30 Times The So-Called 'Next Big Thing' Crashed and Burned

In the fast-paced world of technology and innovation, the promise of the “next big thing” is a constant source of excitement and anticipation. However, not every groundbreaking idea or revolutionary product lives up to the hype.

A Reddit thread recently surfaced, gathering insights from users who shared their perspectives on the epic failures that shattered the dreams of being the next big thing. Let’s take a look at some examples that demonstrate how even the most promising innovations can fall short of expectations.

More info: Reddit

#1

Image source: Responsible_Prune_34, David McBee

Crypto

#2

Image source: repairmanjack

New Coke. The company changed the recipe, and people were so mad that within 3 months they brought back the old one, which is why today it’s called Coke Classic.

#3

Image source: w3tnut123, pinguino k

NFTs

#4

Image source: SheogorathMyBeloved, Maurizio Pesce

Modular phones. I can remember reading about how being able to choose and change the different modules based on your phone needs (better camera, better speakers, etc.) was gonna kill the iPhone. Kind of a shame really, they sounded pretty cool.

#5

Image source: jano808, Alena Shekhovtcova

Olestra. If you were old enough in the 90s, you remember everyone s******g their pants over it.

#6

Image source: AnIgnorablePerson, Mohamed Hassan

Google+. Everyone thought it’s gonna be the facebook killer, now it’s just a history.

#7

Image source: anon, Ryan Somma

Sega Dreamcast

#8

Betamax

Image source: tejt99

#9

Image source: knomore-llama_horse, Chokniti Khongchum

There was this lady who said laboratory testing could be reduced to a machine the size of a microwave… turns out it was all a scam.

#10

DivX.
DIVX was a rental format variation on the DVD player in which a customer would buy a DIVX disc (similar to a DVD) for approximately US$4.50, which was watchable for up to 48 hours from its initial viewing. After this period, the disc could be viewed by paying a continuation fee to play it for two more days. Viewers who wanted to watch a disc an unlimited number of times could convert the disc to a “DIVX silver” disc for an additional fee.

It lasted for about a year back in the late 1990s before dying — even with the backing of major studios who wanted a piece of the video rental market.

Edit: thanks to those who pointed out the error in my reference to DIVX (the unsuccessful rental company) vs DivX (the compression CODEC).

Image source: Viperlite

#11

Image source: badlilbadlandabad, ajay_suresh

The XFL

#12

Image source: Muted_Warthog_942, Joel Paim

Lifi, WiFi that works with light reflections, all reflective surfaces in the house must be eliminated, so safe to assume it wasn’t very successful amongst people who use their phone in the toilet.

#13

Image source: JFKRFKSRVLBJ, David Bartus

Fidget spinners were big in 2017. I can’t find one now, and I don’t know what else to do with my hands.

#14

Image source: anon, Joe C

3D TVs

#15

Image source: A_Bit_Off_Kilter, Julio Lopez

Meta. Lol, who ever thought that rebranding would would be a good thing was an idiot.

#16

Image source: anon, Roland Legrand

Metaverse

#17

Image source: epmoya, TM & © Paramount (2004)

The term “Fetch”

#18

Image source: jk1962, cottonbro studio

The U.S. “going metric.” We were taught as kids that we’d be thinking in kg and meters by the time we were adults.

#19

Image source: SaintJohnBiDog, aaltonen

BlackBerry without the keyboard. Fell flat on its face. Too bad was a great Canadian company and a world leader in mobile devices until they got so arrogant they thought they knew what the consumer wanted but didn’t. Buh bye BB.

#20

Image source: AhFourFeckSakeLads, Matt Cornock

Minidiscs.

#21

Image source: crushingqwerty, Andrea Piacquadio

Quibi, the streaming service with 5-10 minute long tv shows meant to be watched on mobile. They spent nearly $2 billion, recruited A List celebrities, were run by a former Disney executive/cofounder of Dreamworks, and completely tanked within 6 months. I believe they try to blame their failure on the pandemic, but realistically, this is what happens when a bunch of out-of-touch media executives get too into being “data-driven” and think they can synergize and scale their way into being cool. I have worked with this particular kind of star-f*cker executive and it was so satisfying and validating to see this stuff fail.