Controversial PS5 Exclusive Gets Sequel Despite Critical Panning
In a surprising move that has left the gaming community divided, developer TeamKill Media has announced a sequel to their critically panned PlayStation 5 exclusive horror title Code Violet. The original game, which drew inspiration from classic dinosaur-themed franchises like Dino Crisis and Turok, received overwhelmingly negative reviews upon its release, yet the developer claims the title achieved "overwhelming success" warranting a follow-up.
A Game That Defied Critical Consensus
Code Violet emerged as one of the most pre-ordered games on the PlayStation Store last month, largely driven by an enticing trailer that promised a compelling blend of survival horror and dinosaur combat. The anticipation quickly turned to disappointment upon release, with critics describing the experience as "embarrassingly poor" and "a vapid, broken, entirely un-entertaining experience." The game currently holds a dismal 29 rating on Metacritic, accompanied by an equally unimpressive 2.6 user score.
Despite this universal criticism, TeamKill Media took to social media platform X to announce development has begun on Code UltraViolet, described as a standalone direct sequel to the original game. "Thanks to the overwhelming success of Code Violet and the incredible support from all of you, we are officially confirming that development has begun on the next chapter of Violet's story," the developer stated in their announcement post.
Developer History and Community Reaction
TeamKill Media has developed a reputation for releasing games that generate more controversy than acclaim. Beyond Code Violet, the studio is responsible for Quantum Error, Son And Bone, and 2020's Kings Of Lorn—all titles that received similarly negative receptions from both critics and players. This track record makes the announcement of a sequel particularly puzzling to industry observers.
The gaming community has responded with skepticism to the sequel announcement, with many questioning how a game that received such universal criticism could be considered successful enough to warrant a follow-up. Some speculate that strong pre-order numbers, potentially driven by misleading marketing materials, may have provided the financial justification for continuing the franchise despite its critical failure.
What This Means for the Future
The announcement raises questions about the relationship between commercial success and critical reception in the modern gaming industry. While traditionally, sequels are reserved for well-received titles that demonstrate strong player engagement, Code UltraViolet represents a departure from this pattern. The developer has indicated they're "actively progressing on several exciting projects" beyond the Code Violet sequel, suggesting confidence in their development pipeline despite past criticisms.
For fans hoping for a legitimate revival of the Dino Crisis franchise from Capcom, this development may represent a disappointment, as resources appear to be flowing toward this controversial sequel rather than the beloved classic series. The gaming community now watches with curiosity to see if TeamKill Media can engineer a remarkable turnaround with Code UltraViolet or if it will follow in its predecessor's footsteps as another critically maligned release.
