8 Video Games So Bad They KILLED The Studio
4. SimCity (2013)
2013's SimCity reboot is far and away the best game on this list, because the core gameplay is actually enjoyable to a point.
The problem, however, is that any of the city-builder's positives were wholly overshadowed by its utterly disastrous launch.
SimCity 2013 had technical issues out the wazoo from day one, largely related to EA's decision to make the game always-online, leaving most paying customers unable to play it amid network outages. And even when they could play it, they risked losing progress altogether.
EA only made things worse for themselves by both refusing to offer refunds to disgruntled players and discounting the prospect of making the game playable offline.
The negativity surrounding the launch caused SimCity to post disappointing sales, which not only resulted in the series' being put on ice but developer Maxis Emeryville closing down in 2015.
Something good did come from SimCity's failure, though - it prompted EA to pivot away from always-online games, with The Sims 4 being reworked from an online-only title into a purely offline experience.