The most played video game delays of the generation

It is true that currently the information on the development of video games is greater and players understand the reasons why a video game can be delayed. At least they know situations like crunch at the end of the developments, the pressures of the great publishers or the intention of those responsible for delivering the best possible product. Therefore, when a game is always delayed part of the community sees it from the positive side: at least the quality of the final product will be better when it arrives at the stores.

It is true that the studio or publisher could have better planned the development, hired more staff and finished the degree before, but no less true is that not all studies can do it and it is not always positive to increase the team without control, destabilizing the core and the development process creating a kind of chaos. Regardless of the benefits are reduced and the risk increases …

That is why we have seen in recent years how some games have presented significant delays, some quite recent, although it is true that Those who have finally arrived did so with good quality.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

In the case of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Nintendo Switch, the Kyoto company did not cut a hair when detailing the reasons. Planned for the end of 2019, the company had to delay it until next March 20, 2020. The motives? "We're not going to get a game before we think it's ready," said Nintendo, a maxim that Nintendo has always met. In addition, "we want to make sure that our employees they have a good balance between personal and work life"Doug Bowser acknowledged, warning that in this way Nintendo avoided crunch.

Cyberpunk 2077

The case of Cyberpunk 2077 is quite particular, since it has been recently when it has been confirmed that the title is delayed months, and will not arrive until September 17 – Initially it would be launched on April 16. There are many rumors of the reason, but it seems that there are performance problems on PS4 and Xbox One. Anyway, it seems that the study will go through a crunch phase, something that in your case is difficult to avoid by not having a great editor behind to support them, although we are talking about an important and successful study.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

LThe delays in the Final Fantasy license are unfortunately common, although quality is essential in such an important license. With Final Fantasy XV he had to wait 10 years: he officially appeared at the E3 of 2006 with the name Final Fantasy Versus XIII, but it would not arrive until November 2016 under the name Final Fantasy XV. In the case of Final Fantasy VII Remake, its release date was going to be March 3, but finally the April 10th "To make sure we get a game that is in line with our vision and the quality that fans deserve."

Metroid Prime 4

The case of Metroid Prime 4 is one of those extreme cases, unfortunately for the players and for Nintendo itself. Announced during E3 2017 with a teaser, Nintendo entrusted its development to a young study in the company, having to correct this bad decision two years later. In February 2019 Shinya Takahashi, executive director of Nintendo, confirmed that the game was not only delayed, development was also restarted This time at the hands of Retro Studios. "The progress of development at the present time has not reached the level we demand for a Metroid Prime series title," said the director of a project that does not yet have a specific launch date.

Nioh 2

Nioh 2 It is a game that has also suffered several delays in recent years, leaving fans of the well-known studio Team ninja disappointed several times. And it is that after presenting at the E3 of 2018 the game was scheduled for May 2019, but later it was delayed by the end of that year and, during the TGS, it was confirmed by 2020. Its launch is now scheduled for March 13 of 2020.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Another case in which users had to endure a good amount of delays throughout its development, although finally we could verify that its quality was improved and finally one of the best games of the generation was launched. Rockstar wanted to launch it in autumn 2017, however, the release date changed to spring 2018. Finally Red Dead Redemption 2 would be released on consoles in October 2018, thus confirming practically a year late.

The Last of Us Part II

Of the most recent delays is surely one of the ones that hurts the most with Cyberpunk 2077. After many rumors and possible dates for years, the Sony game and Naughty Dog for PlayStation 4 was to be released on February 21, 2020. A whole AAA by the beginning of the year, however, shortly before its premiere The Last of Us Part II has gone until May 29, 2020. "This new release date allows us to finish everything at our level of satisfaction and at the same time reduce stress on the team," said game director Neil Druckman on the PlayStation blog. We see that in addition to ensuring better quality, I would also like to avoid crunch, at least relieve it.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The previous CD Projekt RED project also suffered several delays in its launch, and it is not necessary to verify what is happening with Cyberpunk 2077. As we have said, it is a large study but without an "official" support behind, so the delays even hurt more economically for the study, and this is something that we must also value. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was presented in early 2013, a release was estimated for early 2014, however the sorcerer's game was not released until May 2015 His delay was motivated by the negative criticism of the huge number of bugs from Assassin's Creed Unity and, from CD Projekt RED, they didn't want to disappoint their fans. They saw in Assassin's Creed a possible future for The Witcher 3, so they opted for the delay and the optimal polishing of the game.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

They say that Nintendo does not usually announce games until shortly before its launch … but it certainly is not always the case and Nintendo has several cases in its history of games announced long before its launch. Obviously decisions are made at precise times and everything depends on what the company needs at that time. For example, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nintendo needed to confirm it on the Nintendo Direct of January 2013, then a date was announced for 2015, later for 2016 and finally launched in March 2017. From announcement to launch 4 years passed, and several delays involved. Of course, the game redefined the license and is now one of the best titles of the generation.