Few games spark as much debate as Days Gone. Released in 2019, it sold millions yet earned a lukewarm critical reception—a contradiction that still haunts conversations about what makes a PlayStation exclusive successful. Whether you’re wondering if the game is worth your time, curious why a sequel never materialised, or just trying to make sense of the hype, this deep-dive sorts the facts from the noise.
Metacritic score: 71/100 ·
Developer: Bend Studio ·
Release date: April 26, 2019 ·
Main story length: ~30 hours ·
File size (PS4): ~45 GB
Quick snapshot
- Released April 26, 2019 on PS4 (PlayStation official page)
- Developed by Bend Studio, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation official page)
- Metacritic score: 71/100 (Metacritic)
- Reported sales: over 8 million copies by April 2022 (IGN)
- Remastered version launched April 25, 2025 on PS5 and PC (PlayStation Blog)
- Why exactly Sony rejected the sequel pitch – the game’s critical reception and development difficulties were cited, but not a full explanation (Bloomberg)
- Whether the 8 million+ sales figure is official Sony data or an estimate – it comes from a former Bend Studio director’s public claim (IGN)
- The actual impact of launch bugs on long-term sales – community reports cite technical issues, but no controlled data exists (ResetEra discussion)
- Whether Bend Studio’s next project will be a new IP or something else – their live-service project was cancelled in early 2025 (IGN)
- 2014: Development begins at Bend Studio
- June 2016: Officially announced at E3
- April 26, 2019: Launch on PS4
- Mid-2019: Sequel pitch reportedly rejected by Sony
- May 18, 2021: PC release on Steam
- February 2025: Remaster announced
- April 25, 2025: Remaster launches on PS5 and PC
- Days Gone Remastered is the freshest entry – live now on PS5 and PC
- Bend Studio’s next project remains unannounced after cancellation of a live-service title
- Fan campaigns continue to push for Days Gone 2, but no official greenlight
- Sony’s strategy for single-player IPs appears cautious after the mixed reception
Eight key specs that define the game at a glance:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Developer | Bend Studio |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release date | April 26, 2019 |
| Platforms | PlayStation 4, Windows (2021) |
| Metacritic score | 71 (PS4) |
| Sales | ~4.5 million as of July 2020 |
| File size | ~45 GB (PS4), ~60 GB (PC) |
| Genre | Action-adventure, survival horror |
Is the Days Gone game good?
Critical reception overview
- Metacritic aggregate score of 71/100, indicating “mixed or average reviews” (Metacritic)
- OpenCritic score of 72, based on 125 critic reviews (Times of India)
- Critics praised the horde mechanics and world design, but faulted pacing and technical polish
What players liked
- The horde system – fighting hundreds of Freakers simultaneously is a standout adrenaline rush
- Dynamic weather and day/night cycle that changes gameplay
- Strong voice acting and character dynamics, especially between Deacon and his friend Boozer
- Deep upgrade and crafting systems that reward exploration
What players disliked
- Slow opening hours that drag on before the world opens up
- Repetitive side missions and predictable open-world structure (TheGamer)
- Protagonist Deacon St. John polarised audiences with his constant monologues and gruff demeanour
- Technical bugs at launch, including frame-rate dips and crashes (ResetEra community reports)
Days Gone’s critical reception was middling, yet player sentiment became notably warmer over time. The gap between a 71 Metacritic and a vocal cult following suggests the game delivers a better experience than its launch score suggests – but only after the first few hours.
Bottom line: Days Gone is a 30-hour open-world shooter that rewards patience. Critics found it derivative; many players found it compelling. If you can stomach a slow start, the horde combat is unmatched in the genre.
Why did Days Gone flop?
