The year 2021 has been a great one for the gaming industry so far. While we saw a variety of game releases this year, a handful of the greatly anticipated ones got delayed. However, E3 2021 also came with some big announcements on previously announced games.
Along the lines of games like Horizon Forbidden West and God of War Sequel, we saw many games being delayed. As of now, it seems like 2021 is turning out to be a year of game delays. In addition, many delays can be owed to the fact that the developers want their games to be as polished as possible when it hits the stores. This is understandable, given the unfortunate events that the release of Cyberpunk 2077 unfolded.
Meanwhile, without any more ramblings, let’s get straight to the list of the games delayed to 2022.
Major video games delayed to 2022
1. Horizon Forbidden West
The sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, the game was set to release in Q3 of 2021. However, Horizon Forbidden West is now postponed to release in Q1 of 2022. We got our first look at the game during Sony’s State of Play. Horizon Forbidden West would build upon the story of its prequel, however, with lots of fresh and new elements paired with exhilarating gameplay.
2. God of War: Ragnarok
God of War Sequel, God of War: Ragnarok, whatever you might want to call it, the game could potentially get a different name upon release. Teased in 2020, God of War: Ragnarok was initially to release in 2021. However, the game has been delayed to sometime in 2022 with no confirmed release date.
3. Stray
This upcoming action-adventure game features a ‘cat’ stuck in a futuristic city filled with humanoids. At first look, the game looks intriguing, with beautifully designed backgrounds, and the futuristic city looks well designed. Stray was initially to be launched in 2021; however, the developer has delayed the release window to 2022.
4. Rainbow Six Extraction
We got a better look at this upcoming game in the Rainbow Six series during Ubisoft forward at E3 2021. Previously called Rainbow Six Quarantine, Extraction is a tac shooter and co-op multiplayer game that was initially to be launched in September 2021. However, Ubisoft recently announced Rainbow Six Extraction to have been delayed to launch in January 2022.
5. Hogwarts Legacy
This upcoming action role-playing game was due to release sometime in 2021. Set in the Wizarding World in the late 1800s, Hogwarts Legacy is developed by Avalanche Studios under the Warner Bros. banner. Hopefully, Hogwarts Legacy would touch upon the elements that its predecessors failed to; the game is due to release sometime in 2022.
7. Skull and Bones
While Skull and Bones was announced in 2017, we got our first look at this pirates game way back in E3 2018. This MMO from Ubisoft was due to release in 2020; however, the studio delayed the game, with a possible release window in 2022 or even 2023.
8. Gran Turismo 7
The upcoming title in the Gran Turismo series by Polyphony Digital was to release in 2021 if a leak is to be believed. In addition, Gran Turismo 7 is confirmed to be cross-gen upon launch. The game is now scheduled for a 2022 release window.
9. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Initially scheduled for a 2021 release window, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is an upcoming action-adventure game. Obviously, based on the iconic character from LOTR, the game will let players delve into the world J.R.R. Tolkein created. The lord of the Rings: Gollum is now moved to a 2022 release window.
10. Warhammer 40K: Darktide
This upcoming first-person shooter by Fatshark was to be initially released in 2021. Warhammer 40K: Darktide will come to PC, Xbox Series X/S, along with Xbox Game Pass. However, last month the devs took to Twitter to announce the delay in the game’s release window, citing to improve quality levels before Warhammer 40K: Darktide’s final release in 2022.
11. Gotham Knights
Gotham Knights is an upcoming action-adventure game based in the DC universe. However, Gotham Knights is not a sequel to 2015’s Batman: Arkham Knight. The story of Gotham Knights continues after Batman’s death, with his various apprentices taking his place. After being delayed, the game is scheduled for a 2022 release window.
12. Ghostwire: Tokyo
Another action-adventure game that was initially planned for a 2021 release window. Ghostwire: Tokyo is a spooky action-adventure game by the creators of The Evil Within 2, with supernatural elements. Ghostwire: Tokyo is now delayed for a 2022 release window.
So there you have it, major games with a 2021 release window; however, now have been delayed. Most of these games are delayed citing production issues. Of course, who doesn’t love to play a late polished game rather than an unpolished and buggy game? Nobody. While the delay seems to be the better option in citing further polishing the game, let’s hope these anticipated games release next year.
