Braid Creator Jonathan Blow Reflects on Anniversary Edition's Underwhelming Sales

Comments · 55 Views

Jonathan Blow, the creator of Braid, has shared that the game's anniversary edition has not been as successful as anticipated.

Jonathan Blow, the creator of Braid, has shared that the game's anniversary edition has not been as successful as anticipated. The original Braid, released in 2008 across multiple platforms, received widespread acclaim. It holds a commendable 93 Metacritic score for Xbox 360, praised for its beautiful presentation, unique storytelling, challenging puzzles, and captivating soundtrack. Many developers have cited Braid as a significant influence on their work.

When Braid: Anniversary Edition was announced at the end of 2023, expectations were high that this updated version would be well received. Released on both last and current-gen platforms, the anniversary edition offers over 15 hours of developer commentary, new levels, and enhanced visuals and audio. Priced at $19.99, it seemed positioned to attract both new players and those nostalgic for the original game.

Despite launching on May 14, 2024, to positive reviews—averaging an 89 rating on OpenCritic—the anniversary edition has not met sales expectations. Jonathan Blow admitted a month after its release that it had "sold horribly." Clips compiled by the YouTube channel Blow Fan from the developer’s Twitch streams show Blow’s shift from cautious optimism to open disappointment. More than two months post-launch, he candidly responded to a viewer's inquiry about sales, saying, "No, they are bad."