Sales figures and expectations
- Reported sales of 8 million+ copies by April 2022, per former Bend Studio director Jeff Ross (IGN)
- Yet Sony reportedly rejected a sequel pitch, which contradicts the “commercial flop” label
- Development budget was high – the game was in development since ~2014, with a large team and extensive marketing
Comparison to other PlayStation exclusives
- Sony’s first-party lineup in 2018-2019 included God of War (Metacritic 94), Marvel’s Spider-Man (87), and Horizon Zero Dawn (89) – Days Gone’s 71 sat far below that pedigree
- Player engagement and word-of-mouth were weaker than those titles, affecting long-tail sales
- The game launched the same year as Sekiro and Control, both critical darlings
Technical state at launch
- Players reported frequent bugs, texture pop-in, and frame-rate issues (ResetEra)
- A day-one patch improved stability but didn’t erase the initial impression
- Performance on base PS4 was notably worse than on PS4 Pro
Calling Days Gone a “flop” ignores its 8 million+ sales. The real story is a mismatch: strong sales, middling reviews, and a publisher that decided critical reputation mattered more than raw unit numbers when choosing which IP to back.
Bottom line: Days Gone wasn’t a financial bomb, but its mixed critical reception and high development cost made Sony hesitant to invest in a sequel. For publishers, a 71 Metacritic can be more damaging than a weak opening weekend.
Is Days Gone 2 ever coming out?
Developer statements
- Bloomberg reported in 2021 that Sony Bend’s sequel pitch was rejected, partly due to the game’s “lukewarm critical reception and development difficulties” (Bloomberg)
- Former director John Garvin publicly confirmed the pitch was rejected soon after the original’s release
- Director Jeff Ross later said in interviews that Sony’s decision was a business call, not a creative one
Rumors and leaks
- In late 2023, rumours resurfaced that a Days Gone 2 concept was again pitched but declined
- No credible leaks have emerged showing pre-production assets
- The remaster announcement in February 2025 sparked speculation that a sequel might be reconsidered, but no official statement followed
Bend Studio’s current projects
- Bend Studio was working on a new live-service IP, but that project was cancelled in early 2025 (IGN)
- The studio’s future direction remains unclear – they may return to single-player development
- Sony has not officially commented on any Days Gone sequel plans
“Days Gone 2 isn’t happening, with Sony Bend’s pitch for the sequel having been turned down way back in 2019.”
— TheGamer editorial, TheGamer
Bottom line: As of 2025, Days Gone 2 is not in development. The remaster keeps the IP alive, but fans hoping for a true sequel are likely waiting for a change in Sony’s strategy.
Is Days Gone scary to play?
Horror elements in Days Gone
- The game is classified as survival horror, but leans more toward action-adventure with horror ambiance
- Freakers are fast, aggressive infected humans that swarm in huge hordes – the visual of hundreds sprinting toward you is genuinely tense
- Jump scares are present, especially during cave exploration and night-time encounters
Atmosphere and tension
- Dynamic day/night cycle: Freakers are slower and less dangerous during daylight, but become extremely aggressive and numerous at night
- Limited resources early on force stealth and avoidance, adding survival-horror pressure
- The sound design – Freaker screeches, distant horde roars – builds continuous dread
Comparison to traditional survival horror
- Unlike Resident Evil or Silent Hill, Days Gone is an open-world game with crafting, vehicle travel, and mission hubs
- Horror is a seasoning, not the main dish: gunplay and motorcycle traversal dominate
- Rated M for Mature – contains blood, violence, and strong language
“Days Gone didn’t resonate with critics because it was a fairly predictable open-world experience, one that failed to produce any engaging characters or a narrative worth caring for.”
— TheGamer editorial, TheGamer
Bottom line: Days Gone is not a horror game – it’s an action game with horror elements. The horde chases are its scariest moments, but for most of the 30 hours you’ll be shooting, driving, and crafting rather than hiding in corners.
Why is Days Gone so hated?
Common criticisms
- “The first 10 hours are boring” is the most frequent complaint – the story takes time to build and side missions feel like filler
- Deacon’s constant chatter and moralising turned off many players
- Open-world fatigue: camps, fetch quests, and bandit outposts felt too similar to other games
Technical flaws at launch
- Frequent crashes, frame-rate drops, and glitched missions were widely reported (ResetEra)
- Texture pop-in and long loading screens hurt immersion
- Save corruption issues affected some players, leading to lost progress
- Most technical issues were patched post-launch, but the initial reputation stuck
Narrative and character issues
- Deacon St. John’s personality was called “one-dimensional” by several reviewers
- The story’s emotional beats – Deacon searching for his wife Sarah – felt underdeveloped to some
- Supporting characters (except Boozer) received little depth
The “hate” for Days Gone is largely a 2019 phenomenon. Once patched and played on PS5 or PC at 60 fps, many latecomers discovered a solid, enjoyable game. The original hate was a mix of legitimate design flaws and launch-day frustration that never got a second chance from critics.
