Updated Mar 17, 2026 by PlayWay
Madmind Studio, a subsidiary of PlayWay S.A., is executing a recovery plan for the horror game Agony following its commercial and critical underperformance upon its June 2018 release.
The studio is addressing technical issues through a rigorous update schedule, committing to twice-weekly patches until player satisfaction is achieved.
To rehabilitate the brand, Madmind Studio will release 'Agony Unrated' within three months, featuring uncensored content, high-resolution assets, and expanded gameplay modes, with deep discounts planned for existing owners.
Internal post-mortem analysis identified that artificially doubling the campaign length from five to ten hours to suit console markets resulted in repetitive, poorly designed gameplay.
Management admitted to ignoring critical feedback from PlayWay’s external testing teams and failing to delay the launch despite internal warnings.
Following the failure, the studio underwent structural changes, including the departure of the lead game designer, and will shift toward self-publishing future horror titles on Steam.
Madmind Studio, a subsidiary of PlayWay S.A., is executing a recovery plan for the horror game Agony following its commercial and critical underperformance upon its June 2018 release.
The studio is addressing technical issues through a rigorous update schedule, committing to twice-weekly patches until player satisfaction is achieved.
To rehabilitate the brand, Madmind Studio will release 'Agony Unrated' within three months, featuring uncensored content, high-resolution assets, and expanded gameplay modes, with deep discounts planned for existing owners.
Internal post-mortem analysis identified that artificially doubling the campaign length from five to ten hours to suit console markets resulted in repetitive, poorly designed gameplay.
Management admitted to ignoring critical feedback from PlayWay’s external testing teams and failing to delay the launch despite internal warnings.
Following the failure, the studio underwent structural changes, including the departure of the lead game designer, and will shift toward self-publishing future horror titles on Steam.