https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/how-to-hack-romance-club-for-unlimited-diamonds-and-tickets-on-android-ios-ca534a934034
https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/romance-club-cheat-unlimited-diamonds-and-tickets-for-android-ios-83c0910831ac
https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/unlimited-diamonds-and-tickets-generator-for-romance-club-android-ios-7e54ae29588f
https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/how-to-get-unlimited-diamonds-and-tickets-in-romance-club-on-android-ios-cef708ac41e7
https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/romance-club-unlimited-diamonds-and-tickets-hack-for-android-ios-21fbd1374320
https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/how-to-hack-winked-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-6bdd71b3ed17
https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/winked-cheat-2024-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-5450ff5a323b
https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/unlimited-diamonds-generator-for-winked-android-ios-2b866cbbd480
https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/winked-cheat-codes-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-9a473f4c39d2
https://medium.com/@dannygrillsdmne/how-to-get-unlimited-diamonds-in-winked-on-android-ios-fa1f99e9b7fc
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/how-to-hack-cup-heroes-for-unlimited-money-on-android-ios-e6bd8ac7ae1a
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/cup-heroes-cheat-unlimited-money-for-android-ios-b7cfc5ca76b5
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/unlimited-money-generator-for-cup-heroes-android-ios-c6fbf87414a2
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/latest-cup-heroes-hack-for-unlimited-money-on-android-ios-23be97f15ae3
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/cup-heroes-cheat-codes-unlimited-money-for-android-ios-044ddfa70c42
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/how-to-hack-legend-of-mushroom-for-unlimited-gems-on-android-ios-b25a089306a7
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/legend-of-mushroom-cheat-unlimited-gems-for-android-ios-3b68994313fd
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/latest-legend-of-mushroom-hack-for-unlimited-gems-on-android-ios-a64a9708aaff
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/legend-of-mushroom-cheat-codes-unlimited-gems-for-android-ios-8ff87e2d2d09
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/how-to-get-unlimited-gems-in-legend-of-mushroom-on-android-ios-b054bac3b1cb
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/how-to-hack-whispers-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-da2a1afbd9f0
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/whispers-cheat-2024-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-735b619acb5f
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/unlimited-diamonds-generator-for-whispers-android-ios-81d76e1eb610
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/whispers-cheat-codes-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-955fe66a0af3
https://medium.com/@jeremiahjrennko/whispers-unlimited-diamonds-hack-for-android-ios-990f209350c4
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/how-to-hack-primal-conquest-dino-era-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-c3febb81f183
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/primal-conquest-dino-era-cheat-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-dfaf81df6595
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/unlimited-diamonds-generator-for-primal-conquest-dino-era-android-ios-39af8183836e
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/how-to-get-unlimited-diamonds-in-primal-conquest-dino-era-on-android-ios-78ec06282298
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/best-cheat-for-primal-conquest-dino-era-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-2a8fbb7b03c9
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/how-to-hack-kings-choice-for-unlimited-gold-on-android-ios-1cc304b8bef0
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/kings-choice-cheat-unlimited-gold-for-android-ios-7c28f1cb3ccb
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/unlimited-gold-generator-for-kings-choice-android-ios-75eadba54ba4
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/latest-kings-choice-hack-for-unlimited-gold-on-android-ios-20d6a68f866f
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/kings-choice-cheat-codes-unlimited-gold-for-android-ios-5f29e2b7f522
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/how-to-hack-puzzles-and-chaos-frozen-castle-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-d132629213a8
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/puzzles-and-chaos-frozen-castle-cheat-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-d168f4f0d836
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/latest-puzzles-and-chaos-frozen-castle-hack-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-8c676e173c48
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/puzzles-and-chaos-frozen-castle-cheat-codes-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-b4d6820ffe66
https://medium.com/@cedikjrennsen/puzzles-and-chaos-frozen-castle-unlimited-diamonds-hack-for-android-ios-e84de426d64e
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/how-to-hack-yes-your-highness-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-a9369aca784a
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/yes-your-highness-cheat-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-a6025311db32
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/latest-yes-your-highness-hack-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-bb7c32c92b5e
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/yes-your-highness-cheat-codes-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-b11d9e9c36f8
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/yes-your-highness-unlimited-diamonds-hack-for-android-ios-ff12bd94a0b9
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/how-to-hack-home-design-makeover-for-unlimited-money-and-gems-on-android-ios-970c16722c59
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/home-design-makeover-cheat-unlimited-money-and-gems-for-android-ios-0adcf6709754
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/latest-home-design-makeover-hack-for-unlimited-money-and-gems-on-android-ios-bab4aa432443
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/home-design-makeover-unlimited-money-and-gems-hack-for-android-ios-d6fef1773bb0
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/how-to-cheat-home-design-makeover-for-unlimited-money-and-gems-on-android-ios-8e0397a8515a
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/how-to-hack-space-decor-mansion-for-unlimited-money-and-gems-on-android-ios-4f9e48f580c8
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/space-decor-mansion-cheat-unlimited-money-and-gems-for-android-ios-e5978ec2a5e0
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/unlimited-money-and-gems-generator-for-space-decor-mansion-android-ios-8174d2fe6b76
