Every 2023 Xbox game that was delayed out of this year
We’ve listed all the Game Pass day-one additions and major releases which have been delayed out of 2023. Check it out below.
Game Pass delays
Lightyear Frontier
- Initial release date: Spring 2023
- New release date: March 2024
Lightyear Frontier is set to bring a mix of farming, crafting, exploration, resource management, and base building on an alien world to Game Pass. It was initially set to launch in early access in spring 2023 and was then given an indefinite delay from developer Frame Break before at last settling on a release window of March 2024. We’re excited for it when it does arrive — it’s one of the five Xbox Game Pass games for 2024 we can’t wait for.
Ark 2
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: End of 2024
The Ark franchise is no stranger to delays after the hubbub around Ark: Survival Ascended. Ark 2 was set for an undefined 2023 launch before Studio Wildcard changed up its plans, delaying Ark 2 to the end of 2024 and announcing Ark: Survival Ascended (which has now launched). Reasons for the delay were so that the team could get to groups with Unreal Engine 5 and so that Studio Wildcard could focus on the team’s well-being.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Initial release date: First half of 2023
- New release date: Unknown
This one was a wrench. Hollow Knight: Silksong, the sequel to the beloved Metroidvania Hollow Knight, wasn’t given a release date when it was announced in June 2022, but was just confirmed as joining Game Pass within the next 12 months. It was then delayed indefinitely. On the plus side, this delay seems to be for a good reason: Team Cherry’s Matthew Griffin said at the time that the game has “gotten quite big” and they want to take their time with it.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
- Initial release date: Early 2023
- New release date: 2024
Fantasy action-RPG Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn was initially expected in 2022, before being given a new 2023 release window, and then being delayed into 2024. A44 Games said it wanted to use the time to “make it the most impressive and unforgettable game it can be.”
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: April 23, 2024
JRPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was also planned for 2023 before being pushed back to 2024, but luckily we soon got an exact release date of April 23. Developer Rabbit & Bear Studio said the delay was to “ensure the best possible story, and to reward the legion of backers with the best game experience possible.”
Replaced
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: 2024
Replaced, a retro sci-fi 2D adventure game, was pushed back from its 2022 release window to 2023, before being delayed again to 2024 to give developer Sad Cat time to “make every aspect of it the best it can be.” The devs discussed the difficulties of game development and how they wanted to meet expectations.
Little Witch in the Woods
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: Unknown
The last two on this list are a bit of a mystery. Magical pixel adventure game Little Witch in the Woods is already available in Game Preview, but was set for a full launch in 2023. However, we’re running out of 2023 and haven’t had an update, so it’s a safe bet to assume this might be coming later.
Ereban: Shadow Legacy
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: Unknown
Likewise, stealth platforming game Ereban: Shadow Legacy was announced as coming to Game Pass in 2023, but we haven’t heard anything since.
Delayed releases
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
- Initial release date: Winter 2023
- New release date: September 7, 2024
Third-person shooter Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was initially set to launch in winter 2023, before Saber Interactive pushed it back to the second half of next year, finally settling on a release date of September 7, 2024. For this one, the reason given for the delay was simply that the devs wanted more time to polish the game.
The Thaumaturge
- Initial release date: December 5, 2023
- New release date: February 20, 2024
Narrative RPG The Thaumaturge was set to launch on December 5, 2023 before being delayed to allow the devs more time to meet player standards. Luckily, this was only a small delay: 11 bit studios and Fool’s Theory gave it a new release date of February 20, 2024.
Phasmophobia
- Initial release date: August 2023
- New release date: Unknown
Psychological horror game Phasmophobia was pushed back from August 2023 to October, before being delayed again indefinitely. Developer Kinetic Games had more than unforeseen issues to deal with: a fire in its office building, coupled with development problems, caused the first delay, and the complications of adjusting to remote working, as well as problems adapting the game for consoles, prompted the second. There’s no new release date for this one yet.
XDefiant
- Initial release date: Summer 2023
- New release date: Unknown
Ubisoft’s free-to-play FPS XDefiant was expected to launch in summer 2023 but failed certification on both Xbox and PlayStation. It was then pushed back to October before being delayed indefinitely after the devs came across issues following a public test session.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
- Initial release date: November 7, 2023
- New release date: February 13, 2024
Action-RPG Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden was announced at the end of 2022 with a 2023 release window, before being given a more specific November release date. Don’t Nod and Focus Entertainment then delayed it to February 2024, with the honest reason that the end of 2023 was already pretty packed for big releases and they wanted their game to have room to breathe. The Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden achievements are already in, though!
Alone in the Dark
- Initial release date: October 2023
- New release date: January 16, 2024
It’s a similar story for the Alone in the Dark, a reboot of the survival horror game, which was pushed back to January 2024 with developers Pieces Interactive and Publisher THQ Nordic giving the excuse that October 2023 was already extremely busy.
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: Unknown
JRPGs Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars were announced in 2022 with a 2023 release window before being pushed back to give Konami more time to work on the game. There’s no new release window yet.
Lollipop Chainsaw RePop
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: Summer 2024
Lollipop Chainsaw RePop, a remake of the Xbox 360 hack & slash game, was pushed back from 2023 to summer 2024. Dragami Games explained that it needed more time to make the game the best it could be.
The Plucky Squire
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: 2024
Gorgeous dimension-hopping platformer game The Plucky Squire was given an initial release window of 2023 before being pushed back to 2024. This was one of this year’s more interesting delays, since publisher Devolver Digital went all-out and had its own Devolver Delayed showcase specifically for delay news.
Pragmata
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: Unknown
One of the more mysterious entries on this list is sci-fi action-adventure game Pragmata. It was announced in 2020 with a 2022 release window, and we haven’t really heard anything since, apart from its delay into 2023. Capcom then went on to delay it indefinitely, so it looks like this one will remain mysterious for now.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
- Initial release date: Spring 2023
- New release date: February 2, 2024
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was another 2020 announcement which was given a 2022 release window. It too was then delayed to 2023 before being pushed back again — luckily, there’s a more specific new release date for this one, and it’ll be out in February 2024. This last delay was to focus on getting the game to be the best it could.
The Wolf Among Us 2
- Initial release date: 2023
- New release date: 2024
Adventure game The Wolf Among Us 2 was pushed back from 2023 to 2024 earlier this year. The game had actually been announced as early as 2019 to help with getting funding, but then of course the studio had to deal with everything from the pandemic to smaller but still challenging issues such as switching from Unreal Engine 4 to 5. Telltale Games were transparent about the last delay, saying the game needed time and they didn’t want to impose burnout on their team.
That’s everything major which has been pushed back out of 2023 (not including DLC delays, such as PowerWash Sim’s Warhammer 40K DLC, Destiny 2’s The Final Shape expansion, and Cities Skylines 2’s expansion pass content).
Not to worry, however: there’s plenty on the way in 2024, including all those upcoming Game Pass games!
Originally posted by www.trueachievements.com
