Deathloop, the upcoming story-driven FPS from Arkane Studios which was first announced at E3 2019, was originally due to release this coming December. However, the studio has today announced a major delay to the Deathloop release date, pushing the game’s launch back to Q2 of 2021.
Deathloop Release Date Delayed to Q2 2021
“We’ve made the decision to move the launch date of DEATHLOOP to Q2 2021,” writes Arkane, in a statement released today; “Our ambition for DEATHLOOP is to deliver a signature Arkane game that takes you to never-before-seen places in a stylish new world. At the same time, the health and safety of everyone at Arkane Lyon remains our top priority.”
The statement goes on to explain that the shift to working-from-home as a result of COVID-19 has meant that development is taking “longer than normal”. It concludes with the statement that; “While we know this is the right decision for DEATHLOOP, we share your disappointment, and apologise for making you wait even longer.”
So far, the fan reaction to the statement has been generally positive, with many fans urging the studio to take as much time as they need. As many studios have learned in the last few years, most gamers prefer having to wait longer for a new release than playing a game that launches before it’s ready. (Cases in point, Fallout 76, No Man’s Sky, etc., etc.) As such, today’s announcement from Arkane is undoubtedly the right decision.
The Deathloop release date is now due to fall in mid-2021 for PC and PS5. As was revealed during PlayStation’s June PS5 event, Deathloop will be a timed console-exclusive for their next-gen console. It will eventually come to the Xbox Series X, but it’s currently unknown how long the exclusivity will last. According to Arkane, fans can look forward to more details about Deathloop emerging relatively soon.
“Your positive feedback has helped fuel us as we continue to work from the confines of our homes,” writes Arkane; “We can’t wait to share more details about DEATHLOOP with you, so keep your eyes open for our next update, coming soon.”