Info about Deceive Inc.:

Official game description:
New Update: Operation Overhaul
==============================
Introducing Operation Overhaul! The most comprehensive collection of reworks and improvements that we've ever released! This brand-new update introduces a suite of upgrades implemented after almost a year of player feedback; vastly improving overall gameflow. Read below to learn more about all of the changes!  
Update Highlights:  
● Player bot lobbies for new player onboarding  
● Reworked aim assist on controller  
● Enhanced Security Guard Behavior  
● Gold keycard printer  
● Shooting animation rework  
● 30+ Pages of patch notes
Special Edition
===============
Dress to impress with the **Deceive Inc. Black Tie Edition**!  
**Every Black Tie Edition Includes:**  
\- Deceive Inc. Digital Download  
\- Exclusive ‘Black Tie’ outfits for all 8 Agents  
\- Custom ‘Black Tie’ Profile Portrait & Title  
\- 1,000 Deceive Inc. Bonds
Buzz
====
"I got a chance to check out an early build of Deceive Inc. What I found was a studio trying to make something we haven't seen before—and doing a pretty good job at it." - IGN  
"The characters are intriguing, and the game is bursting with more character and wild outplays than a traditional battle royale-style brawler would allow." - Polygon  
"Deceive Inc. could be the next Among Us." - Dexerto  
"Deceive Inc could just become your new favourite multiplayer game. It will worm its way in slowly, infiltrating your brain." - NME  
"Subterfuge has never felt so sweet." - GameReactor  
"If you’re looking for an engaging multiplayer spy game, Deceive Inc. is hiding in plain sight." - GamingBolt
About the Game
==============
Welcome to **DECEIVE INC.** , a private corporation with complete monopoly over the international espionage market. You can disguise yourself as anyone you meet in an instant, have access to state-of-the-art gadgets the rest of the world can only dream of and possess skills that would make Hollywood super spies jealous.  
But you are not alone. Rival spies are after the same objective and every single one of them is as skilled, cunning and well-equipped as you are.  
Blend in, grab the objective and break out. In the end, only one spy can complete the mission and get the paycheck. Company policy.  
Find your playstyle with a roster of diverse agents each with their own unique weapon and skillset. From world-renowned burglars to up-and-coming espionage sensations, **DECEIVE INC.** prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer.  
Create your loadouts from a plethora of highly versatile gadgets. With agent's favorites like the Inflatable mat, holo-mimic and bullet proof umbrella, our world-class R&D department got you covered. Literally.  
Every **DECEIVE INC**. agent is outfitted with a high-tech holographic watch allowing you to disguise yourself as guests, staff members or even security guards to gain access to restricted areas without arousing suspicion. Guaranteed to keep you hidden as long as you don’t shoot… or get shot.  
Infiltrate sprawling locations filled with people to suspect, electronics to hack, restricted areas to trespass in and windows to jump from. How you get inside the vault and steal the objective is entirely up to you… and all the rival spies who will stop at nothing to beat you to it. No pressure.

Release date: 21 Mar, 2023

Categories: Competitive Multiplayer, Stealth Gameplay, First-Person Shooter, Social Deduction, Tools and Gadgets Gameplay, Character Collection, Heist Simulation


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Unique and fun gameplay experience (weight 1): Players overwhelmingly praise the game for its unique, fun, and refreshing gameplay experience, often highlighting its potential as a party game with friends. Many found it incredibly enjoyable, especially during its initial release and hype, considering it a hidden gem with great potential.
- Strategic stealth and deception mechanics (weight 0.26): The game is lauded for its innovative blend of stealth, strategy, and action, where disguising as NPCs and objects is a core, satisfying mechanic. This creates tense, unpredictable matches that reward clever deception and tactical play over pure FPS skill, making it accessible and engaging for various playstyles.
- Strong visual and aesthetic design (weight 0.14): Reviewers appreciate the game's strong aesthetic appeal, including its detailed and eye-catching graphics, polished visual style, and well-designed environments. The art direction, HUD, and overall polish contribute to a visually pleasing and immersive experience.
- Authentic spy-themed atmosphere (weight 0.14): The game successfully captures a spy-themed atmosphere through its gameplay, characters, and particularly its soundtrack. Players enjoy the mix of stealth and tense chases, finding the infiltration and blending mechanics original and exhilarating, reminiscent of classic spy narratives.
- Diverse and unique character roster (weight 0.13): The game features a diverse and charismatic cast of agents, each with unique abilities, weapons, and playstyles. This variety enhances replayability and allows players to find characters that suit their preferences, contributing to a balanced and engaging experience.
- Excellent and immersive soundtrack (weight 0.05): The game's soundtrack is consistently praised for being catchy, memorable, and perfectly setting the espionage tone. Players find the music enjoyable, immersive, and contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and excitement of matches.
- Well-designed and diverse maps (weight 0.05): The maps are well-crafted, visually appealing, and offer diverse environments for gameplay. Players enjoy exploring the detailed layouts, which contribute to the overall fun and strategic depth of the game.
- Positive social and personal impact (weight 0.04): Players have formed strong positive memories and connections through the game, enjoying the social interactions and the satisfaction of outsmarting opponents. Many appreciate the game's value proposition, especially for its price point, and have been eagerly anticipating its release since the beta.