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/space-decor-mansion-unlimited-money-and-gems-hack-for-android-ios-b00f534991a6
https://medium.com/@michaelkressnok/space-decor-mansion-cheat-generator-unlimited-money-and-gems-for-android-ios-eb8ed8c1b765
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/how-to-hack-idle-miner-tycoon-for-unlimited-super-cash-on-android-ios-5e1f3a579571
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/idle-miner-tycoon-cheat-unlimited-super-cash-for-android-ios-94bbdcdf0eeb
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/idle-miner-tycoon-cheat-codes-unlimited-super-cash-for-android-ios-2cc78abbd3f1
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/how-to-get-unlimited-super-cash-in-idle-miner-tycoon-on-android-ios-11608c15ea3b
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/idle-miner-tycoon-hack-tool-unlimited-super-cash-for-android-ios-09f03cf29280
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/how-to-hack-crush-crush-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-2cc13b0ad727
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/crush-crush-cheat-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-377e3f721f92
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/unlimited-diamonds-generator-for-crush-crush-android-ios-63e9efbdcd25
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/latest-crush-crush-hack-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-172396fbccdc
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/crush-crush-cheat-codes-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-76887549a27a
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/how-to-get-unlimited-diamonds-in-crush-crush-on-android-ios-8b2c94b97ed5
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/free-crush-crush-cheat-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-32b419404590
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/how-to-cheat-crush-crush-for-unlimited-diamonds-on-android-ios-29b15b9eb5d9
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/crush-crush-unlimited-diamonds-mod-for-android-ios-dfff2f424d29
https://medium.com/@mikeresselton/crush-crush-cheat-generator-unlimited-diamonds-for-android-ios-0c4b8108068b
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/how-to-hack-bid-wars-2-for-unlimited-money-and-gold-on-android-ios-3d8d69e76a33
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/bid-wars-2-cheat-unlimited-money-and-gold-for-android-ios-5859d441cb12
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/latest-bid-wars-2-hack-for-unlimited-money-and-gold-on-android-ios-924d1dee53b3
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/bid-wars-2-cheat-codes-unlimited-money-and-gold-for-android-ios-eea2f485874a
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/bid-wars-2-unlimited-money-and-gold-hack-for-android-ios-8c0c3946bd2a
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/how-to-hack-love-sparks-for-unlimited-gems-on-android-ios-1242d57aaa84
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/love-sparks-cheat-unlimited-gems-for-android-ios-ef95818d8c12
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/unlimited-gems-generator-for-love-sparks-android-ios-5b274cfae8da
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/latest-love-sparks-hack-for-unlimited-gems-on-android-ios-e88a201fbd0b
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/love-sparks-cheat-codes-unlimited-gems-for-android-ios-888190186132
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/how-to-hack-my-gentlemens-club-for-unlimited-skip-it-tickets-on-android-ios-192cacfa63b4
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/my-gentlemens-club-cheat-unlimited-skip-it-tickets-for-android-ios-8f2961d12f6e
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/unlimited-skip-it-tickets-generator-for-my-gentlemens-club-android-ios-419d0da2ed3b
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/my-gentlemens-club-cheat-codes-unlimited-skip-it-tickets-for-android-ios-16cdc5f473d3
https://medium.com/@darrelcrommzet/my-gentlemens-club-hack-tool-unlimited-skip-it-tickets-for-android-ios-d24b009dc604
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/how-to-hack-landlord-simulator-for-unlimited-money-and-gems-on-android-ios-0b6d12925fb6
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/landlord-simulator-cheat-unlimited-money-and-gems-for-android-ios-5cf0788a66b1
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/unlimited-money-and-gems-generator-for-landlord-simulator-android-ios-6143faf35a67
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/landlord-simulator-unlimited-money-and-gems-hack-for-android-ios-d1b58087a70a
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/landlord-simulator-hack-apk-unlimited-money-and-gems-for-android-ios-ece6606de8aa
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/how-to-hack-modern-community-for-unlimited-money-on-android-ios-1e19a148df5d
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/modern-community-cheat-unlimited-money-for-android-ios-6cb92a9f6cbd
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/latest-modern-community-hack-for-unlimited-money-on-android-ios-bffb9b464ce7
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/modern-community-unlimited-money-hack-for-android-ios-37bf949a95ff
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/easy-hack-for-modern-community-unlimited-money-on-android-ios-b1fcc9719b93
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/how-to-hack-survive-squad-for-unlimited-money-and-gems-on-android-ios-11ef939dcc99
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/survive-squad-cheat-unlimited-money-and-gems-for-android-ios-0f1db61c005f
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/unlimited-money-and-gems-generator-for-survive-squad-android-ios-74f8d7587726
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/best-survive-squad-hack-for-unlimited-money-and-gems-on-android-ios-c2959a581a3d
https://medium.com/@codysremmnod/survive-squad-unlimited-money-and-gems-hack-for-android-ios-a48ec14b7b8a

The reasons for the lackluster sales are unclear. There may have been insufficient marketing following the initial announcement, leading some potential buyers to forget about the release. While many fans appreciate the remaster, others feel the changes are not significant enough to justify a replay, suggesting the anniversary edition may primarily appeal to newcomers. Currently, it has only 637 reviews on Steam, albeit with a Very Positive user rating.

The poor sales performance has had a ripple effect on Blow's other projects. Over the years, he has contributed to various unique games, including Flow, Phase, and the 2016 hit puzzle game The Witness. An experienced programmer, Blow has also been developing a new programming language called Jai. During a Twitch stream, he revealed that no one is working full-time on the Jai compiler due to the lack of funds resulting from Braid’s disappointing sales.

There is hope that sales for the anniversary edition will eventually improve, enabling Blow to continue developing innovative games without financial constraints.

Comments