Below is one of the best looking video games for the Xbox One, but it has now been delayed with the developers having no idea when the title will be ready for consumer consumption.
We have seen the game several times since Below was first announced at E3 2013. Gamers were delighted with the design and just everything overall. Every year since then, Microsoft showed snippets of the game in action until a release date was set for 2016.
Unfortunately, that release date will not be met as the developers, Capybara Games, believe Below is far from ready. In a blog post, the developer said they pushed hard to meet the summer deadline, but things are just not up to their standards, and as such, the game is in no position to be released in its current state.
"We did a lot of soul searching," according to the blog post. "We knew we wanted to get it into your hands as soon as possible. We knew the game was there, and we're super proud of it, but we also knew it needed more time to make sure it lives up to our studio's standards, and the quality you expect from our games."
Here's the thing, the developer also stated that next time we see the game, they will have a firm release date and will likely never have to delay again. This is a game that was supposed to be launched in 2014, then 2015 and also 2016. Three launch windows have been missed, so gamers might not be too excited about hearing a new release date in the future, even if it's a firm one.
Such a move will likely be a problem for Microsoft as it loses one of its main summer titles. However, with the likes of Forza Horizon 3, Gears of War 4, ReCore and a lot more, there's a possibility that Below wouldn't be missed that much. Furthermore, the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative should also help Microsoft garner more success.
When should we expect Below to be released?
Capybara Games can't hold on to this game forever. Either release it or end development. This is not a triple A game, but merely a title coming from an indie studio. It means the developers might not be able to stand the cost of constant development, so one could expect a possible firm release date in 2017.
It could also be released in time for Project Scorpio, but we see no reason why Capybara Games would want to do that seeing as Below isn't graphic intensive.
