Stormgate's Steam Early Access launch has sparked a divided response among fans and Kickstarter backers. This article examines the concerns raised and the game's current status.
Stormgate's Rocky Start
Backer Discontent Over Monetization
Frost Giant Studios' Stormgate, a real-time strategy game aiming to rival Starcraft II, has experienced a challenging launch. Despite a successful Kickstarter campaign raising over $2.3 million (against a $35 million initial goal), the game faces criticism from backers feeling deceived. Those who pledged $60 for the "Ultimate" package expected complete early access content, a promise seemingly unmet.
Many backers supported the project out of passion, hoping to contribute to its success. While advertised as free-to-play with microtransactions, the aggressive monetization has alienated many. Individual campaign chapters (three missions) cost $10, as does a single co-op character—double the price of Starcraft II's offerings. Backers who invested significantly felt entitled to a complete early access experience, only to find a day-one character, Warz, excluded from their Kickstarter rewards.
One Steam reviewer, Aztraeuz, commented, "You can take the developer out of Blizzard, but you can’t take Blizzard out of the developer...Why are there pre-day 1 microtransactions that we don’t own?"
In response to the backlash, Frost Giant Studios issued a Steam statement acknowledging the issue and thanking players. While aiming for clarity regarding Kickstarter bundle content, they admitted many expected the "Ultimate" bundles to include all early access gameplay. As compensation, they offered the next paid Hero free to backers of the "Ultimate Founder’s Pack tier and above," excluding Warz due to prior purchases.
Despite this, frustration persists over the monetization strategy and underlying gameplay issues.
Frost Giant Addresses Post-Launch Feedback
Stormgate carries high expectations, developed by Starcraft II veterans. While the core RTS gameplay shows potential, criticisms include aggressive monetization, visual inconsistencies, missing campaign features, weak unit interactions, and an unchallenging AI. This has resulted in a "Mixed" Steam rating, with some labeling it "Starcraft II at home." However, reviews also highlight the game's potential for improvement in areas like narrative and visuals. For a more detailed analysis, see our full review.
