I don't get why they didn't put Joseph into the game?? Like?? After the first game 90% of the fandom were asking where Joseph ended up?? Joseph is the favorite character of most?? When the sequel was announced practically everyone was asking about Joseph?? And the producers were like "hmm who to put in the game...uh...let's make a dozen new antagonists because aside from Sebastian and Kidman there isn't anyone that the fandom wants back"?? And I'm not even counting Ruvik??
The thing is, this game wasn’t made with the fandom in mind. We are sadly just a small percentage of overall game sales and consumers.
I highly doubt Bethesda looks around at the main fanbase, and gauges what the long-time fans want. Although if they did, it would be pretty clear that Joseph is a fan favorite. I’ve noticed that most of the fandom is unhappy with this game, regardless of Joseph’s inclusion. It has many issues, and Joseph not being in it just one of them.
Like any other game in the industry, it seems to be a money-making move with how much the game overall changed . They want to make the game with consumers in mind so that it will be a successful sell. As many gameplay mechanics as possible, a shit-talking macho hero, themes of familial love and devotion, open-world, plenty of action sequences. They want games to SELL, whether or not it includes a new fanbase or not. Indie games seem far more likely to look into their fan bases, since they are smaller, and gauge responses. Bethesda is a huge company. And as a whole, as important as Joseph was to Seb in the first game, the vast majority of players probably don’t even care that he wasn’t included.
As you can see, TEW2 took elements from nearly every other successful and popular game that’s come out over the last few years. The Last of Us, The Division, Silent Hill, RE7, Layers of Fear, Uncharted 4… just to name a few. They seemed to me, to really diverge from the original source, to the point of it doesn’t even feel like a sequel to the game. But it’s selling copies.
And with Joseph, if you think about it, why would they put him in the main game, when they can make even more money if they release a DLC? Keeping him alive, even as a brief mention, was a tactical move, in my opinion. An option if/when they decide to make another sequel, DLC, etc. Because at the very least, they are well aware that they left his story without an end.
