10 Video Games Everyone Wanted (But Nobody Played)
5. Prey (2017)
There's perhaps no video game studio more unlucky than Arkane Studios, who have a history of producing quality, well-received games that don't find a way to connect with a wider player-base.
It first happened to Dishonored 2, and then it happened to 2017's reboot of Prey, which was anticipated as one of the boldest and most ambitious FPS of its era - in a period where the FPS genre was waning - and went on to score strong reviews from most outlets.
Despite this, Prey debuted at #2 in the UK charts behind the Nintendo Switch port of Mario Kart 8, and to make matters worse first-week sales were said to be 60% down from Dishonored 2, which again was itself a commercial disappointment.
Many journalists cited Bethesda's decision to withhold review code from critics until the game's release day as instrumental in it flopping, while others pointed to a low-key marketing campaign and also the decision to name it after a 2006 FPS that few had actually played.
Had Bethesda given out review copies pre-release, leveraged their marketing to focus on the game's unique gameplay and aesthetics, and given it a different, more compelling title, then it might've actually struck a chord with the mainstream.