold without the promotion. A physical version of the game was also released, published by Badland Games, but FuturLab says that this was a "very public disaster". The game also flopped on Steam due to some highly unfortunate timing issues.
For the upcoming Switch version, which is expected to release later this month, FuturLab has teamed up with Curve Digital, partly in hopes that the publisher will also pick up the sequel. The message that FuturLab wants readers to take away from this thread is that "this is probably your last chance to see a fully deserving sequel happen", asking Switch players to "show [Curve] how much you want it" by buying Velocity 2X on Switch.
Curve Digital is expected to reveal the release date of Velocity 2X on Switch soon. Until then, though, let us know if you're planning on picking this one up with a comment below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 47
Loved this game on PS4, and hopefully they get some solid sales on the switch. This game definitely deserves it.
Well this will be a huge learning CURVE for these guys huh?
Its in the vein of Metroidvania so its a natural fit for Switch. I played it on PS Vita. Many interesting ideas...a mess in some areas. It worth a chance.
A fantastic game. Surprised and sad no one wants the sequel. I hope it sells well on Switch, but dang. It's one of those titles that everyone already owns it seems. Gonna be rough.
Unfortunately this is one of those cases where putting your game on PS Plus can lead to dire problems in the future, unlike something like Rocket League where it actually helped. I had this game when it was and I very much enjoyed it. I may well pick it up again, will see.
I know nothing about it, but if the game had over a million players, free or not, and publishers wont sign it, we are missing a piece of the puzzle here. It's really easy to point at the publisher and say "hey it's their fault" and I feel many gamers, myself among them, jump to that very believable conclusion. But something still seems off.
Makes you think if PS Plus is actually that great at least for Indies...
A bit cheeky if you ask me.
If it's been in development for years why the Devs didn't go to ask the PS players to buy the game?
Velocity 2X looks great! I honestly didn't think the devs would need to go into cap in hand mode about it. It's on my radar and hope it does well. Who knows, maybe the sequel could become a Switch exclusive?
I have argued before that PS+ can be real problamtic for indie developers.
The game is wonderful, love it. But I've already played it a lot and got a platinum on PS, don't plan to double dip on this. Sorry
@tourjeff Because it's already in a ton of PS4 libraries through PS+. That's the wrong market to beg sales from; a new release on a different platform has much better chances. The Switch also currently has the healthiest Indie scene in general.
It's a wonderful game, and I'd definitely buy a sequel. Make it so!
The game is decent, but not quite my cup of tea. I most likely would not have picked it up and even tried it if it hadn't been free with PS+. Therefore I won't pick it up again on Switch, sorry to say. Still, I hope they manage to get their game published, as I said, quality wise I thought it was certainly solid.
Mostly though, this provides an interesting snippet in terms of an insight into how the business works and what impact offerings like PS+ can have. I always wondered about that, whether PS+ is good exposure that pays off long-term or whether it just makes the game a bargain bin product, that cannot actually generate any meaningful further sales.
It probably depends on the game and - like with all things in life - on timing, but seeing their struggles, it seems to suggest, that making a decent game by itself might not be enough at all to benefit from PS+.
I’m sorry they’re not finding it easy to get a publisher for the sequel, but this ‘buy our ported original that was free on PS’, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I highly recommend Velocity 2X to all Switch owners! With its bite sized levels suiting portable gaming down to the ground, I played it to death on Vita at launch. I can assure you, it’s an utterly gorgeous game and it’ll look – and play – better than ever on Switch.
It is quite a fun game, so much so that perhaps the free PS+ promotion was a mistake. I bought it for Vita and enjoyed it heavily.
If they included the first game with the switch release I’d get it. But since I have it on ps+ there really isn’t an incentive for me without 🤷♂️
I’ll be supporting this one. Bring it on.
Why does she look exactly like Sombra?
This shows the situation of (real) indie devs struggling to survive the flood on the market. While the free promotion raised awareness of the franchise, it doesn't feed any mouths.
I once saw some people calling Chucklefish "greedy bastards" for not giving a 75% discount on Stardew Valley (a $14.99 game) during a Steam sales. The mentality of some people...
Guilty. I have this on PS4 thanks to PS+. Never played it.
Ive never played this, but It's a shame how games like this can only reach mass markets when given for free. Most consumers only seem to care about sports games and shooters now...
