History OvershadowedByControversy / VideoGames

* ''Domina'' was a gladiator sim that enjoyed a modest amount of success due to its intricate combat system and easy to learn, hard to master gameplay. However, nowadays it's known almost entirely for its lead developer's sudden and downright ''baffling'' descent into hardcore alt-right beliefs, with him going on extended and increasingly unhinged political rants on his Twitter account and ''the game's patch notes''. Eventually, these rants became so unhinged, toxic and aggressively hostile that the developer was banned from his own Steam forum, and ''Domina'' itself would be pulled from Steam entirely shortly afterwards.

* The Platform/Atari2600 port of ''VideoGame/PacMan'' is already considered to be the TropeCodifier for PortingDisaster due to [[ChristmasRushed being very rushed]], with its flickering ghosts being its most common complaint. However, it's also infamous for Creator/{{Atari}} manufacturing more cartridges than there were Atari 2600s on the market at the time[[note]]By March 1982, Atari had sold approximately 10 million consoles, but they manufactured approximately 12 million copies of ''Pac-Man''[[/note]], believing that—since the original UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame was (and still is) a huge critical and commercial success—people would order more Atari 2600s just to play ''Pac-Man'' at home. While the game was initially a commercial success, selling 7 million copies, word quickly got out that it was a terrible port of the original arcade game. Very soon, many copies were refunded, and Atari became distrusted by gamers. In short, Atari's botched port and the backlash that ensued was a significant contributor to MediaNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, which the port has become forever associated with.

* ''VideoGame/LimbusCompany'': Once a promising entry to Project Moon's other works, the reputation of it has been tainted when during the release of Intervallo IV.5, some players complained that the Molar Boatworks Identities of Ishmael wasn't sexualized enough and claimed that the game was tainted by feminist extremists, and framed the CG artist, Vellmori as one of them, causing Project Moon to supposedly lay her off and starting a series of uproars within not just the fandom, but also by the Korean game community as well. While it was later revealed that Vellmori voluntarily resigned due to the harassment, the incident remains as a major problem of South Korea's infamous gender war issues.

* ''VideoGame/MightyNo9'', for the majority of its developmental cycle, was extremely hyped and awaited due to it looking like a worthy successor to ''Franchise/MegaMan''. The project was headed by series co-creator Keiji Inafune, and was held up as a sign of what crowdfunding could achieve. However, as time when on, the game's reputation got increasingly bogged down by further crowdfunding attempts for extra features, as well as a series of delays.[[note]]The game's planned release date was April 2015; it came out in ''June 2016'', and only for some of the promised platforms at the time- the ports for the Vita and [=3DS=] in particular never came out at all.[[/note]] The nail in the coffin was the ''VideoGame/RedAsh'' Kickstarter, which started before ''Mighty No. 9'' was even released and had some shady practices involved (and was never released in any form itself), and a TotallyRadical ad for ''Mighty No. 9'' containing the phrase "make the bad guys cry like an anime fan on prom night", which insulted most of the game's fanbase. In particular, it was revealed that the game was already funded, and the Kickstarter was merely to increase its scope; it failed by a decent amount. By the time the game was finally released, to negative reviews, a good chunk of backers wanted their money back and were more interested in the TroubledProduction than the game itself, and it became a symbol of how ''not'' to make a game via crowdfunding.

* ''VideoGame/LimbusCompany'': Once a promising entry to Project Moon's other works, the reputation of it has been tainted when during the release of Intervallo IV.5, some players complained that the Molar Boatworks Identities of Ishmael wasn't sexualized enough and claimed that the game was tainted by feminist extremists, and framed the CG artist, Vellmori as one of them, causing Project Moon to supposedly lay her off and starting a series of uproars within not just the fandom, but also by the Korean game community as well. While it was later revealed that Vellmori later voluntary resigned due to the harassment, the incident remains as a major problem of South Korea's infamous gender war issues.

* ''VideoGame/LimbusCompany'': Once a promising entry to Project Moon's other works, the reputation of it has been tainted when during the release of Intervallo IV.5, some players complained that the Molar Boatworks Identities of Ishmael wasn't sexualized enough and claimed that the game was tainted by feminist extremists, and framed the CG artist, Vellmori as one them, causing Project Moon to supposedly lay her off and starting a series of uproars within not just the fandom, but also by the Korean game community as well. While it was later revealed that Vellmori later voluntary resigned due to the harassment, the incident remains as a major problem of South Korea's infamous gender war issues.

