From Zero To Hero: How A Single Update Brought Lords Of The Fallen Back To Life

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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

In the year 2023, when Lords of the Fallen was released, anticipation soared to great heights. This gritty action RPG bore a striking resemblance to Dark Souls and Elden Ring, but it introduced an original element with its chilling “Umbral World” feature.

The launch was impressive: Over 43,000 simultaneous players on Steam, robust sales figures – however, things soon took a turn for the worse.

Issues with the technical aspects, a less-than-perfect finish, and disappointing multiplayer elements drove many gamers away, leaving them disenchanted. The initial enthusiasm quickly waned.

In due course, the number of actively playing individuals decreased dramatically to less than five hundred, and gradually, Lords of the Fallen became almost unheard of in the gaming world.

The Turning Point: Version 2.0

On April 17, 2025, we reached a significant milestone. The Update 2.0 wasn’t merely a routine patch; instead, it underwent a comprehensive overhaul.

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

Amazingly, in a very short span of time, the number of simultaneous Steam players for Lords of the Fallen skyrocketed. It went from fewer than 500 to more than 11,000!

After reappearing on Steam’s Top Sellers list, favorable reviews for the game became more prevalent. Once again, Lords of the Fallen found its place not only on gaming platforms but also within the affection of its gaming community.

A Word from the Developers

Not long after the launch of the update, Marek Tymiński, the CEO of CI Games, took to sharing a touching note:

“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.”

A candid admission – showing that this return wasn’t just a publicity move, but the product of genuine effort and commitment.

10,000 simultaneous players, 18 months following its release – a figure that’s just doubled from a week ago, reaching where we once hoped it would. This growth means the world to us and we couldn’t be more grateful. A big thank you to everyone who believed in us, supported us, and stayed with us throughout this journey. We promise to keep delivering for you – forever and always.

— Marek Tyminski (@tyminski_marek) April 20, 2025

When A Game Hits The Reset Button

Lords of the Fallen demonstrates the incredible results that can be achieved when developers persevere, and an update goes beyond merely addressing technical issues.

A nearly forgotten tale is now a triumph, attracting thousands of players again within mere days.

In my perspective, Update 2.0 wasn’t just a simple fix; it served as a resounding alarm bell. It sent a clear signal to our community, to the developers themselves, and perhaps even echoed through the entire gaming industry.

If even an almost forgotten game can regain popularity with the right makeover, imagine how many other games gathering dust in our collections could also have a second chance!

Perhaps Lords of the Fallen signifies a subtle resurgence, implying that other development studios might recognize the value in revisiting past errors, rectifying them, and breathing new life into games instead of abandoning them altogether.

One modification could dramatically shift everything, not merely within a specific game, but also our perspective on do-overs in the gaming sphere.

And you? Which game would you love to see make a comeback with a refreshed, reworked version?

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2025-04-22 22:10