In a recent heartfelt interview, Davide Soliani, co-creator of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, opened up about the emotional toll that Ubisoft’s comments on the game’s performance had on his team. The sequel, which followed the successful Kingdom Battle, was intended to expand the gaming experience, but faced criticism for its performance on the Nintendo Switch. Soliani revealed that the feedback from Ubisoft was a blow to the morale of the dedicated team that had poured three and a half years into the project.
“The message that we received about how the game was faring was a bit hurtful for the morale of the team,” said Soliani. His words reflect the passion and commitment that went into developing Sparks of Hope, making it clear that the team had high hopes for their creation. The disappointment they felt was palpable, especially after investing so much time and energy into crafting a game they believed in.
Despite the hurtful comments, Soliani emphasized that it was a normal reaction in the world of game development. “Every development team is proud of what they are doing and always searching for encouraging words,” he explained. Such feedback is crucial, especially during challenging times. The pressure mounted as expectations soared following the first game’s success, leading to a more complex development process.
“Sparks of Hope was way harder to develop than Kingdom Battle,” Soliani admitted. The complexity and broader scope of the sequel required deep thought and creativity, which sometimes led to overthinking. Yet, he remained optimistic about the journey. “It was still a joy, it was a wonderful experience because I always loved working with Nintendo and I always will.” His resilience shines through, reminding us that behind every game, there’s a passionate team striving to bring joy to players.
This story resonates not just with gamers but with anyone who has ever poured their heart into a project, only to face unexpected criticism. What do you think about the challenges faced by game developers? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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