Kuro Games, the team behind the scrappy open-world action RPG Wuthering Waves, has acted quickly to set aside recent letdown among its players. In response to a celebratory anniversary livestream session that clearly fell short of energizing its longstanding fans, the studio has posted an official apology with a sizable in-game coin giveaway. It demonstrates how heavily Kuro Games invests in its community and how far the team is willing to go in offering apologies for perceived errors.
The cause of the controversy seems to lie with the content and tone of the recent anniversary livestream. While anniversary events in live-service games are usually greeted with eagerness for celebratory content, announcements, and rewards, the Wuthering Waves event seemed to fall short of such expectations. Player feedback after the broadcast reflected widespread discontent, which prompted a quick and public reaction from Kuro Games.
In a bid to win back the trust and favor of its players, Kuro Games initiated the giveaway of 30 free “Tides.” This in-game currency is the main way by which players can enter the game’s gacha system, where they can have a chance to randomly obtain new playable characters and strong weapons. The incentive given here includes 10 Radiant Tides, usually invested in character banners; 10 Forging Tides, usually invested in weapon banners; and 10 Lustrous Tides, the standard currency, which can be invested in several different banners. The entire offer of 30 free pulls gives an adequate reward to the players since it offers numerous in-game roster improving opportunities to the players.
This act of charity can be viewed as an apology in itself from Kuro Games that the anniversary event fell short of expectations of what their fanbase envisioned. In offering up a working and useful reward in the game, the developers demonstrate that they are trying to make things right and a turnaround on how dedicated they will be to pleasing players. If this gesture has fully ended the disappointment hanging over the air, only time will tell. Player opinion on web forums and social media will probably give a more accurate prediction of whether or not this product will be viewed as an acceptable and sincere apology. This decisive move does indicate the thin line developers have to walk when dealing with their players, especially for landmark occasions like game anniversaries.
