UPDATE: Indie developers at French studio Permadeath are facing a new setback as their game, Planet Centauri, is deemed “cursed” after Valve’s promotional efforts fell short—again. Just days after launching the highly anticipated game, glitches from Valve disrupted its visibility, leading to disappointing sales figures.
Launched in full in December 2024 after nearly a decade of development, Planet Centauri garnered 138,000 wishlists on Steam. However, it only managed to sell 581 units in its first week, a staggering shortfall that left developer Laurent Lechat bewildered. Despite selling over 100,000 copies during its early access phase, the game’s post-launch performance has been dismal, failing to even crack 1,000 sales after its official debut.
The situation escalated when Valve confirmed that a bug on their end prevented notifications from reaching all users who had wishlisted Planet Centauri. This critical error severely limited the game’s exposure, prompting Valve to apologize and offer a new promotional slot for a Daily Deal on November 12, 2025. Unfortunately, that date coincided with Valve’s major hardware announcement, overshadowing the indie title.
“Over the years, I really get the feeling that Planet Centauri is cursed,” Lechat lamented. The promotion was still executed, but the massive focus on Valve’s new hardware meant that the game received minimal attention. Despite the setbacks, the promotion did manage to drive an additional 5,000 sales, providing a lifeline for the team and the hope to continue development on their next project.
With limited sales momentum, Planet Centauri struggled to gain traction in popular charts, leading to a swift reduction in post-launch support from the developers. The team expressed their frustration, stating that they had hoped for a more substantial offer from Valve, which would have helped significantly in boosting the game’s profile.
As November 12 approaches, the community awaits to see if the game’s brief spotlight on Steam will help it recover from this series of unfortunate events. Lechat remains hopeful yet realistic about the challenges ahead, stating, “We can’t tell, and we will see and hope for the best.”
The ongoing saga of Planet Centauri highlights the unpredictable nature of game launches in the digital marketplace. With every setback, the indie developers are learning to navigate the turbulent waters of promotion and visibility in a crowded industry. Keep an eye on this developing story as the fate of Planet Centauri hangs in the balance.
