Developer of Chilling Shooter Expresses Disappointment Over 48% Positive Ratings After Four Years of Hard Work

The announcement of Industria 2 in 2024 sparked excitement among a dedicated fanbase that loved the original game, an atmospheric shooter set in an alternate Cold War East Germany. One player even remarked that the trailer looked like a blend of “Half-Life and SOMA.” However, the game’s recent release on Steam has left many disappointed, including the developers at Bleakmill.

“It’s disheartening to see a 48 percent positive rating after pouring our hearts and souls into this project for four years,” the team shared on X. They acknowledged the negative feedback as “fair” and are committed to rolling out patches quickly to address bugs and stability issues, with plans for future content updates.

In fact, they released two patches last night to tackle saving issues and a softlock, with a focus on stability and keybind problems next, followed by more content.

Industria 1 debuted in 2021, receiving decent reviews and performing well commercially. It was a brief yet enjoyable experience that evoked nostalgia for fans of games like Half-Life. Unfortunately, Bleakmill hasn’t managed to replicate that success with Industria 2. Since its April 29 launch on PC, players have labeled the sequel as “half-baked” and “unfinished,” with some even suggesting that the developers were pressured to rush the release. While Headup Games published both titles, it was sold by Thunderful Group to Microcuts Holding in 2024.

Despite the rocky launch, other developers have reached out to support the Bleakmill team. “There aren’t many reviews yet, and many seem open to changing their minds once the issues are patched, so recovery is definitely possible,” wrote Dillon Rogers, a designer from Gloomwood. “It’s a tough road ahead after what must have been an exhausting sprint to launch, so hang in there.”

Garry Newman, the creator of Garry’s Mod, took a more straightforward approach, sharing the “first time?” meme from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.