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The countdown to a game’s launch can be excruciating, especially when its release date keeps getting delayed. There are a lot of reasons that devs like Ubisoft and Rocksteady might bump a release date. Sometimes it’s a scheduling conflict. Sometimes studios do it to avoid crunch. Other times the game needs a few more weeks (or months) of work before it’s ready for public scrutiny. 2023 saw the release of some amazing games, a few of which needed a little extra time before release. By the looks of things, next year is going to offer gamers more of the same. Here are the 5 games most likely to get delayed in 2024.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
The Stalker franchise is known for its gritty realism. Tossing players into harsh, post-apocalyptic environments, these open-world survival simulations don’t believe in handholding. Scavenging for resources, fighting monsters, and making new friends and enemies feels incredible in these titles due to the depth of their various systems. Getting a deep simulation right takes a ton of time and effort, so if S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl gets delayed, pretty much no one will be surprised. If the screenshots and trailers are anything to judge by, the game is shaping up to be one of the best in the series, maybe even giving the Gamma mod a run for its money.
Skull and Bones
Given the incredible popularity of pirates, it’s weird how few big-budget pirate games there are. Whether you grew up with the Monkey Island series or have spent 1,000 hours clowning around with your friends in Sea of Thieves, you’re probably keeping a close eye on Skull and Bones. Ubisoft has delivered fans some stunning open worlds over the years, and the prospect of hopping into a pirate ship and setting sail in pursuit of treasure and glory is a tantalizing one. Only time will tell whether this tale of swashbuckling and mutiny lives up to the hype. Unfortunately, Skull and Bones already has half-a-dozen delays under its belt, so the timeline for this video game isn’t promising in 2024.
Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars commands one of the most rabid fanbases in gaming, with fans awaiting every new release with bated breath. That’s true of even smaller, less ambitious titles. Star Wars Outlaws is neither, promising an open-world experience that will do the franchise’s original trilogy justice. It takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so there’s a huge opportunity for action and drama here. Ubisoft, the game’s publisher, didn’t mention Outlaws by name when discussing the “large game” it delayed. That hasn’t stopped many fans from adding this Star Wars title to the list of games getting pushed in 2024.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Rocksteady Studios made a name for itself in the comic book game space with the release of the Arkham trilogy. These Batman titles rank aren’t just some of the best Batman games, they’re also some of the best comic book games overall. Featuring a gorgeous setting and fluid combat, Arkham delivered everything that fans of the Dark Knight wanted. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set to return players to the DC Universe, but it’s already been delayed and might get bumped again amongst other video game delays in 2024. From live-service mechanics and a cosmetics-only battle pass, several elements of the game have fans worried. Hopefully, more time means a better product.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
There’s already a gigantic gap between the release of the 2004 horror RPG Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines and Bloodlines 2. While both games may revolve around the immortal undead, players don’t have forever to wait, and any further delays are cause for concern. Based on the tabletop RPG by White Wolf, the original game gave players tremendous freedom to tell their own bloody story. From choosing your clan to beating the hell out of your enemies, there was a lot to love about the original. The only thing scarier than a long wait is getting a mediocre experience, so maybe it’s a good thing if Bloodlines 2 joins the ranks of games delayed in 2024.
