Paradox has released a new patch. This update is made to fix the big problems in its poorly received DLC Coronations. Fans are waiting to see if this will make them happy.
Like many other modern games Crusader Kings 3 has extra content that players can buy. This extra content is called downloadable content or DLC. A DLC is supposed to add something fresh and fun to the main game. It can be new characters. It can be new missions. It can be new features. Sometimes it can even be a whole new way of playing. Players often buy DLC because they want more from the game they already love. So when a new DLC arrives players usually feel excited and full of hope.
The developers of Crusader Kings 3 released a DLC called Coronations. The idea sounded wonderful at first. In medieval history kings and queens were crowned in big ceremonies called coronations. These ceremonies were important events. They showed power. They showed legitimacy. They gave rulers the chance to impress nobles and foreign guests. So the plan of the Coronations DLC was to bring this feeling into the game. Players imagined that they could create huge events to show their greatness. They could take oaths to play in a certain style. They could shape how others saw their rule. On paper it sounded very interesting and very immersive.
But sadly what happened was very different. When the DLC was finally released many players discovered that it was broken in many ways. Instead of being an amazing feature it turned into one of the worst launches in recent memory. In fact many people said that this DLC was even worse than the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 which itself was famous for being full of bugs. The reaction from the players was very negative. On Steam which is the biggest store for PC games players can write reviews and give ratings. The Coronations DLC quickly sank to a rating of only 17 percent positive. That is a terrible score. Steam even gave it the label overwhelmingly negative. That means that almost everyone who bought it and reviewed it was unhappy.
Why were people so angry. There were many reasons. Some of the most important features simply did not work. For example the oath system was broken. No matter what you did the oaths would always fail. Even if you followed the rules and met the conditions the game would still mark your oath as failed. This made the whole system pointless. Other parts of the DLC also felt unfinished or badly made. It seemed like the developers had not tested the DLC properly before release.
When the community reacted with anger Paradox the company behind the game had to respond. They released an official apology. In that apology one developer had to explain that the studio had been very busy working on another upcoming expansion called All Under Heaven. Because of that focus the studio had not spent enough time on testing Coronations. This was a very poor explanation in the eyes of many fans. They felt that the studio was selling content without making sure it was ready. Players had spent their hard earned money and they felt cheated.
The backlash was strong. On forums on social media and on the Steam review page players wrote harsh words. Some players even called the DLC baked slop. Many asked for refunds. They wanted their money back. But Paradox did not give refunds. Instead they promised to fix the problems through updates.
Soon after the release Paradox put out a patch. This patch was meant to repair the most serious issues. In total there were 51 bug fixes in this update. Some of these fixes were focused on the oaths. At least four different oaths were adjusted so that they would work as intended. The artificial intelligence in the game was also adjusted to handle oaths a little better. Other fixes were about making the events more historically accurate. The patch was called update 1.17.1.
Update 1.17.1 was scheduled to go live on Wednesday September 17. Players could download it from Steam. The developers also shared the full patch notes. Many players were curious to see if the DLC was now worth playing. But many others had already lost trust. Once players feel betrayed it is not easy to win them back.
This whole situation became an example of how not to launch a DLC. Coronations should have been a highlight. Instead it became a warning. Fans of Crusader Kings 3 were disappointed because they love the base game. The base game is still one of the best strategy games out there. But the DLC showed what happens when a company does not pay attention to quality.
Now let us step back a little and talk about why this matters so much. Strategy games like Crusader Kings 3 are not just about battles. They are about immersion. They are about role playing. When a player takes the role of a medieval king or queen they want to feel like they are truly ruling. Small features can matter a lot. Something like a coronation ceremony can add depth. It can make the story richer. So when that feature fails it hurts the experience. It breaks immersion. It feels empty instead of powerful.
Another important detail is the relationship between developers and players. Paradox has a reputation for making deep complex strategy games. Games like Europa Universalis. Hearts of Iron. Stellaris. Crusader Kings. Many fans have supported Paradox for years. They buy expansions. They spend hundreds of hours in the games. That loyalty is precious. But it can also turn into anger if fans feel ignored. Coronations showed that even loyal players can turn against a company when expectations are not met.
Steam reviews are another key part of this story. Steam is not only a store. It is also a place where players share their experiences. When a product receives mostly negative or overwhelmingly negative reviews it becomes almost impossible for new buyers to trust it. Reviews spread fast. They shape the reputation of the game. Coronations sank quickly because the reviews were so harsh. A 17 percent positive score means that only a tiny fraction of buyers were happy. That number itself became a headline.
It is also worth noting that patches do not always solve reputation problems. A patch can fix bugs. A patch can improve systems. But the first impression often stays. Players remember that they were excited and then disappointed. Trust takes time to rebuild. Some players may never return.
There is also the question of money. Games today are not cheap. DLC costs extra on top of the base game. Players feel protective of their wallets. When they spend money on something broken they feel robbed. That is why words like scam and slop appeared in the discussions. Even if the developers work hard to fix the DLC later the feeling of being cheated remains.
Still not everything is negative. Paradox is trying to improve. They did release the patch quickly. They are listening to feedback. The Coronations DLC may eventually become playable and even enjoyable. Some players may return to try it again. Others may wait for discounts. And new players who join later may not even know how bad the launch was. Time can heal some wounds.
For those who do not want to take the risk there are always alternatives. The world of strategy games is big. You can try other Paradox games like Stellaris if you like science fiction. You can try Europa Universalis if you like history. You can try Total War if you like battles with armies. You can even try Civilization if you like building from the stone age to the modern age. There is no shortage of choice.
In the end Coronations will remain a story in the long history of video games. Some DLC becomes legendary. Some DLC becomes infamous. This one leaned toward the infamous side. It teaches us that quality control matters. It teaches us that player trust is fragile. It shows us that even big studios can stumble.
So the question is whether players will forgive and move on. Some already have. Some will never forget. Time will tell. For now the lesson is clear. A coronation is supposed to be a moment of glory. In Crusader Kings 3 it became a moment of shame.
And so we wait to see what happens next.
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