Bottom line: Days Gone attracted hatred for its slow start, technical state, and derivative design. But with patches and a remaster, the game now plays far better than its launch reputation suggests – a cult classic born from a rough release.
Confirmed facts
- Release date: April 26, 2019 (PlayStation)
- Developer: Bend Studio (PlayStation)
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation)
- PC port released May 18, 2021 (Steam via PlayStation)
- Remastered announced February 2025, launched April 25, 2025 (PlayStation Blog)
- 60 fps patch for PS5 backward compatibility (Times of India)
What’s unclear
- The exact reason Sony rejected the sequel pitch – Bloomberg reported “development difficulties and mixed reception,” but internal documents remain private (Bloomberg)
- Whether the 8 million+ sales figure is fully verified – it’s a public claim by a former director, not a Sony earnings disclosure (IGN)
- Why the game’s player reputation improved while critic reviews stayed low – possible patch effects, but no longitudinal study exists
- Whether Days Gone Remastered will lead to a sequel – only fan speculation and press optimism as of 2025 (Times of India)
- The cancellation of Bend Studio’s live-service project leaves their next game completely unknown (IGN)
“If you love a game, buy it at fucking full price.”
— Jeff Ross, former Bend Studio director, TheGamer
“Days Gone received mixed reviews from critics when it first came out.”
— Times of India summary of reporting, Times of India
“Sony reportedly rejected a sequel to the game due in large part to the game’s difficult, protracted development cycle and mixed critical reception.”
— Times of India, Times of India
Days Gone sits at a crossroads – a game that sold well, reviewed poorly, and now enjoys a second life through a remaster and a passionate fanbase. For PlayStation owners debating whether to pick up the remaster, the trade-off is clear: you can experience a patched, polished version of an ambitious open-world game at 60 fps on PS5, but you won’t find the narrative finesse of The Last of Us or the polish of God of War. If you’re dealing with PS5 hardware issues, fixing those first will help you enjoy Days Gone’s horde-heavy combat without interruptions. And if you’re wondering where Days Gone fits in the broader PlayStation ecosystem, comparisons with the upcoming Switch 2 highlight Sony’s different approach to single‑player exclusives. For Bend Studio, the implication is stark: critical reception matters as much as sales when pitching a sequel. For players, the choice is yours – dive into the remaster and see if the cult following was right, or wait for a sequel that may never come.
Frequently asked questions
Is Days Gone single-player only?
Yes – Days Gone is a purely single-player experience with no multiplayer or co-op modes.
Does Days Gone have multiplayer?
No, there is no multiplayer component. The game focuses entirely on the solo campaign.
How long is the main story of Days Gone?
Around 30 hours for the main story, plus 10–15 more for side content.
What is the best weapon in Days Gone?
The MG55 machine gun, unlocked later in the game, is widely considered the best due to its high damage and large magazine for horde clearing.
Can you skip the early slow parts in Days Gone?
No built-in skip, but focusing on main missions and ignoring side content can speed up the opening hours.
Is Days Gone worth buying on PS5?
Yes – the remaster runs at 60 fps and includes all updates. If you haven’t played it, it’s the definitive way to experience the game.
What are the differences between Days Gone and Days Gone Remastered?
The remaster adds higher frame rates, improved resolution, additional graphical options, and all previously released DLC content.
Will Days Gone get a new game plus mode?
New Game Plus was added via a post-launch update and is available in both the original and remastered versions.
About Aino Korhonen
Aino tracks Nordic gambling policy, licensing updates and market signals. Her work helps international readers understand local developments without losing the wider market picture.
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