Steam week in review: Another online shooter winds down weeks after launch, as robot cowboys take over
The article covers the current landscape of multiplayer game releases, highlighting Far Far West as a standout success despite challenging market conditions.
2025 and 2026 have proven difficult for new multiplayer games, with long-in-development projects from major publishers facing uncertain outcomes. Success in this space is highly unpredictable and often fails to correlate with development budgets. Examples like Peak and Phasmophobia demonstrate that hits can come from unexpected sources.
Far Far West serves as this week’s prime example. The early access cooperative shooter draws inspiration from Left 4 Dead and Vermintide, combining wave-based combat with western theming. Despite lacking some expected features (notably a “yee-haw button” that players have been requesting), the game has resonated strongly with audiences. The title benefits from its inclusion of a singleplayer component alongside its multiplayer focus, broadening its appeal beyond pure co-op enthusiasts.
The game is developed by Evil Raptor, a smaller studio. Its success illustrates the volatile nature of the multiplayer gaming market, where established formulas and large budgets provide no guarantee of player engagement or commercial viability.