What Happened To Chorus & Why Did It Fail?

Chorus was a space-combat shooter game where players controlled Nara, a fugitive warrior, to battle a dark cult. Initially well-received for its engaging narrative and combat mechanics, the game faced technical issues and community criticisms, leading to its decline and eventual discontinuation.

What Was Chorus?

Chorus's main product was the video game "Chorus," a space-combat shooter where players control Nara, a fugitive warrior. Its unique value proposition lay in its combination of narrative-driven quests and exhilarating zero-g combat. Notably, the game garnered significant community engagement, ranking in the top 19% of Reddit communities.

What Happened to Chorus?

The story of Chorus is marked by a series of notable events that contributed to its rise and eventual fall:

• Initial Community Engagement: Chorus initially garnered significant community interest, as evidenced by its active subreddit and user engagement. The game's unique combination of narrative-driven quests and zero-g combat attracted a dedicated player base.
• Technical Issues on PS5: The game faced significant technical challenges, particularly on the PS5 platform. Users reported issues such as the CE-100095-5 error, which prevented the game from starting, leading to frustration and negative feedback from the community.
• Software Configuration Problems: Chorus also encountered issues with its software management, specifically with the CA Chorus Software Manager. The MSMTC task failed to initialize due to insufficient authority, requiring manual intervention to resolve, which highlighted potential oversights in the software's initial setup.
• Gameplay Bugs: The game suffered from various gameplay bugs, such as the Zealot's Chorus ability failing to cast properly. This bug led to wasted cooldowns and disrupted gameplay, further contributing to the game's decline.
• Unresolved Issues: Despite community feedback and reports of these issues, many problems remained unresolved. The lack of timely fixes and updates ultimately led to a decline in player interest and the game's discontinuation.

When Did Chorus Shut Down?

Chorus officially shut down on October 11, 2023. This date marks the automatic closure of the forum thread discussing the Zealot's Chorus bug, symbolizing the end of the game's active support and community engagement.

Why Did Chorus Shut Down?

1. Technical Issues on PS5:

   Chorus faced significant technical challenges, particularly on the PS5 platform. Users reported the CE-100095-5 error, which prevented the game from starting. This issue led to frustration and negative feedback from the community, severely impacting the game's reputation and player retention.

2. Software Configuration Problems:

   The CA Chorus Software Manager encountered issues with its MSMTC task failing to initialize due to insufficient authority. This problem required manual intervention to resolve, highlighting potential oversights in the software's initial setup and contributing to operational inefficiencies.

3. Gameplay Bugs:

   Chorus suffered from various gameplay bugs, such as the Zealot's Chorus ability failing to cast properly. This bug led to wasted cooldowns and disrupted gameplay, further contributing to the game's decline as players grew increasingly frustrated with the unresolved issues.

4. Unresolved Issues:

   Despite community feedback and reports of these issues, many problems remained unresolved. The lack of timely fixes and updates ultimately led to a decline in player interest and the game's discontinuation, as the community lost faith in the developers' ability to address critical problems.

Lessons Learned from Chorus's Failure

• Prioritize Technical Stability: Ensure robust testing and quality assurance to avoid technical issues that can frustrate users and damage your product's reputation.
• Responsive Customer Support: Address user feedback promptly to maintain trust and engagement within your community.
• Effective Software Management: Implement thorough software configuration and management practices to prevent operational inefficiencies.
• Timely Updates: Regularly update and fix bugs to keep the user experience smooth and enjoyable.
• Community Engagement: Foster a strong, active community by listening to and acting on their concerns and suggestions.
• Transparency: Maintain open communication with your user base about issues and updates to build trust and loyalty.
• Scalability: Design your product to handle growth and increased demand without compromising performance.
• Resource Allocation: Allocate sufficient resources to critical areas like customer support and technical maintenance to ensure long-term success.

We Shut Down Startups

Chorus's failure underscores the complexities and challenges that startups face, from technical issues to community management. When it's time to wind down, Sunset steps in to handle all the legal, tax, and operational burdens, allowing you to move on without the hassle.

Don't let the end of your startup be as chaotic as Chorus's downfall. Book a demo with Sunset today to ensure a smooth and efficient wind-down process.