GunZ: The Duel Launches on Steam via Masangsoft, Faces Backlash Over AI Content and Performance

Classic free-to-play action MMO GunZ: The Duel has officially returned worldwide on Steam, courtesy of publisher Masangsoft. Originally released on the IJJI platform during the mid-2000s, the cult-classic title shut down back in 2013, leaving long-time fans waiting years for an official revival. Expressing gratitude to the community, a Masangsoft representative noted in a press release that victory in GunZ relies entirely on player skill and mastery rather than pay-to-win mechanics.

However, the global Steam launch has encountered a rocky reception, currently holding mixed user reviews on the platform. While player counts reached a little more than 1,800 concurrent users shortly after release, negative reviews have surfaced focusing heavily on performance issues, server instability, cheating concerns, and the inclusion of alleged artificial intelligence-generated content.

Community feedback highlights several major complaints regarding the new release. Players have pointed to AI-generated icons, videos, and high-resolution textures that alter the aesthetic of the maps, alongside gameplay concerns such as altered slash ranges, broken blocking mechanics at low ping, and severe latency spikes. Critics also expressed frustration over fundamental physics and geometry issues, arguing that the title's overall performance falls short of what experienced private servers offered over the past decade.

Despite the backlash over generative AI and technical bugs, the underlying source material remains a beloved piece of gaming history for early fans of the franchise. Whether Masangsoft will address the community's technical grievances and concerns regarding asset creation through subsequent updates remains to be seen.