Common complaints:
- Critically Low Player Count (weight 0.62): The game is widely considered 'dead' or 'dying' due to an extremely low player count, making it difficult or impossible to find matches. This issue is exacerbated by the developers abandoning the game and discontinuing support and updates.
- Repetitive Gameplay & Design Shift (weight 0.32): The core gameplay loop is repetitive and lacks depth, quickly becoming boring for many players. Despite being a 'spy game,' it heavily favors gunplay and PvP combat over stealth and strategy, leading to a 'deathmatch' feel that deviates from its intended design.
- Developer Abandonment & Poor Support (weight 0.27): The development studio has disbanded, leading to the game being abandoned with no further updates or support. This lack of ongoing development, coupled with poor marketing and a crowded release window, contributed significantly to the game's failure and dwindling player base.
- Technical Issues & Poor Optimization (weight 0.16): The game suffers from frequent crashes, particularly at the end of matches, and persistent bugs that hinder the user experience. Players also report poor optimization, making the game struggle to run smoothly, and an unintuitive, cluttered UI.
- Questionable Value & Pricing Model (weight 0.12): Many players feel the game is not worth its price, especially given the lack of content and player base. The decision not to launch as free-to-play is seen as a major factor in its failure, though making it free on Epic Games later also introduced more cheaters.
- Missing Duo Game Mode (weight 0.05): The game lacks a dedicated Duo mode, forcing duos into Trio queues where they are often outnumbered or paired with uncooperative randoms. This design choice negatively impacts the experience for players who prefer to play in pairs.
- Early Match Elimination Frustration (weight 0.04): Matches can be frustratingly short for new players, who often die within minutes of a 20-minute game, leaving them to spectate for extended periods. This early elimination can be discouraging and reduce engagement.

Gameplay feedback:
- Masterful Disguise & Social Stealth (weight 0.3): The core gameplay revolves around players disguising themselves as NPCs to blend in and deceive opponents. This creates a unique social deduction experience where distinguishing real players from AI is a constant challenge, leading to moments of paranoia and strategic observation.
- Multiplayer Spy Heist Objective (weight 0.16): Deceive Inc. is primarily a multiplayer espionage game where players compete to infiltrate a location, steal a package from a vault, and extract it. It blends elements of stealth, social deduction, and first-person shooter mechanics within a spy-themed setting.
- Fluid Gameplay & Character Diversity (weight 0.16): The game offers fluid gunplay and diverse gameplay options through a variety of unique characters, each with different weapons, skills, and gadgets. This allows for multiple playstyles and ensures that each match feels fresh and engaging.
- Stealth, Action & Gadgetry Blend (weight 0.15): The game effectively combines stealth and action, allowing players to use high-tech gadgets, traps, and various agent abilities to outmaneuver or eliminate opponents. This balance provides diverse tactical options for both covert infiltration and direct confrontation.
- Beginner Protection & Steep Curve (weight 0.14): The game features a beginner protection system up to level 50, allowing new players to learn the ropes against bots and other novices. While easy to pick up, the game has a steep learning curve, requiring mastery of complex mechanics and strategies to excel against experienced players.
- Paid Battle Pass & Content Locks (weight 0.05): The game includes a battle pass system, which is heavily advertised and locks a significant amount of content behind it. While there's an option to farm premium currency to eventually purchase passes or skins, many items require investment.
- Public Matches Lack Stealth (weight 0.05): In public matches, many players tend to prioritize direct combat over stealth and strategy, often treating the game as a pure shooter. This can lead to chaotic early-game engagements and a deviation from the intended social deduction gameplay.
- High Tension Player Identification (weight 0.04): A crucial aspect of the game is the constant tension of identifying and avoiding other players. Spotting opponents before being spotted is key, as players never know where rivals might be hiding, making stealth and observation vital for success.
- Online Multiplayer with Crossplay (weight 0.04): The game is an always-online multiplayer experience featuring crossplay, which helps to expand the active player base. Players can team up with friends in Duo/Trio modes or create custom games.
- Dynamic PvP Loop & Grind (weight 0.03): The game features a dynamic gameplay loop centered around competitive PvP, either solo or in teams. However, some players note an extensive grindwall and a lack of a specific end goal beyond the competitive loop.

