XCOM 2, the sequel to the excellent turn-based tactical alien invasion game XCOM: Enemy Unknown, is being delayed.
"We want to give you an update on the release date for XCOM 2," developer Firaxis announced on the game's website. "We’ve set a high bar for the sequel and the entire team has been working hard to make sure we deliver a great follow-up to Enemy Unknown. We just need a little more time to make it the best possible game. With XCOM 2, we want to have more depth, more replayability, and more investment in your soldiers and this extension will give us the time we need to deliver on our promise to you. We appreciate your patience and continued support as we move towards February. Good luck, Commander!"
While the game didn't have a set release date, it was slated for sometime during holiday 2015.
The delay is good news for two reasons.
First, and most obviously, is that if a game isn't ready to launch it should be delayed. True, endless delays are usually indicative of bigger problems, but a reasonable delay of a few months can mean the difference between a half-baked, buggy mess and a polished, playable product.
Second, holiday 2015 is already a bit crowded with major releases and, perhaps selfishly, I'd like a little more breathing time to actually sink my teeth into XCOM 2. With so many games coming out in the next few months, that's going to be difficult. Fallout 4 alone is supposed to have an ungodly 400 hours or so of stuff to do. (Why any game needs that much content is beyond me.) But there's also the new Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Star Wars: Battlefront and plenty others. Since Mad Max and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain both release the same day, who knows when I'll get to Mad Max?
All of which is to say, this is probably good for both gamers and the game itself. Firaxis and 2K will likely make more money, and everybody will be happy.
XCOM 2 launches February 5th, 2016 on PC.
