A recent report has revealed that Electronic Arts (EA) invested a substantial amount in the development and marketing of its single-player FPS game, Immortals of Aveum, which unfortunately failed to meet expectations and was considered a financial disappointment. The game launched in August 2023 amidst a highly competitive year for game releases, with titles like Diablo 4, Starfield, and Baldur's Gate 3 vying for players' attention.

Despite being described as a "Call of Duty with magic" by Ascendant Studios, the developers behind Immortals of Aveum, the game did not receive the desired level of attention. As a result, approximately 45% of the studio's workforce was laid off shortly after its release, highlighting the impact of its underperformance.

Bret Robbins, the CEO of Ascendant Studios, publicly attributed the game's poor sales to the crowded release calendar of the previous year. However, an anonymous former employee of the studio offered a different perspective, stating that both the concept of the game and its significant budget were fundamental flaws that ultimately doomed the project.

According to the former employee, the development cost of Immortals of Aveum amounted to around $85 million. Additionally, EA contributed $40 million for marketing and distribution purposes. While the game boasted a talented development team, the decision to create a AAA single-player shooter in today's market, coupled with the pressure of launching a new IP and leveraging Unreal Engine 5, proved to be a disastrous combination. The end result was a bloated and repetitive campaign that failed to capture players' interest.

The failure of Immortals of Aveum adds to the growing trend of major studios becoming hesitant to invest in big-budget single-player games, which are becoming increasingly rare in the industry. The subsequent layoffs and job redundancies within Ascendant Studios further highlight the unfortunate consequences of such failures, affecting passionate developers.

Despite receiving decent reviews, with a score of 74 on OpenCritic and a Mostly Positive rating on Steam, the game failed to resonate with a significant audience. An anonymous employee from Ascendant Studios acknowledged the potential appeal of the game's old-school approach, devoid of microtransactions and unnecessary open-world grinding. Nevertheless, the game struggled to find buyers.

The disappointing performance of Immortals of Aveum raises questions about the future of single-player FPS games on a large scale. With the industry shifting towards games as a service and multiplayer experiences, the fate of these no-nonsense action-driven titles is uncertain.

As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether major studios will take risks on ambitious single-player projects or opt for safer multiplayer-focused alternatives. The repercussions of Immortals of Aveum's failure serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by developers in an ever-changing market.