Performance notes:
- Smooth performance and stability (weight 0.06): Many players report that the game generally runs smoothly and is relatively bug-free, even on various hardware configurations and with reduced graphics settings. Server stability, particularly in Europe, also contributes to a positive experience.
- Player-suggested performance fixes (weight 0.01): Players have identified several workarounds to mitigate lag and performance issues, including adjusting server regions, lowering graphics settings, and restarting the game. This suggests that while the game has performance challenges, there are user-side adjustments that can help.
- Minimum PC requirements listed (weight 0.01): The provided minimum PC requirements outline the basic hardware needed to run the game. This information is useful for players to assess if their system meets the entry-level specifications.

Recommendations:
- Mixed value and pricing concerns (weight 0.62): Player sentiment is heavily divided on whether the game is worth its price, with many suggesting it should be free-to-play to boost the player count and others recommending purchase only during significant sales. A substantial portion of players regret their purchase, while others strongly recommend it, especially if obtained at a discount or if the core gameplay appeals to them.
- Best played with friends (weight 0.38): Many players emphasize that the game is significantly more enjoyable when played with friends, particularly in private matches. They strongly advise against playing solo or online with strangers, as the experience is diminished without a dedicated group.
- Game's declining player base (weight 0.32): A significant number of players believe the game is dying or already dead due to a low player count. Many suggest making the game free-to-play, updating it, and advertising it to revive the player base and ensure its survival. Players are concerned about the game's longevity and the ability to find matches.
- Appeals to spy/stealth fans (weight 0.1): The game is recommended for players who enjoy espionage, stealth, and strategy, particularly those who liked PvP modes in games like Assassin's Creed or Watch Dogs. However, some players warn that it might not be a traditional 'spy/stealth' experience and suggest improvements to prioritize the spy playstyle.
- General encouragement to play (weight 0.04): Some players simply encourage others to play the game, often with a lighthearted or encouraging tone. This feedback is less specific but indicates a general positive sentiment or a desire for the game to succeed.
- Needs more marketing/streamer support (weight 0.02): Players suggest that developers should invest in advertising and sponsoring big streamers to promote the game. This is seen as a way to increase visibility and attract new players to the game.

