Concerns about Fntastic’s December game, The Day Before, just got even bigger, according to reports from German gaming sites GameStar and Game Two. The reports revealed that only 10 members of the original 20-person team initially worked on a small survival project with unique décor and a short story. However, sudden changes led to the creation of The Day Before, disappointing many of the development team who were content with the original plan. The management at Fntastic pressured the team to chase the latest trends in the gaming industry, which resulted in the game undergoing numerous drastic changes, leading to dissatisfaction among the team.
Unsatisfactory dates, overreaching promises, and unreasonable demands were attributed to the founders and brothers of Fntastic, Eduard and Aisen Gotovtsev. Reports indicated that the leaders often referred to the team as a “big family” but also resorted to sudden firings as a means of motivation, leading to extreme working conditions and unrealistic work schedules. The studio announced its closure following the release of The Day Before on December 7, 2023, which was swiftly followed by a series of controversies and financial failure. The game servers were closed, and the game was officially shut down on January 22.
Michael Cripe, a freelance contributor to IGN, expressed his strong disapproval of The Day Before, describing it as one of the worst games he has ever played and advising against trying it out.
