Gearbox’s initial attempt at expanding Risk of Rain 2 with Seekers of the Storm has been met with significant criticism.
Fans were apprehensive when Gearbox acquired the rights to Risk of Rain in 2022, fearing the studio might mishandle the beloved game. Unfortunately, those concerns have come to fruition: the Seekers of the Storm expansion has launched to a multitude of problems.
One of the most glaring issues is the pricing. The expansion’s cost varies greatly by region, leading to reports that it is significantly more expensive in some countries compared to others. For example, players in Brazil noted that the price was double that of the previous expansion, Survivors of the Void, despite both being priced at $15 in the US.
In response to the backlash, Gearbox announced an update indicating that they would adjust the pricing of Seekers of the Storm “in select markets” to align it more closely with the previous expansion. Players who paid inflated prices are advised to request a refund through Steam before repurchasing at the corrected price.
However, the pricing issue pales in comparison to the more serious gameplay problems introduced with the expansion. A recent update for Risk of Rain 2, released alongside Seekers of the Storm, has resulted in bugs affecting all players, not just those who bought the expansion.
The most critical problem is that the expansion has inadvertently linked the game’s physics to its frame rate. Gearbox developer GBX-Preston acknowledged this issue on Discord, stating that the FPS-related problems, including their impact on balance and gameplay mechanics, were not intended. He noted that addressing these issues is a priority for the team. As a temporary solution, players experiencing difficulties are advised to cap the game at 60 fps.
“The team is aware of the situation and is actively working to resolve it,” GBX-Preston confirmed. “For now, playing at 60 fps should alleviate most of the issues caused by this bug.”
He also candidly remarked that the PC version of Risk of Rain 2 “is in a really bad place” after the update—an admission that underscores the severity of the situation—and encouraged players to report any additional bugs they encounter.
As a result, Seekers of the Storm currently holds a “mostly negative” rating on Steam, with just 34% of user reviews being positive. The overall reception of Risk of Rain 2 has also dropped to “mixed.” This situation is particularly unfortunate for Gearbox, which is still reeling from the backlash over the poorly received *Borderlands* movie.