Game News Pathfinder: Kingmaker Kickstarter Update #54: Releasing on September 25th, Preorder Available

[Infinitron]

Tags: Owlcat Games; Pathfinder: Kingmaker

For a while it seemed like Owlcat were actually going to hit their original August release window for Pathfinder: Kingmaker, but today we received the predictable delay announcement. The game is now coming out on September 25th, which isn't that bad. That's a week after The Bard's Tale IV, so it'll be quite a month. Kingmaker is now available for preorder on Steam and GOG, and there's a new teaser trailer too.

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What the Kickstarter update doesn't mention is that the game is being sold in a variety of editions. Notably, the $85 Imperial Edition includes a season pass granting access to three future DLCs (yes, just like Pillars of Eternity II). According to Owlcat's community manager in the comments, this edition doesn't correspond to any Kickstarter tier. Meaning that no matter how much money you backed the game with, you'll have to buy the season pass separately. It would be nice if they at least offered a discount upgrade for backers. Pillars II did!

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

While the art style leaves something to be desired, I have great confidence that this is going to be what we've been waiting for. I certainly don't expect the writing to be its high point, but I doubt it anything less than serviceable. This is a game I will likely play immediately, rather than wait the year.

 

[MicoSelva]

Season pass, eh? I wonder what DLC/expansions they plan to release.

Still, I am surprised the game has not been delayed any more. This means either that Owlcat are very efficient devs or that Kingmaker will be buggy as hell on release.

Also, I see a lot of complaining about the price on GOG forums, which does not bode well, unless critical reception will be in the same vein as Original Sin (unlikely). Here is hoping that the buggy game scenario does not come true.

 

[theSavant]

They should have made the whole game in cardboard style

 

[Arthandas]

I hope it won't end up as just another mediocrity like PoE...

 

[Bohrain]

Preordered, maybe it won't suck.

 

[Urthor]

Should really delay it to next February. If you release in September you're going to sell zero copies and get buttfucked by AAAA

Yes releasing the same week as the new FIFA is an excellent business strategy, yes indeed. Oh what was that, Assassin's Creed AND Forza the week after? Tomb Raider the week before?

HMM I WONDER HOW MANY COPIES THEY ARE GOING TO SELL

 

[Safav Hamon]

Also, I see a lot of complaining about the price on GOG forums, which does not bode well, unless critical reception will be in the same vein as Original Sin (unlikely).

They're deleting/locking threads and banning people that complain about the pricing model on steam. Shit developers.

 

[Infinitron]

I don't get it, what's the problem with the price? It's $40, cheaper than D:OS 2 and PoE2.

People whine about the price of deluxe editions whose only purpose is to soak fanboys?

 

[Safav Hamon]

I don't get it, what's the problem with the price? It's $40, cheaper than D:OS 2 and PoE2.

It's not the regular version price that people are complaining about, but the upgraded editions. $85 is a lot for a season pass and some cheap digital items.

Regardless of what you think about the value, they shouldn't be deleting threads and banning people for respectfully voicing their opinion.

People whine about the price of deluxe editions whose only purpose is to soak fanboys?

I normally wouldn't have a problem with it, but the deluxe content costs nearly as much as the game itself. I understand why people are frustrated.

 

[Rinslin Merwind]

Preordered, maybe it won't suck.

So you ordered product of unknown quality from developer without any reputation and will receive game in same time as average customers...You know, nothing personal, but you and whole industry will benefit from reconsidering your shopping methods. Just friendly suggestion, it's just sad for me seeing people losing their money in gambling called "pre-order" and I don't want this happen to anyone.

 

[Rinslin Merwind]

Should really delay it to next February. If you release in September you're going to sell zero copies and get buttfucked by AAAA

Yes releasing the same week as the new FIFA is an excellent business strategy, yes indeed. Oh what was that, Assassin's Creed AND Forza the week after? Tomb Raider the week before?

HMM I WONDER HOW MANY COPIES THEY ARE GOING TO SELL

I suspect that studio has no experience in gaming industry or has, but very small. Perhaps we would observe another tragedy of low sales and this "lesson in marketing" will be last for studio.

 

[Safav Hamon]

Not to mention there's no pre-order discount

 

[Rinslin Merwind]

They're deleting/locking threads and banning people that complain about the pricing model on steam. Shit developers.

Arrogant behavior of community manager (or whoever in charge of forums) will bring even less sales. This (in combination with release date) make me think that Kingmaker will be first and last Pathfinder crpg. Because studio will bankrupt and other devs would ignore Pathfinder setting as perspective for making a game.

 

[Fargus]

Another fantasy rpg, with a setting i don't give a fuck about, season pass with a bunch of dlcs, game is probably full of sjw trash as well. I have a bad feeling about this one. Pass.

I'll buy Insomnia instead.

 

[Safav Hamon]

Arrogant behavior of community manager (or whoever in charge of forums) will bring even less sales.

It's one of the developers doing it, which is even worse.

