$1.25 Billion Up in Flames: The 5 Biggest Gaming Flops of 2024

Some games carry such enormous budgets and expectations that failure seems impossible—until it happens. In 2024, several major titles that promised to be hits instead left players frustrated and developers counting massive losses.

Together, these five games represent $1.25 billion in wasted potential, proving that even the biggest names in gaming aren’t immune to mismanagement, misguided ambitions, or poorly executed ideas. Let’s break down what went wrong with each release and the real numbers behind the chaos.

1. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – $200 Million Disaster

Release: February 2024 | Budget: $200 million | Price: $70 | Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

This live-service multiplayer title from Rocksteady Studios was met with backlash for veering away from its narrative roots. Despite hype, the game’s repetitive missions and weak story drove players away.

• Player Peak: 13,459 on Steam, plummeting below 1,000 within a month.
• Impact: Warner Bros.’ gaming revenue dropped 41% in Q2 2024, largely attributed to the game’s failure.

Even post-launch content updates couldn’t save the game, which quickly became a symbol of Rocksteady’s miscalculated shift toward live-service mechanics.

2. Skull and Bones – $850 Million Lost at Sea

Release: February 2024 | Budget: $650-$850 million | Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

After 10 years of troubled development, Skull and Bones finally launched—but with shallow gameplay and a lack of depth. Ubisoft’s attempt to ride the pirate genre wave failed to impress.

• Player Count: Failed to surpass 1 million users despite free trials and marketing pushes.
• Outcome: Ubisoft shifted its focus to other projects, leaving this title adrift as a financial loss.

3. Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat – A Mobile Adaptation Misfire

Release: January 2024 | Platform: iOS | Metacritic Score: 41/100

Capcom’s mobile attempt at the beloved Devil May Cry franchise stumbled out of the gate. The game’s heavy focus on gacha mechanics, combined with clunky controls, frustrated long-time fans.

• Engagement: Early downloads were promising, but player retention nosedived due to frustrating monetization.
• Impact: Despite the franchise’s popularity on consoles, the mobile release struggled to generate meaningful revenue.

4. Winter Survival – Buried in Bugs and Frustration

Release: March 2024 (Early Access) | Platform: PC

Winter Survival, a survival game from DRAGO Entertainment, promised an immersive wilderness experience but left players out in the cold. Technical issues and a punishing difficulty curve alienated users early on.

• Player Retention: Most players abandoned the game soon after release, citing the overwhelming hunger and fatigue mechanics as deal-breakers.
• Development Struggles: Frequent patches have been announced, but the game has yet to recover its player base.

5. Bulletstorm VR – A Cult Classic Lost in Transition

Release: January 2024 | Platform: VR Headsets

Bulletstorm VR attempted to bring the chaotic charm of the original game into virtual reality, but poor optimization and clunky controls marred the experience.

• Sales: Despite a $40 price tag, the game struggled to attract a substantial player base.
• Reception: Reviewers criticized its outdated design, with many recommending the original non-VR version instead.

Lessons from Expensive Failures

These five games illustrate that even the biggest franchises and budgets can’t guarantee success. Misaligned gameplay mechanics, rushed development, and poor audience targeting have left studios with hard lessons. With losses exceeding $1.25 billion, the message for future releases is clear: Developers must prioritize polish and player trust over ambition. The failures of 2024 will shape the industry’s approach to game development in the years to come.