Kingdom Come : Deliverance.
2M copy sold.
Food, drink, washing, arrows and inventory management, weapons durability,...
Niche you said ?
Obviously not the same game but these mecanics can be part of a sucessfull game if it's well designed and if it serve the purpose.
Having """'survival"""" mecanics is good for ambiance and feelings given by the game (feelings of a dangerous World in which you have to survive and be prepared).
Many """ because we're just initialy talking about ammo management, not food, drink....
Everything is not black or white. Sometimes grey is a good solution but I don't really think Larian care/can do immersive games. Which is bad for Baldur's Gate 3.
Every mechanic has its uses and its fans. The survival genre is alive and kicking, too. No one is saying these mechanics are not liked.
But a dev has to decide 'Will this make my game more fun? Or will it detract from the overall experience?'
While hunger and durability and thirst are expected in a Survival game and are, in fact, your main enemy in many ways, people don't expect that from a D&D game. Or a tactical game. Or a turn-based game.
I think it would turn off many players who are going in expecting to play Baldur's Gate 3, not a Survival game.
That's just my take on it, of course.
