Em, Zero-K is a 9 years old no-name indie free multi-platform open source game, a clunky game some kids did do in their free time. That’s clearly not type of project that can pull genre back together. OK maybe over 9 years it got better, but last time I checked 8 years ago it was barely playable.
Problem is it’s exactly what they are doing and AoE4 shows right now same symptoms.
In big brands and franchises where jobs and a lot of money are on the line, it does happen a lot that very bad decisions are done. Maybe pick as example something where its easy to explain. Like Star Wars, what they did to Luke Skywalker, the brands face. They basically did pick the most famous character and removed any kind of dignity and completely humiliate him. I think this 1 picture from last movie does very well summarize what is going wrong right now across all the entertainment franchises.
Even if you are not a fan of the franchise, you are not going to like it and imagine how insulted it is to the fan-base. But still Disney that bought four billion dollars Star Wars IP, did think this scene here is OK to show in theaters.
And here we see in comparison C&C4, that is basically the same. Where this handful of units has to hold 3 out of 5 locations to gain victory points. And no other way to play it, because you can’t exterminate the enemy. People were from first pictures against it.
And here is their last game, Dawn of war 3, where they wanted it to be E-Sports and game for everybody.
Where it was about use broken overpowered units to destroy 1 object on the map.
What is going to happen to Age of Empires 4?