Other player notes:
- Server status is uncertain (weight 0.05): While some players perceive the servers as 'dead,' official statements indicate they will remain active for the foreseeable future. There's a hope that the game's partner will help maintain its longevity.
- Mixed reception, niche community (weight 0.03): Based on limited and low-quality feedback, the game is not widely known but has an enthusiastic community. Some criticisms are acknowledged, and characters are affordable to unlock.
- Casual, fun, and social (weight 0.02): The game is considered suitable for teenagers and adults, offering a casual, relaxing, and fun experience that is great for playing with friends.
- Memorable and lively game world (weight 0.02): The game features memorable and interesting landscapes that encourage exploration and strategic route planning. The world feels alive, with NPCs contributing to the overall rhythm and atmosphere.
- Protagonists lack charisma (weight 0.02): The game's cast of protagonists is noted for occupying an unusual space between subverted and actual stereotypes, lacking ultra-charismatic appeal.
- Price varies across platforms (weight 0.01): Some players suggest that the game can be purchased significantly cheaper on platforms like Epic Games compared to its price on Steam.
- Community content creator (weight 0.01): Based on limited and low-quality feedback, some players enjoy watching content from the player '1stGlitch' for guides and gameplay.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.21): Players are primarily disappointed by the game's 'dead' or 'dying' state, characterized by a consistently low player count, long queue times, and the inability to find matches. This is often attributed to a lack of developer support, abandonment, studio closures, and poor marketing, leading to a sense of wasted potential for a game that was initially perceived as fun and original. Additionally, issues like repetitive gameplay, a shift from stealth to shooter mechanics, and the presence of hackers contribute to the negative experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.19): Players express satisfaction with the game's unique hero-shooter and spy-themed gameplay, strategic depth, and originality. The core concept, art style, characters, and music are frequently praised, as is the fun experienced when playing with friends. Many appreciate the game's quality, balanced design, and the rewarding feeling of outsmarting opponents.
- Frustration (weight 0.16): Frustration stems mainly from technical issues such as frequent crashes, server problems, and game-breaking bugs, which often prevent players from enjoying online matches. A significant cause is the extremely low player count, leading to unplayable solo queues, long matchmaking times, and being repeatedly matched with highly skilled 'sweats' or bots. Other sources of frustration include aggressive monetization, the prevalence of cheaters, and a perceived shift in gameplay meta away from stealth.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Excitement is generated by the game's unique blend of PvP mechanics, strategic gameplay, and the thrill of hiding among NPCs and outsmarting opponents. Players are drawn to the variety of agents, gadgets, and the overall fun, tense, and original experience. The game's core idea, visuals, and audio also contribute to this positive emotion.
- Sadness (weight 0.07): Sadness is overwhelmingly linked to the game's 'dead' state, low player count, and the discontinuation of support and development, often due to studio closures. Players lament the unfulfilled potential of a game they once enjoyed, expressing sorrow over its decline and eventual demise.
- Joy (weight 0.07): Joy is primarily experienced when playing the game with friends, highlighting its potential as a party or co-op experience. Players find the game fun, enjoyable, and addictive, appreciating its unique spy elements, character abilities, and the overall positive social interactions it facilitates.
- Hope (weight 0.05): Players express hope for the game's revival, desiring more love, content, and updates from developers. There's a strong wish for the player base to grow, often suggesting a free-to-play model as a potential solution, and a desire for another developer to pick up the project and address existing issues.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Enjoyment comes from the game's unique gameplay, interesting ideas, and strategic depth, particularly when playing with friends or family. The blend of genres, character design, and overall engaging experience contribute to players having a good time.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is directed at game-breaking issues like frequent crashes, hackers ruining the online experience, and perceived developer inaction or poor decisions. Players also express anger over wasted money and time, overpowered characters, and aggressive monetization strategies for a paid game.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is felt for the game's innovative nature, creative level design, aesthetics, and soundtrack. Players view it as a unique and polished masterpiece, appreciating its core mechanics, silliness, and overall good vibes.
- Concern (weight 0.01): Concern revolves around the uncertain future of the game, particularly regarding server stability and the long-term viability of the player base. Players worry about the game's value at its price point and the potential for it to die off, especially after events like free weekends.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game is expressed due to its overall quality, unique experience, and indie feel. Players appreciate the game's genre and the strong positive emotions it evokes.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement arises from unique and humorous gameplay scenarios, such as playing a 'rat' style, winning by playing dirty, and the deceptive nature of NPCs. Melee combat and blending in mechanics also contribute to this lighthearted emotion.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is primarily associated with the purchase of the game and the money spent, often due to the game's subsequent decline or 'death.' Players also express regret that the game did not succeed or capitalize on business model opportunities.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Gratitude is directed towards the developers for their efforts and for creating a game that can alleviate anxiety, highlighting a positive impact beyond just gameplay.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in due to the game's repetitive gameplay and lack of engaging content, especially when playing alone. Players find the experience quickly gets old.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by community toxicity, network and loading bugs, repetitive music, and a lack of clarity in certain game elements, detracting from the overall experience.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Players express a strong desire for more content, a larger player base, and for the game to become free-to-play to encourage friends to join and boost its popularity.
- Confusion (weight 0): Confusion arises from the low player count, a personal feeling of awkwardness, and unclear UI elements or sudden, unexplained deaths within the game.
- Longing (weight 0): Longing is felt for the game as a past favorite, indicating a desire to revisit or recapture previous positive experiences. There's also a longing to genuinely like the game, despite its current state or issues.}