In every week (month? yr?) when a lot of persons are feeling fairly bitter over the best way some sport corporations select to clarify their choices to their viewers, right here’s a rarity — a sport delay assertion that exhibits such humility, honesty, and keenness for the medium that it’s gone over extraordinarily nicely.
The assertion comes from Evil Empire, the Lifeless Cells developer now making a roguelike Prince of Persia sport for Ubisoft — and the rationale for the delay, as Evil Empire humbly admits, is that this week’s shock early entry launch of Hades 2, the hotly anticipated sequel to a roguelike traditional.
Rogue Prince of Persia had been set for launch subsequent week, on Might 14 (additionally in early entry, on PC). Evil Empire says the sport will nonetheless be launched in Might, and it’ll announce a brand new launch date on Monday, Might 13.
It’s a good move, however what’s actually placing is the generosity and candor with which Evil Empire has framed its determination — in addition to its cheeky use of the yellow-box format (much-memed throughout Cyberpunk 2077’s tortuous journey to launch, and past).
“Seeing as everybody and their mum is taking part in [Hades 2] (together with our whole crew… and their mums), now we have determined to let individuals have their enjoyable with it earlier than we launch The Rogue Prince of Persia,” Evil Empire posted.
“Whereas now we have each confidence in The Rogue Prince of Persia, it’s not day-after-day {that a} sport in the identical style as you, which is without doubt one of the most anticipated upcoming video games of 2024, will launch into Early Entry every week earlier than you intend to do the identical. We’re not prideful sufficient to disregard the implications of that, and we really consider that this brief delay is the most effective determination for us and our Early Entry journey.
“This additionally lets us hold sprucing up the sport, add much more cool issues and kick some cussed bugs out earlier than launch. The Day 1 patch was getting fairly hefty, so gaining extra time to check it and add extra stuff earlier than launch day has significantly lowered the stress ranges of our producer and sport director already!
“We fully perceive that that is annoying information to listen to for everybody who was desirous to play the sport, particularly so near the anticipated launch. We are able to solely maintain our arms up, apologise and hope that you just perceive. It will likely be well worth the wait! Thanks on your endurance.”
Isn’t that good? Evil Empire gave a fellow developer their props, confirmed enthusiasm for a rival sport, modestly understood their position within the pecking order, apologized — and most significantly, had been fully open with followers concerning the causes for it. Credit score’s because of writer Ubisoft, too, which presumably greenlit the choice and this manner of speaking it.
Uncommon is the delay announcement that earns goodwill slightly than erodes it, however this can be a incredible instance of 1.