On Paradox Interactive’s website, a disheartened confession was made regarding The Lamplighters League, referring to it as a ‘big disappointment’. The company acknowledged a substantial financial setback, registering a write-down of 248 million Swedish Krona, equivalent to approximately $22.7 million. This write-down serves as an admission that the anticipated revenue from The Lamplighters League will not materialize.
Paradox CEO, Fredrik Wester, said, “The Lamplighters League is a fun game with many strengths. Even though we see cautiously positive player numbers in subscription services, the commercial reception has been too weak, which is frankly a big disappointment.”
“Game projects are by their nature always risky, but at the end of the day we haven’t performed at the level we should. It is painful but makes us more eager to roll up our sleeves and do better.”
The Lamplighters League, blending stealth and XCOM-style combat in a stylish 1930s theme, was released on October 3. Wester’s mention of “cautiously positive player numbers in subscription services” could be linked to the game’s availability on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
The Lamplighters League Gameplay
The game design of The Lamplighters League intricately weaves together different gameplay elements, maintaining a delicate balance to prevent any one strategic aspect from overpowering the others. At its essence, the game revolves around its characters, offering a potential roster of ten agents that players can recruit through diverse missions. These agents are grouped into three primary categories—Bruiser, Sneak, and Saboteur—each possessing unique abilities and a skill tree for progression.
The skills are straightforward, and selecting upgrades is not overwhelming, yet the magic lies in how these agents synergize during combat, creating thrilling moments. The initial trio of agents showcases this synergy remarkably well, especially as upgrades are applied, enabling strategic chains that can wreak havoc on enemy hordes.
