Code Violet developer TeamKill Media took to X to push back against brutal critic reviews, saying the game was built for fans. The studio also thanked players for turning the title into its biggest success so far. Even so, the third-person horror shooter isn’t doing particularly well with users on the PlayStation Store.
2026 is barely underway in gaming, and its first casualty looks to be the survival-horror shooter Code Violet. TeamKill Media’s title, which hit early access on January 9, has been widely dragged by critics, many of whom argue it feels uninspired and relies on outdated mechanics.
The would-be spiritual successor to Dino Crisis launched exclusively on PlayStation 5, and it currently sits at an embarrassing 40% on Metacritic. According to the developer, though, the game wasn’t made with critics in mind in the first place. Instead of owning up to what many view as a painfully average release, TeamKill Media chose to redirect the blame toward reviewers, which is about the worst way they could’ve responded to negative feedback.
TeamKill Media addressed the backlash on X, stating that Code Violet was made for fans and for the players who actually spend money on games – not for critics. The studio then celebrated the title’s commercial momentum, revealing that Code Violet is now their most successful release to date.
The developer also thanked supporters for pushing the game to “number one,” seemingly referencing how Code Violet is currently topping the best-seller chart for new releases on the PlayStation Store. But that small win doesn’t mean PlayStation players are happy with it. The game currently holds a 2.96 rating on the PS Store based on more than 1.8k verified reviews, with 35% of users giving the action-horror shooter a one-star rating.
There are plenty of five-star reviews as well, but nearly half of the verified ratings don’t even climb past two stars. 46% of Code Violet reviews on the PS Store are one- and two-star ratings| source: PS Store. As a result, the game isn’t doing well on either front, and getting relentlessly slammed by critics may end up being its only lasting legacy.
Source: tech4gamers
