2020 was a terrific 12 months for gaming with smash hits like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Genshin Impression, Doom Everlasting, and naturally all of the video games that made it onto our GOTY lists. Sadly, it was additionally a banner 12 months for delays. As many studios needed to modify to work-from-home conditions, improvement instances slowed down immensely. Listed below are seven video games we consider will in the end find yourself delayed in 2021.
God of Conflict Ragnarok
Revealed at Sony’s PS5 Showcase final summer time, God of Conflict Ragnarok took the gaming world by storm. Even with nothing however a small teaser. “Ragnarok is Coming 2021” is what the small video lauded, however will that be a actuality?
It’s wholly doable Sony initially supposed for Ragnarok to launch late this 12 months to bolster its lineup, however the realities of working from residence and studio restrictions might kill that dream. What’s extra, is that supposedly Sony Santa Monica is engaged on one other undertaking alongside Ragnarok.
Whereas it’s commonplace for studios to work on a couple of recreation at a time, it’s protected to imagine that splitting assets (time, labor, cash) throughout two initiatives might delay the event course of. Even when this isn’t the case, the main hurdles are extra alongside the road of movement seize.
Chris Choose’s award-winning efficiency of Kratos will greater than possible return within the upcoming sequel. Nonetheless, with office restrictions in place, it might be troublesome for the studio to do the suitable movement seize and appearing wanted for a high-class efficiency.
For sure, God of Conflict Ragnarok appears to have the percentages stacked in opposition to it in the case of a launch later this 12 months. So don’t be stunned if a delay out of 2021 occurs.
Cyberpunk 2077
No critically. Cyberpunk has its justifiable share of bother already, however there’ll possible be extra earlier than issues have an opportunity of getting higher. Not too long ago, CDPR got here out with a content material roadmap that confirmed off patches and DLC plans all through 2021.
On the finish of the 12 months the corporate is planning to launch its Collection X and PS5 variations of the title, however with all the things that has gone on with the last-gen variations, it wouldn’t be wild to suppose that these variations may very well be in jeopardy of being delayed.
The last-gen model of the sport continues to be nigh unplayable for many individuals. Patches over the subsequent couple of months intention to treatment that, however even after that, there’s no promise that DLC will probably be in a steady state upon launch.
CDPR has already proven they haven’t adjusted nicely to timelines particularly on this earn a living from home setting, so it’s solely honest to imagine that the upcoming DLC and the new-gen patches will want not less than somewhat extra time within the oven than they anticipate.
The very last thing the developer wants proper now could be one other launch debacle. Cyberpunk being delayed (once more) out of 2021 wouldn’t be the worst factor to occur to the title.
Stray
Stray is the sport from the PS5 Showcase that appeared to win over the hearts of many avid gamers. An cute detective cat unraveling the thriller of an odd mechanical world. Who wouldn’t need to know extra proper? Six months later and we’re nonetheless ready.
The sport was given a 2021 launch with its announcement trailer, however since then, followers haven’t heard something new for the title. Additionally, on the time the sport was introduced, the studio was nonetheless hiring for a number of key positions together with programming engineers, artists, and stage designers.
With no strong launch date set, all eyes (and whiskers?) appear to be set on this mysterious title we all know little about.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
One of many extra troubled improvement tales in recent times has been for the sequel to the cult hit Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines. This upcoming sequel has been in improvement for occurring six years as of now could be and continues to be having new points come up.
Most just lately, the studio behind the sport — Hardsuit Labs — let go of its Senior Narrative Director, Cara Ellison, and hasn’t commented on the reason is. This additionally comes solely months after dropping two different senior builders.
Earlier than that, the sport noticed two delays. As soon as in 2019, the rationale for it acknowledged to be for extra polish. The sport was once more delayed in mid-2020, with no actual reasoning apart from ‘participant expectations and developer ambitions’.
A number of management modifications and little purpose behind delays don’t bode nicely for a recreation meant to come back out this 12 months. Not solely that, however there hasn’t been a trailer for the sport since 2019.
Not that trailers are a measurement of improvement progress, however sometimes when near launch builders will probably be eager on sharing as a lot of their video games as doable. Sadly for the devoted followers of the franchise, Bloodlines 2 might face one other delay.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
Revealed again at E3 2019, Ghostwire: Tokyo has been an uncanny, and mysterious title. Followers of the legendary Shinji Mikami have been fawning over the title because it was proven off however have acquired little in the way in which of data for the title.
It was later revealed that Ghostwire: Tokyo would change into a timed PS5 unique alongside Deathloop. Since then each video games have acquired gameplay trailers, however solely Deathloop has been given an official launch date.
At Sony’s CES convention earlier this month, Ghostwire: Tokyo and a few different unique titles got launch home windows; Ghostwire anticipated in October of 2021. Nonetheless, Sony went again quickly after and redacted these dates throwing Ghostwire’s launch date into limbo as soon as extra.
The combo of radio silence and unusual actions from Sony concerning launch dates leads us to consider that Ghostwire: Tokyo might discover itself delayed from 2021 into 2022.