Not sure what I dislike more, port begging or dev begging. Both are bad, either way.
I've heard of port begging but this is new to me lol. Developer begging!
"you need to go out and buy #Velocity2X on Switch." This makes me not want to even touch it now.
@TommyTendo Velocity 2X predates Overwatch by a few years — V2X came out September 2014, and Overwatch launched May 2016. It's very possible Sombra's design was influenced by V2X, or just a case of 'great minds think alike'.
And I care because?
Port begging, support begging. Switch brings out the beggar in all of us.
This is interesting to me, as it indicates that indies are getting no kick-back or at least meaningless kickback in royalties from PS+. Sony tells us they charge subscriptions fees, and in fact raised the subscription prices twice, due to costs associated with free PS+ games. Meanwhile we have the developer of one of those free PS+ games suggesting Sony doesn't give them a dime, it's just free handout month on the street corner for them.
So which is this, do PS+ subs pay for royalties to free games, or are free games truly giveaways from publishers. Or is it a double standard, free PSN indies get nothing but major publishers get money? I can't imagine Konami not taking money for MGSV across both PS and XB. Or Activision for BLOPS III in June. Ubisoft for AC:Syndicate on XB in May, For Honor now, etc.
Something is amiss here. It's also interesting that publishers seem to write off a game when a bulk of it's "purchases" are through PS+/XBLG.
I'm sorry but tough. This has happened to plenty a good game. If it got its downloads because it was free you might be out of luck. Publishers are looking for money more so than fanfare. It really sucks that you've put a bunch of effort into the sequel that might never be released. Honestly though if it's on the eshop and hasn't sold like hotcakes on the switch, there must be a reason. I say that last part with close to no knowledge of the game.
It does look awesome! I'll be sure to try it! (how was this never on my radar?)
So giving away your game, and essentially devaluing it might not be the best business strategy?
@whanvee It's not on eShop yet. It'll be a new port by a new publisher. They're saying that if people want the sequel, they need the Switch version to sell well so that Curve is willing to partner with them and publish it. It's my fourth favorite game of all time behind Mario Galaxy, Uncharted 2, and Wind Waker (3 -> 1). I was already considering a double dip on Switch. Knowing that they need this version to do well to release a sequel makes it a certainty I'll be getting it again.
@bstie1198
In that case I hope it sells wonderfully on switch. Good indie games sell well on the eshop with any luck they might be able to publish it themselves.
@NewAdvent it's tough being indie and frustrating when you're making good games but nobody wants in. can't judge indie the same way as you judge a gigantic publisher. if they are asking for help, it's different than if it was a huge corp. obviously they are in trouble and don't want to stop doing what they love and are good at. sometimes when you are in desperate times you may sound desperate but that has nothing to do with the ability to deliver.
With all of these indie success stories on Switch, this game will probably do well. I've heard good things about this one so I'll probably pick it up.
Just a shame that things didn't work out on PlayStation. I can't imagine that model working for an indie developer. It worked for Rocket League, but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
@KoopaTheGamer it isn't unless your game has a system economy and can survive giving it to ppl for free.
would absolutely buy this
Not a fan of the begging, but how do so many trash titles hit the eshop with no worries but these guys are struggling with a supposedly great title?
I am clearly missing something.
YAWN.
I wasn't even aware this game existed, but looking at some videos looks really fun. It's now on my radar.
If they bought out a physical switch version i would buy it despite already having the pS4 one. This is a fantastic game.
I might double-dip, then, even though I already own it. The Velocity games are some of the best indie shmups I've ever played.
With that said, this seems like a situation where Kickstarter would be more appropriate.
I REALLY don't want to see this developer go the way of Housemarque.
@NewAdvent
They wouldn't have to pander is so many publishers weren't clueless f'ing idiots. I've played the game on PS4 and Vita. It's awesome and deserves a sequel. Sickens me nobody will take a risk on anything these days, no reason a big publisher couldn't take a chance. This kind of game flopping wouldn't sink an EA, Sony, Activision, MS, Take Two etc, but they have no guts.
Skepticism is healthy, but I'm willing to bet it really is just a case of publishers not wanting to use money on anything other than what they feel is a guaranteed gold mine. I think PS Plus helped them some, but it was also up to FuturLab to promote their game as an IP, which they may have neglected.
@Gamer83 "Yeah? And you'll be missing an awesome game because of that." Don't really care.
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