10 Video Game Betas That Put You Off Full Games

What is a video game beta? Most would agree its a base version of an upcoming product that allows the developer to get a sense of issues that need to be fixed before launch. Arguably the first game to popularise the pre-release testing was Halo 3 back in 2007, a highly successful project that improved the game massively before it game out.

Nowadays, betas don't often live up to what's said on the tin. They're often pushed out to players to tempt them into playing the game early, rather than testing titles for bugs and other issues. On top of this, they're also bundled in with pre-orders, banking on the fear of missing out to pull in potential buyers before the finished product is available.

While some games in beta do go on to achieve high popularity, others ended up forming poor impressions that carried over into the final products. Whether it was titles that were never released or new AAA releases that flopped hard, here are ten betas that left a bad taste of gamer's mouths.

First up on the list is the most recent and contentious beta. Marvel's Avengers has been making some very weak impressions as of late; its gameplay, technical performance and monetisation model all becoming major sore points as the game's release date draws near.

Tipped as Square Enix's live service title, the title aims to take advantage of the wild popularity of the license and put players in the shoes of their favourite superheroes. Considering how both the Batman Arkham series and PS4 Spider-Man both achieved huge acclaim, the title had potential at first.

However, a wave of criticism has engulfed Avengers as it entered its recent beta. Gameplay is described as monotonous and bland, the mission designs generic and the story woefully lacklustre. Worse still, the game isn't quite wholly optimised in terms of bugs and glitches and from a money-making standpoint, things are highly questionable. The game's progression is heavily based on acquiring currencies and upgrading your gear stats with an extensive unlock process for every character.

With game now so close to release, it's very unlikely that any issues pointed out by the community will be addressed or rectified. Could Marvel's Avengers turn into 2020's biggest gaming bomb? All will be revealed when it arrives on September 4th.