Steam users were left confused this week after the long-removed survival shooter The Day Before briefly appeared in the platform’s “Coming Soon” section. The game, which was delisted in December 2023 after massive backlash and widespread refund requests, has not been playable since — making its return to the front-facing store highly misleading.
Thankfully, it appears to be nothing more than a backend glitch.
Not a Comeback — Just a Storefront Error
Originally released on December 7, 2023, and pulled just four days later, The Day Before quickly became known as one of Steam’s most controversial launches. Developed by Fntastic, the game was accused of deceptive marketing, misleading trailers, and over-promised gameplay features that never materialized. Players quickly labeled it a scam, and Valve issued full refunds while delisting the title permanently.
Despite this, Reddit user Thadgarcy recently spotted The Day Before in the MMO category of Steam’s “Coming Soon” tab — a surprising and concerning sight for those familiar with the title’s history. However, the game is not available for download or purchase, and the page itself still reflects the early access status from its original, now-defunct launch.
This is likely an indexing or display error within Steam’s storefront system, which has occasionally caused delisted or hidden games to appear in search results or curated lists.
Why The Day Before Should Stay Gone
The resurfacing of The Day Before is raising concerns not because of a legitimate re-release, but because it may mislead unaware users. The servers are shut down, the game is unplayable, and the developers at Fntastic have ceased all support. There is no functional version of The Day Before available, nor is there any indication of a return — and for good reason.
Leading up to its short-lived release, The Day Before was already under fire for multiple delays, unpaid contributor controversies, and a trademark dispute that briefly saw it removed from the platform before launch. Upon release, it quickly fell apart — reviews condemned it as broken, hollow, and entirely different from what was advertised.
Fntastic’s Next Game Faces Similar Scrutiny
Despite the fallout, Fntastic has announced a new game called ITEMS, marketed as a prop hunt multiplayer title. That project has already drawn early backlash for running a map contest where contributors were offered a free copy of the game rather than proper compensation — echoing the same unpaid labor criticisms leveled during The Day Before’s development.
Reminder to Stay Cautious
If you’ve come across The Day Before on Steam’s “Coming Soon” list, it is not a re-release. The appearance is almost certainly an error, and the game remains delisted, inactive, and widely regarded as a scam. Users are advised not to search for downloads or unofficial versions — there is no supported version of the game available, and any third-party offers could pose security risks.
Steam has not officially commented on the glitch, but community reports suggest the game has appeared and disappeared from listings several times over the past year due to lingering backend data. Until removed entirely, The Day Before will continue to serve as a reminder of the risks tied to overhyped, underdelivered early access titles.
