A Soulslike on the edge – Saved by a single patch!
Sometimes, all it takes is a single patch to bring a nearly forgotten game back into the spotlight.
What sounds like wishful thinking became reality for Lords of the Fallen.Once seen as a promising Soulslike title back in 2023, the game looked all but finished. Steam player numbers had plummeted, and the community's attention had long since shifted elsewhere.But then came Update 2.0 – and with it, a wave of changes that breathed new life into the game.The Fall Of A Once-Promising Title
When Lords of the Fallen launched in 2023, expectations were sky-high. The dark action RPG clearly took inspiration from Dark Souls and Elden Ring, but added its own twist with the haunting “Umbral World” mechanic.
The launch was strong: over 43,000 concurrent players on Steam, solid sales numbers – but things quickly turned sour.
Technical issues, a lack of polish, and underwhelming co-op features pushed many players away. The excitement faded fast.
Soon, active player numbers dropped to just a few thousand, and eventually below 500. Lords of the Fallen was quietly fading into obscurity.
The Turning Point: Version 2.0
Then came the turning point on April 17, 2025. Update 2.0 wasn’t just a standard patch – it was a full-scale rework.
The developers clearly listened to community feedback and reimagined key parts of the game.Highlights of the Update:
- Co-op with Shared Progression: Players can now experience the story together with synced progress, shared loot, and the ability to revive each other.
- Friend’s Pass: Only one player needs to own the game. The second can join for free and keep their progress.
- Improved Combat: Faster movement, smoother animations, a dedicated jump button – combat now feels more refined and responsive.
- More Improvements: A redesigned UI, better tutorials, a reworked navigation system using the Umbral Lamp, and an updated character creator.
The Numbers Speak For Themselves
What followed was nothing short of a miracle: Within just a few days, Lords of the Fallen’s concurrent players on Steam jumped from under 500 to over 11,000.
The game climbed back into Steam’s Top Sellers list, and reviews started trending upward. Lords of the Fallen was back – not just technically, but in the hearts of its community.
A Word from the Developers
Shortly after the update went live, Marek Tymiński, CEO of publisher CI Games, shared a heartfelt message:
“10,000 concurrent players, 18 months after launch. Just last week we had around 500. This means so much to us. Thank you to everyone who believed in us.”
An honest moment – and proof that this comeback wasn’t a marketing stunt, but the result of real work and dedication.
10k concurrent players, 18 months after launch. Just a week ago, it was around 500. This means the world to us. Thank you to everyone who believed, supported, and stuck with us. We'll never stop showing up for you - always. pic.twitter.com/AZ8vVm1Ei7
— Marek Tyminski (@tyminski_marek) April 20, 2025
When A Game Hits The Reset Button
Lords of the Fallen is a perfect example of what’s possible when developers don’t give up – and when an update is more than just a technical fix.
What was almost forgotten has become a success story, bringing thousands of players back in just days.
Update 2.0 was more than a patch – it was a wake-up call. A message to the community, to the devs themselves, and maybe even to the entire industry.
Because if a nearly abandoned title can stage a comeback with the right update – what about all those other games collecting dust in our libraries?
Maybe Lords of the Fallen marks the beginning of a quiet renaissance. Maybe more studios will realize it’s worth revisiting old mistakes, fixing them, and giving a game a second life – rather than leaving it behind.
A single update really can change everything. Not just for one game, but for how we see second chances in the gaming world.
And you? Which game would you love to see make a comeback with a refreshed, reworked version?