** In 2023, a whistleblower came forward with accusation and reasonable proof that [=YandereDev=] had behaved inappropriately with a minor along with accusations of grooming her. Given the already existing controversies around him, it resulted in almost all of the voice actors - including Yandare-chan's - requesting immediate removal of their voice work from the game and departing from the project, leaving the game languishing in a hiatus with its reputation likely ruined beyond repair.

* The CompilationRerelease ''Sonic Origins'', which includes ports of ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 Sonic 1]]'', ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'', ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sonic 2]]'' and ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' for Platform/PlayStation4, Platform/PlayStation5, Platform/XboxOne, Platform/XboxSeriesXAndS, Platform/NintendoSwitch and PC, has been the center of many controversies before and after its release. First, Creator/{{Sega}}'s decision to remove the original games from online platforms (Platform/PlayStationNetwork, Platform/XboxLive, Nintendo eShop and Platform/{{Steam}}) in May 2022 was considered a not-subtle way to push consumers to this compilation, and the use of the [[UsefulNotes/DigitalRightsManagement Denuvo]] protection for the PC version was criticized because of the implications that it may slow down computers. The in-game coin system which is necessary to unlock some bonuses and which is sold through [[DownloadableContent DLC]] didn't help neither. After the release, some players realized the following things: some bugs in the games were not corrected yet because Sega didn't include them properly in the compilation; despite what the intro and outro cutscenes supposed, Amy Rose is not playable; and while the replacement of Music/MichaelJackson tracks in ''Sonic 3 and Knuckles'' was accepted because of [[UsefulNotes/{{Copyright}} the legal issues around them]], the decision to remix the PC tracks instead of remastering the prototype ones was not well-received.

** Okalo Union defended and incriminated themselves within the same statement, first defending themselves from accusations that the game mines bitcoins [[DiggingYourselfDeeper by outright admitting]] that the game actually mines [[InsistentTerminology Monero coins]], and ''then'' [[ImmediateSelfContradiction claiming that it doesn't mine any kind of cryptocurrency]]. The news post detailing the game's item drop system [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial also insisted that the game was not a crypto miner]].

* Rockstar Games, a subsidy of Creator/TakeTwoInteractive (who also own 2K Games and Visual Concepts), practically builds their business around controversy:

* ''VideoGame/GuildWars2'' is a well-respected ''Massively Multiplayer Action RPG'', but for those who don't play [=MMOs=], they will recognize it thanks to the incident that started when writer Jessica Price started a fight on Twitter with various followers and a company-sponsored streamer known as ''Deroir'' after he politely wanted to refute her claims that writing for MMO player characters was harder than in a standard RPG. When the conversation spiraled out of control, writer Peter Fries chimed in and attempted to defend her and her aggressive responses, only leading to more debate and fighting. Eventually, the controversy was heard by [=ArenaNet=] CEO Mike O'Brien who immediately fired both of them with him claiming that they had violated company policy regarding how to communicate with fans. This led to Jessica denouncing her firing by claiming that her firing set a precedent that if Reddit wanted a female developer fired, companies would comply, thus making the industry more female-hostile than it already is currently.

* The Platform/Atari2600 port of ''VideoGame/PacMan'' is known for being the TropeCodifier for PortingDisaster due to [[ChristmasRushed being very rushed]], with its flickering ghosts being its most common complaint. However, it's also infamous for Creator/{{Atari}} manufacturing more cartridges than there were Atari 2600s on the market at the time[[note]]By March 1982, Atari had sold approximately 10 million consoles, but they manufactured approximately 12 million copies of ''Pac-Man''[[/note]], believing that—since the original UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame was (and still is) a huge critical and commercial success—people would order more Atari 2600s just to play ''Pac-Man'' at home. While the game was initially a commercial success, selling 7 million copies, word quickly got out that it was a terrible port of the original arcade game. Very soon, many copies were refunded, and Atari became distrusted by gamers. In short, Atari's botched port and the backlash that ensued was a significant contributor to MediaNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, which the port has become forever associated with.

