10 Video Game Developers Who Made The Right Decision To Ignore Fans

It's often said that a writer's second novel is infinitely harder than their first, and the same seems to hold true for game development.

It's not always clear what makes a series popular, and devs need to find ways to improve upon the original formula while not alienating fans who often have a clear set of expectations of what they want to see in the sequel.

When innovating too much could destroy the brand, and innovating too little risks a slower but equally painful death by stagnation (rest in peace, Telltale Games), it's no surprise that devs often get the balance wrong. Listening to your fans is often necessary to know where to plant your flag; to understand what to keep and what to unceremoniously ditch.

That said, fans can be wrong and sometimes - just sometimes - the companies and people who make a living from creating video games really do have a better idea of what makes a better final product than the adoring public.

Some of the greatest games of all time come from devs listening carefully to their audience - and then ignoring them entirely.

The Witcher 3 finally answered the burning question on all fans' minds: will the titular Geralt of Rivia cop off with series stalwart Triss Merigold, or with his star-crossed lover from the books, Yennefer?

In fact, the game allows him to get it on with either lady. You might think some players would try to sneak an awkwardly-rendered lovemaking scene with both women, and you'd be absolutely right. If this happens, Triss and Yen invite Geralt to a steamy ménage à trois... before tying him unclothed to the bed and leaving him there.

Some fans were enraged by this unwelcome injection of reality into their fantasy, and the scene suffered an online backlash against the two witches failing to meekly accept Geralt's philandering.

In truth, however, it's a great narrative moment that fits perfectly with the personalities of these femmes fatale and with the game's themes of decisions and consequences.

For a studio which once exhibited a less than, uh, sophisticated attitude towards women (CDPR would surely love to forget about the nudie trading cards from the first game), it is encouraging that they stayed true to the essences of their female characters without resorting to lazy fan service.