There’s Already Concern Over Crash Team Rumble’s Future

Crash Team Rumble is the latest spin-off title in the Crash Bandicoot series, developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision. The game is an online multiplayer strategic platformer that pits two teams of four players against each other in a race to collect more Wumpa Fruit than the other team. The game features a roster of playable characters from the Crash Bandicoot universe, each with their own unique skills and abilities. The game was released on June 20, 2023, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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However, despite the game’s fun and colorful gameplay, there are already concerns over its future as a live service title. The game has received mixed reviews from critics and players alike, with some praising its fast-paced and chaotic action, while others criticizing its lack of content, balance issues, and technical problems. Moreover, the game faces stiff competition from other online multiplayer games in the market, such as Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Overwatch. The game also relies on a paid battle pass system to generate revenue and retain players, which may not be appealing to everyone.

In this article, we will explore some of the reasons why Crash Team Rumble may struggle to survive as a live service title, and what the developers and publishers can do to improve the game and its prospects.

Lack of Content

One of the main complaints about Crash Team Rumble is that it lacks content at launch. The game only has six playable characters (Crash, Cortex, Coco, Dingodile, Brio, and Tawna), four maps (Wumpa Island, Cortex Castle, N. Sanity Beach, and Toxic Waste), and one game mode (Wumpa Wars). While the developers have promised to add more content in the future through seasonal updates and events, some players feel that the game is too barebones and repetitive for a full-priced title.

Some of the content that players have requested include more characters (such as Tiny Tiger, Ripper Roo, Polar, Pura, Aku Aku, Uka Uka, etc.), more maps (such as Snowy Mountain, Temple Ruins, Future Frenzy, etc.), more game modes (such as Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Deathmatch, etc.), more customization options (such as skins, hats, backpacks, score effects, banners, etc.), and more gameplay features (such as power-ups, vehicles, weapons, etc.).

The developers have stated that they are listening to the feedback from the community and are working hard to deliver more content in the future. However, they have also warned that adding new content takes time and resources, and that they have to balance quality and quantity. They have also said that they want to keep the game simple and accessible for everyone.

Balance Issues

Another issue that plagues Crash Team Rumble is that it suffers from balance issues among the characters and their abilities. Some characters are considered to be overpowered or underpowered compared to others. For example,

• Crash is a Scorer who can use his spin attack to knock back enemies and collect Wumpa Fruit faster. However, he is also very vulnerable to attacks from other characters.
• Cortex is a Blocker who can use his ray gun to freeze enemies in place and prevent them from depositing Wumpa Fruit. However, he has a low health pool and a slow movement speed.
• Coco is a Booster who can use her hoverboard to move faster and jump higher. However, she has a weak melee attack and a limited range with her ray gun.
• Dingodile is a Blocker who can use his flamethrower to set enemies on fire and create firewalls. However, he has a slow reload speed and a large hitbox.
• Brio is a Scorer who can use his potions to create explosions and transform into a monster. However, he has a low ammo capacity and a long cooldown for his transformation.
• Tawna is a Booster who can use her hookshot to grapple across the map and pull enemies closer. However, she has a low damage output and a high skill cap.

Some players have suggested that the developers should tweak the characters’ stats and abilities to make them more balanced and fair. They have also suggested that the developers should introduce more characters with different roles and abilities to add more variety and strategy to the game.

The developers have acknowledged that balance is an ongoing process that requires constant testing and feedback. They have said that they are monitoring the data and feedback from the players and are making adjustments accordingly. They have also said that they are planning to add more characters in the future.

Technical Problems

Another problem that affects Crash Team Rumble is that it has several technical problems that hamper the gameplay experience. Some of the technical problems that players have reported include:

• Lag and latency issues that cause delays and glitches in the gameplay.
• Matchmaking issues that result in uneven teams, long wait times, or failed connections.
• Server issues that result in crashes, disconnects, or errors.
• Bug and glitches that result in visual or audio errors, gameplay errors, or progress loss.
• Cross-play issues that result in compatibility or communication problems between different platforms.

Some players have expressed their frustration and disappointment with the technical problems that ruin their enjoyment of the game. They have urged the developers to fix the problems as soon as possible and to improve the game’s performance and stability.

The developers have apologized for the technical problems and have said that they are working hard to fix them. They have also said that they are constantly updating and optimizing the game to make it run smoother and better.

Competition

Another challenge that Crash Team Rumble faces is that it has to compete with other online multiplayer games in the market. The game is not the first nor the only game of its genre, and it has to contend with other popular and established games that have similar or better features, content, and quality. Some of the games that Crash Team Rumble has to compete with include:

• Fortnite: A free-to-play battle royale game that features a large map, a variety of weapons and items, a building system, a creative mode, and a seasonal battle pass system.
• Apex Legends: A free-to-play battle royale game that features a squad-based gameplay, a diverse roster of characters with unique abilities, a ping system, a respawn system, and a seasonal battle pass system.
• Overwatch: A paid team-based shooter game that features a diverse roster of characters with unique abilities, a variety of maps and modes, a competitive mode, and a seasonal event system.
• Splatoon 2: A paid team-based shooter game that features a colorful and quirky aesthetic, a variety of weapons and items, a painting system, a single-player mode, and a seasonal event system.

Some players have compared Crash Team Rumble to these games and have found it lacking in comparison. They have argued that Crash Team Rumble does not offer anything new or innovative to the genre, and that it does not justify its price tag. They have also argued that Crash Team Rumble does not fit well with the Crash Bandicoot brand, and that it is a cash grab attempt by Activision.

The developers have defended their game and have said that they wanted to create something different and fun for the Crash Bandicoot fans. They have said that they are proud of their game and that they believe it has its own charm and appeal. They have also said that they are not trying to compete with other games, but rather to offer an alternative option for players who enjoy strategic platformers.

Conclusion

Crash Team Rumble is a fun and colorful online multiplayer strategic platformer that features characters from the Crash Bandicoot universe. However, the game also has several problems and challenges that may hinder its success as a live service title. The game lacks content, suffers from balance issues, has technical problems, and faces competition from other games. The developers and publishers need to address these problems and challenges as soon as possible if they want to improve the game and its prospects. They need to add more content, fix the balance issues, solve the technical problems, and differentiate themselves from other games. They also need to listen to the feedback from the community and engage with them regularly. Otherwise, Crash Team Rumble may end up being another forgotten spin-off title in the Crash Bandicoot series.

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