* Video game music composer Music/TommyTallarico was known for much of the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s for his works as a composer on popular games (most notably ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim'') and the ''Video Games Live'' concerts. While his tenure as co-host of the television show ''Electric Playground'' and reaction to online critics generated controversy, he was still primarily known as a talented musician. Cracks in his reputation deepened when Tallarico took over the Platform/{{Intellivision}} brand and began work on a new video game system called the Platform/IntellivisionAmico. Tommy's [[TakeThatCritics highly abrassive attitude toward people critical of the Amico]] [[note]]including slander towards the Platform/NintendoSwitch and collectively calling detractors of the console "gaming racists"[[/note]] and habit of making grandiose promises about the Amico hardware and software pipeline that had a pattern of not materializing garnered him a growing number of detractors. This led to these detractors digging into his history, uncovering a pattern of misappropriating credits from people who worked under him and lying about his personal accomplishments and involvement in projects his name was attached to. This truly hit the mainstream when popular [=YouTuber=] WebVideo/HBomberguy released a video discussing Tallarico's lawsuit with the developers of ''VideoGame/{{Roblox}}'' and his checkered history, introducing the controversy to a much larger audience. These days, Tommy Tallarico's reputation as a liar and a fraud has overtook his reputation as a composer, with many commentators throwing the validity of his entire career into doubt.

* ''VideoGame/{{Dormitabis}}'' is a ''Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' fan game that is mainly infamous for its questionable inclusion of RapeAsDrama, depicting Garvey (the stand-in for William Afton, the BigBad of the ''Five Nights of Freddy's'' series) as a pedophile. This is made far worse by the fact that the creator of the game, Blackout a.k.a. Nicchi, has been exposed for having snuff and rape fetishes and also grooming a 12 year old. This has led to Nicchi being exiled from the community and a remaster of the game being made without his involvement that rewrites the story to remove such elements.

* The Platform/XboxOne was defined by the massive outcry over Microsoft's (ultimately scrapped) plans to give the console DRM that would have required it to connect to Xbox Live at least once every 24 hours and placed heavy restrictions on used games. Also controversial was the bundling of a Kinect with every console, and that the system would refuse to function without the sensor connected to it, which (a) increased the system's price [[note]]$100 more than the Platform/PlayStation4 would sell for at launch despite the Xbox having weaker hardware[[/note]] and (b) upset people who either didn't care for the Kinect or were worried about privacy[[note]]Microsoft's filing a [[https://kotaku.com/this-kinect-patent-is-terrifying-wants-to-charge-you-f-5958307 patent to restrict movie watching]] and the Snowden leaks amplified these concerns[[/note]]. Worse was Don Mattrick's initial tone-deaf response telling users that they would [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzmVcasl3ZU have to accept this or be stuck in the past]]. The backlash was so swift and intense that Microsoft reversed both their DRM plans and the requirement that Kinect be plugged in at all times a week after E3, replaced Xbox division head Don Mattrick with Phil Spencer, and later cut the Kinect entirely to drop the system's price. While these actions would redeem the brand in the eyes of consumers, the Xbox One was never able to gain enough momentum to challenge Platform/PlayStation4's sales numbers thanks to these self-inflicted wounds from its pre-release, and Spencer would lament that it was the "[[https://kotaku.com/xbox-phil-spencer-interview-starfield-ps5-console-war-1850404446 worst generation to lose]]" due to how the UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames marked the start of consumers investing heavily in digital over physical game purchases, and by extension, investing into specific console ecosystems.

* ''VideoGame/{{Dormitabis}}'' is a ''Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' fan game that is mainly infamous for its questionable inclusion of RapeAsDrama, depicting Garvey (the stand-in for William Afton, the BigBad of the "Five Nights of Freddy's'' series) as a pedophile. This is made far worse by the fact that the creator of the game, Blackout a.k.a. Nicchi, has been exposed for having snuff and rape fetishes and also grooming a 12 year old. This has led to Nicchi being exiled from the community and a remaster of the game being made without his involvement that rewrites the story to remove such elements.

* VideoGame/{{Dormitabis}} is a [[Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys FNAF]] fan game that is mainly infamous for it's questionable inclusion of RapeAsDrama, depicting Garvey (The stand-in for William Afton) as a pedophile. This is made far worse by the fact that the creator of the game, Blackout aka Nicchi, has been exposed for having snuff and rape fetishes and also grooming a 12 year old. This has led to Nicchi being exiled from the community and a remaster of the game being made without his involvment that rewrites the story to remove such elements.

