Immortals of Aveum Struggles Due to Competition, CEO Says

The CEO of Ascendant Studios, the developer behind Immortals of Aveum, believes that the game’s struggles and mass layoffs were a direct result of intense competition during its launch window. According to CEO Bret Robbins, the release of Immortals of Aveum on August 22, 2023, was overshadowed by popular titles such as Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, and Armored Core 6. This led to poor sales and the unfortunate necessity of laying off 45% of the company’s staff.

Robbins explained that despite being aware of the crowded release window, the game’s launch could not be delayed due to prior commitments. However, the unexpected success of Baldur’s Gate 3 had a significant impact on Immortals of Aveum’s performance. As a result, the layoffs were unavoidable as the game simply did not sell enough copies.

Despite these setbacks, Immortals of Aveum is still actively supported by Ascendant Studios. The recent Echolletor Update, released on November 17, introduced a free trial, a new difficulty level, a New Game+ mode, and additional endgame content. Robbins also revealed ongoing discussions with Microsoft and Sony to potentially bring the game to Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, which he believes will happen in the near future.

Launching on these subscription services would provide an opportunity for more players to try out Immortals of Aveum and potentially increase its player base. This is particularly important considering the game’s relatively low profile during its initial release.

However, it is important to note that Immortals of Aveum received mixed reviews, with a Metacritic score of 69. While the developer attributes some of the game’s struggles to the crowded market, it is clear that the game failed to make a significant impact among players.