WUCHANG Surges Past 100K Players but Faces Severe Backlash

The highly anticipated game, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, launched to a remarkable reception, attracting over 114,000 players at its debut. Despite this impressive player count, the game has garnered an “overwhelmingly negative” response on Steam, primarily due to significant performance issues.

From the outset, WUCHANG drew attention with its stunning graphics and engaging trailers, positioning itself alongside other notable Soulslike titles such as Black Myth: Wukong and Mortal Shell. However, as noted by Steamcharts, while the peak player count reached 114,132, the game has since faced criticism from users.

Player Experience and Reviews

Currently, there are more than 87,000 players actively engaged with WUCHANG. The game is available on Steam for £44.99, with similar pricing on PS5 and Xbox. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can access the game at no extra cost, broadening its reach.

Despite the robust player engagement, WUCHANG has received over 5,000 reviews on Steam, resulting in an aggregate score that reflects widespread dissatisfaction. Players have reported various issues, including low frame rates and stuttering, which have led many to describe the game as “unplayable” in its current state. While the visuals and boss encounters have received praise, the overall experience has been marred by these technical difficulties, attributed to inadequate optimization of the Unreal Engine 5.

In contrast, the game has a 4-star rating on the PlayStation Network, suggesting that console players may be experiencing a smoother gameplay environment.

Critical Reception and Future Prospects

Critically, WUCHANG has received mixed reviews, achieving a score of 75 on Metacritic for PS5, 83 for Xbox, and 76 for PC. While these scores do not place the game among the top-rated titles, they indicate a more favorable view from critics compared to player feedback.

The developer, Leenzee, faces pressure to address the performance issues as they work to enhance the gaming experience for players, particularly on PC. The potential for WUCHANG to succeed in the Soulslike genre remains, but its current technical shortcomings overshadow its visual appeal.

In related news, the gaming industry saw a significant event as Sony announced its acquisition of a stake in Bandai Namco, the publisher behind the acclaimed Elden Ring, aimed at fostering a strategic partnership.

As Leenzee navigates the challenges posed by the initial player feedback, the hope is that timely updates and fixes will allow WUCHANG to fulfill its promise and gain the recognition it aspires to within the gaming community.