 

[Mortmal]

I don't get it, what's the problem with the price? It's $40, cheaper than D:OS 2 and PoE2.

It's not the regular version price that people are complaining about, but the upgraded editions. $85 is a lot for a season pass and some cheap digital items.

Regardless of what you think about the value, they shouldn't be deleting threads and banning people for respectfully voicing their opinion.

People whine about the price of deluxe editions whose only purpose is to soak fanboys?

I normally wouldn't have a problem with it, but the deluxe content costs nearly as much as the game itself. I understand why people are frustrated.

45$ for the season pass, we have no idea how much content that is. Still the base game come for cheap, 40$ its really nothing. That's why we cant have great things anymore, people dont want to pay the right price. So we get everything tailored for the mass market, mass market prices ,everything done by slaves with low wages at minimal effort for minimal price catering to the wider market possible.
I'd pay double easily for a good rpg , and i will gladly pay a few hundreds for something really extraordinary , something that gives me the same feeling discovering ultima 7 or wizardry 7-8 for the first time.So far only Divinity original sin 1 and 2 almost managed that .

 

[Infinitron]

The season pass will be available for sale separately when the game is released. Will probably cost $20-25 (PoE2's is $25).

 

[Bohrain]

Should really delay it to next February. If you release in September you're going to sell zero copies and get buttfucked by AAAA

Yes releasing the same week as the new FIFA is an excellent business strategy, yes indeed. Oh what was that, Assassin's Creed AND Forza the week after? Tomb Raider the week before?

HMM I WONDER HOW MANY COPIES THEY ARE GOING TO SELL

I wonder to what extend those are substituting products though. A typical console player who plays FIFA doesn't strike me as someone who has even heard, let alone potentially playing an isometric CRPG.

 

[Barghest]

Banning whining incel fanboys? Isn't that a good thing?

 

[Dreed]

Infinitron Since this thing is now available for preorder, did you get the keys for the backers of the Codex fundraiser?

 

[Infinitron]

Infinitron Since this thing is now available for preorder, did you get the keys for the backers of the Codex fundraiser?

Not even regular Kickstarter backers have their keys yet, so no.

 

[Urthor]

Should really delay it to next February. If you release in September you're going to sell zero copies and get buttfucked by AAAA

Yes releasing the same week as the new FIFA is an excellent business strategy, yes indeed. Oh what was that, Assassin's Creed AND Forza the week after? Tomb Raider the week before?

HMM I WONDER HOW MANY COPIES THEY ARE GOING TO SELL

I wonder to what extend those are substituting products though. A typical console player who plays FIFA doesn't strike me as someone who has even heard, let alone potentially playing an isometric CRPG.

The problem is that #1 the entire population of Europe plays FIFA on console pretty sure, so lets say 30% of the customers play FIFA because Europeans are prestigious and like good RPGs whilst being addicted to football.

Then you have the Assassin's creed fans, the Forza Horizon 4 fans, take off X% for all of those. It's death by a thousand cuts, each of those huge games attracts customers and crucially media attention, until you have literally nothing left.

 

[Infinitron]

If this game fails, it won't be because of other games released the same month or because of forum drama nobody has heard of.

It'll be because barely anybody has heard about the game, because not many people really wanted it, and because it's an Eternity clone instead of a Divinity clone.

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

I don't get it, what's the problem with the price? It's $40, cheaper than D:OS 2 and PoE2.

It's not the regular version price that people are complaining about, but the upgraded editions. $85 is a lot for a season pass and some cheap digital items.

Regardless of what you think about the value, they shouldn't be deleting threads and banning people for respectfully voicing their opinion.

People whine about the price of deluxe editions whose only purpose is to soak fanboys?

I normally wouldn't have a problem with it, but the deluxe content costs nearly as much as the game itself. I understand why people are frustrated.

45$ for the season pass, we have no idea how much content that is. Still the base game come for cheap, 40$ its really nothing. That's why we cant have great things anymore, people dont want to pay the right price. So we get everything tailored for the mass market, mass market prices ,everything done by slaves with low wages at minimal effort for minimal price catering to the wider market possible.
I'd pay double easily for a good rpg , and i will gladly pay a few hundreds for something really extraordinary , something that gives me the same feeling discovering ultima 7 or wizardry 7-8 for the first time.So far only Divinity original sin 1 and 2 almost managed that .

The original Baldur's Gate (1998) retailed for $49.99? If you just use straight BLS figures for inflation, that's $76.86 in today's currency. BLS inflation figures are notoriously low. If you add the price of Tales of the Sword Coast, you're going to end up with Pathfinder: Kingmaker being much lower cost in real terms. The economic reality has changed for many over the past 20 years, which ultimately makes $85 prohibitive for many, so I get it. Being that you're giving a hamburger today to be repaid Tuesday doesn't help either.

I had glossed over that they were selling these DLCs. I'll have to retract my statement and say that I'll wait until they are all released. I may still buy the "imperial version" now to keep their lights on, but I don't have the kind of time to do multiple play-throughs. I need to wait for product to be done.