Independent developers from the French studio Permadeath are convinced that their game, Planet Centauri, has encountered a series of unfortunate events that they characterize as being “cursed.” The game’s launch faced initial setbacks due to an accidental error by Valve that impacted its visibility and promotional efforts, leading to subsequent hiccups in marketing.
After nearly ten years of development, Planet Centauri was officially released in December 2024 and garnered an impressive 138, 000 wishlists on Steam. Yet, the indie title only managed to secure 581 sales within its first week, as highlighted by Polygon. Developer Laurent Lechat expressed disappointment, emphasizing how the release fell “incomprehensibly” short of expectations, especially considering it had already sold over 100, 000 copies during its early access phase.
The stark contrast—where early access sales exceeded those in the first week of full release—left the developers puzzled. A few months later, Valve contacted Permadeath to clarify the situation, revealing that a bug on Valve’s end had prevented notifications from reaching all users who had wishlisted the game. In an effort to rectify the mishap, Valve arranged for a promotional opportunity in November.
Valve’s Apology and New Opportunities
Following the initial wishlist incident, Planet Centauri struggled to gain traction, and its early sales were insufficient to help it climb the charts of new releases. Consequently, the developers were forced to reduce post-launch support sooner than planned.
In a bid to make amends, Valve reached out to the French team with a new promotion that involved a placement in Steam’s Daily Deal spotlight, which prominently features titles for all Steam users on a given day. Additionally, Valve proposed that the game could also be featured on the Steam front page and within various sales highlights.
Lechat expressed cautious optimism in a statement to Polygon, suggesting that while the offer was a step in the right direction, “Steam could have offered something more substantial, ”adding that the magnitude of impact remained uncertain and dependent on various factors.
The Downfall of Planet Centauri’s Spotlight
As expected for a Daily Deal, the promotional emphasis lasts for a single day. The developers selected November 12, 2025, from a limited set of options provided by Valve. However, this seemingly innocuous decision resulted in yet another setback, as that same day marked Valve’s announcement of its latest lineup of hardware, which included the Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset, and Steam Controller.
In a twist of fate, Valve’s hardware announcements overshadowed the spotlight planned for Planet Centauri.
While the game was technically still highlighted as arranged, the heightened focus on Valve’s hardware inadvertently eclipsed the game’s promotion. Reflecting on this recurring theme of misfortune, Lechat remarked, “I must admit… over the years, I really get the feeling that Planet Centauri is cursed.”
Despite the circumstances, the promotion resulted in a boost that brought in an additional 5, 000 sales. This unexpected influx provided the team with crucial financial support, allowing them to continue operations and work towards completing their second game.
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