But back when all gaming news was relegated to magazines and TV advertisements, delaying a video game could confuse consumers and seriously damage its sales potential.Īnd because game consoles weren’t typically hooked up to the internet either, developers couldn’t patch a game to fix its issues – that physical release had to be near-perfect or it’d be a bug-riddled mess forever. These days, it’s incredibly easy to get the word out online. Part of what’s causing this trend of delayed games is likely the convenience factor. Personally, my optimism there is fading – Cyberpunk 2077 was delayed three times, and it was still an absolute mess on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Every time a postponement announcement hits social media, the vast majority of comments are actually positive – people would ultimately rather have a good game than a broken one. Game delays have become less taboo in recent years. Many game studios have permanently integrated work-from-home opportunities. I wasn’t surprised by the plethora of delays throughout 2020-21, considering the pandemic’s impact on the industry, but I thought for sure that would’ve been sorted by now. So many games I was looking forward to this year – Redfall, Metal Slug Tactics, Hogwarts Legacy and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide – have been postponed to 2023.
I prefer to wait for discounts, because even most good games drop in price and have sales – with the notable exception of certain first-party Nintendo games.Įven still, I have become increasingly flabbergasted at the influx of delayed video game releases. I’ve got bills to pay and can’t afford to buy the latest AAA releases, especially with many of them asking for $70 now.
Like most adult gamers, I’m a patient one with a significant backlog of video games waiting for me.