* VideoGame/{{Dormitabis}} is a [[Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys FNAF]] fan game that is mainly infamous for it's questionable inclusion of RapeAsDrama, depicting Garvey (The stand-in for William Afton) as a pedophile. This is made far worse by the fact that the creator of the game, Blackout aka Nicchi, has been exposed for having snuff and rape fetishes and also grooming a 12 year old. This has led to Nicchi being exiled from the communy and a remaster of the game being made without his involvment that rewrites the story to remove such elements.

* VideoGame/{{Dormitabis}} is a [[Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys FNAF]] fan game that is mainly infamous for it's questionable inclusion of RapeAsDrama, depicting Garvey (The stand-in for William Afton) as pedophile. This is made far worse by the fact that the creator of the game, Blackout aka Nicchi, has been exposed for having snuff and rape fetishes and also grooming a 12 year old. This has led to Nicchi being exiled from the communy and a remaster of the game being made without his involvment to remove these elements.

* VideoGame/Dormitabis is a [[Franchise/FiveNightsAtFreddys FNAF]] fan game that is mainly infamous for it's questionable inclusion of RapeAsDrama, depicting Garvey (The stand-in for William Afton) as pedophile. This is made far worse by the fact that the creator of the game, Blackout aka Nicchi, has been exposed for having snuff and rape fetishes and also grooming a 12 year old. This has led to Nicchi being exiled from the communy and a remaster of the game being made without his involvment to remove these elements.

** As for the game's campaign, any story values it had were totally overshadowed by [[spoiler:the reveal that the protagonist, after her home planet is targeted by Imperials to be massacred, defects to the Rebellion, despite the fact that the game's campaign had been entirely promoted as being a pro-Empire story, with many accusing EA of false advertising as a result.]]

** Prior to their acquisition by Take-Two Rockstar North (the team behind ''Grand Theft Auto'' and ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption''[[note]]Which has somehow mostly avoided this trope despite being best described as ''Grand Theft Horse''[[/note]]) started off life as a company called DMA Design[[note]]'''D'''oesn't '''M'''ean '''A'''nything[[/note]], who created the Platform/{{SNES}} game ''VideoGame/{{Uniracers}}''. This game is most famous for getting recalled after Creator/{{Pixar}} won a lawsuit claiming the CGI unicycle in the game was stolen from the Pixar animated short ''WesternAnimation/RedsDream''.

** Prior to their acquisition by Take-Two Rockstar North (the team behind ''Grand Theft Auto'' and ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption''[[note]]Which has somehow mostly avoided this trope despite being best described as ''Grand Theft Horse''[[/note]]) started off life as a company called DMA Design[[note]]'''D'''oesn't '''M'''ean '''A'''nything[[/note]], who created the Platform/{{SNES}} game ''VideoGame/{{Uniracers}}''. This game is most famous for getting recalled after Creator/{{Pixar}} won a lawsuit claiming the CGI unicycle in the game was stolen from one of Pixar's animated shorts.

* Rayark is a Taiwanese company mainly known for making mobile {{Rhythm Game}}s such as ''VideoGame/{{Cytus}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Deemo}}'', ''VideoGame/CytusII'', and ''VideoGame/{{Voez}}''. While they're known for making fun games with a polished presentation, very good soundtracks, and surprisingly engaging storylines, they've also drawn some criticism for monetization that can be considered greedy and manipulative, such as locking story content behind paywalls. They also got flak in 2020 for cutting ties with ICE, a popular music producer from Hong Kong after he released a song (outside of the games) which contained a hidden "Free Hong Kong" message, in order to avoid having ''Cytus II'' BannedInChina. Their biggest controversy, however, came in 2023, when players suspected that some promotional images contained MediaNotes/AIGeneratedArtwork, which was criticized by not only their players but also some of their former staff. While Rayark [[https://twitter.com/RayarkOfficial/status/1662466497531506688 has denied that these images were generated by A.I.]], not everyone believes their claims, as many of the images feature defects commonly found in A.I.-generated images such as deformed hands, and the statement mentioned that Rayark was looking into incorporating A.I-generated content into their future releases. This has tainted how many view the company and its games, losing them many fans and greatly hurting their general reputation.