Delays go hand-in-hand with the video game industry like peanut butter and jelly. But even though delays are to be expected, many developers experienced additional hindrances as a result of the pandemic. Whether it was shifting to a work-from-home setting or not having certain functions available, there were a plethora of games affected by these adjustments, and release dates were altered.
While some games experienced heavier delays than others, at the end of the day it's always in the game's best interest to take a little extra time to make sure it's not rough around the edges. As release dates continue to change, be sure to stay up-to-date on when every game is scheduled to release this year. For now, here are a few of the biggest games scheduled to release in 2021 but haven't hit the shelves just yet.
Updated July 21, 2021, by Avery Lawrence Feyrer: Certain games on this list like Far Cry 6 and Dying Light 2 have announced actual release dates for later this year, instead of release windows. Other games that were scheduled for release this year but have experienced new delays have been added to this list and replaced games that haven't received any updates.
10 Far Cry 6 - FPS (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X|S, Windows, Stadia, Luna)
Ubisoft's Far Cry, returns with an explosive new installment. Recruiting the prolific talents of Giancarlo Esposito to play the game's villain, Far Cry 6 takes place in a fictional Caribbean island called Yara. Esposito portrays the dictator Antón Castillo of this fascist nation and is teaching his son, Diego, to essentially follow in his footsteps. Players will control an island local named Dani Rojas, and fight back against Esposito's tyranny.
Initially, Far Cry 6 was intended to release in February 2021 but encountered delays related to complications with the pandemic. However, Ubisoft announced during E3 that the highly-anticipated first-person shooter will release on October 7, 2021.
9 Rainbow Six Extraction - Tactical Shooter (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X|S, Windows, Stadia, Luna)
Originally scheduled to release on September 16, Ubisoft has pushed back the launch date for Rainbow Six Extraction to January 2022. According to the developer, Ubisoft wants to take additional time to ensure certain features in the game work properly, like Missing In Action and The Sprawl. Due to the game's heavy multiplayer aspect, these features mustn't be broken at launch.
Players will form squads of three Operators to battle against an alien threat. Each of the 18 different Operators possesses unique weapons and abilities that can be upgraded through a progression system. Rainbow Six Extraction will also have 12 different styled maps to experience.
8 Riders Republic - Sports/Racing (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X|S, Windows, Stadia, Luna)
Another Ubisoft game that experienced an unforeseen setback is the sports frenzy Riders Republic. This game didn't sustain a *huge* delay, moving from September 2 to October 28, but it is a delay nonetheless. Ubisoft's reasoning behind shifting the release date by nearly two months is that the developer wants to simply ensure the game is as fine-tuned as possible for players.
Riders Republic includes five main sporting activities: skiing, mountain biking, snowboarding, wingsuit flying, and rocket wingsuiting. The team behind Riders Republic, Ubisoft Annecy, also developed the extreme sports game Steep that was released in 2016. Riders Republic looks to be a massively multiplayer experience, so we can assume the delay is to iron out the details before launch.
7 Dying Light 2 - Survival Horror Action RPG (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X|S, Windows)
The sequel to the highly-praised original from 2015, Dying Light 2 has experienced a rocky development. Originally intended to release in spring 2020, developer Techland delayed the launch indefinitely. However, Techland has now assigned a release date of December 7, 2021, for the highly-anticipated sequel.
Dying Light 2 will feature decision-making with consequences that can affect the story. Players will traverse across a massive world map that will also include a day and night cycle. There will also be up to four-player cooperative mode to see how others handle scenarios differently.
6 Resident Evil Re:Verse - Action (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X|S, Windows)
With the release of Resident Evil Village, Capcom announced that players would also receive the spin-off game, Resident Evil Re:Verse, as a celebration of the franchise's 25th-anniversary. Capcom intended for the spin-off title to release in July 2021, but the developing team experienced a slight delay and want to make sure the game is as smooth as possible.
Resident Evil Re:Verse is an online-only experience that pits four to six players against each other. Players use bioweapons and compete in Deathmatch-type contests with the person getting the most points wins. Various characters from across the franchise will be available to choose from.
5 Halo Infinite - FPS (Xbox One, Series X|S, Windows)
Leading up to the launch of the Series X, Microsoft hoped its mascot would accompany the new console. Unfortunately, 343 Industries weren't ready to release Halo Infinite and didn't want to risk showing off Master Chief until they were ready. Mainly due to immense disapproval of how the game looked visually, as well as complications related to the pandemic, Microsoft and 343 Industries elected to hold off the Spartan's next big adventure.
Xbox and 343 Industries have since revealed more of Halo Infinite, which received plenty of praise. The game improved graphically and the news of the multiplayer being free and crossplay was music to many people's ears. However, there is still no concrete release date. Regardless, the head of Xbox Phil Spencer remains optimistic and said it's more on Microsoft still finalizing the timing.
4 Back 4 Blood - Survival Horror FPS (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X|S, Windows)
Intended to release on June 22, Turtle Rock Studios pushed its zombie-killing cooperative game to October 12, 2021. In a statement released on Twitter, the developer simply said the team needs more time to make the game the best it can be.
Produced by creators of the critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead franchise, Back 4 Blood aims to be a spiritual successor. Teaming up with three other players, battle against the infected called the Ridden, and hope to stave off humanity's extinction.
3 Deathloop - FPS (PS5, Windows)
In early April, Arkane Lyon announced it was delaying Deathloop to September 14. The developer stated they are committed to delivering an exciting experience, but also have to ensure the health and safety of everyone. We can presume Dealthoop's delay is directly connected with the added hurdles of staying safe during the pandemic and working remotely.
Deathloop follows Colt, an assassin stuck in a time loop on an island called Blackreef. Colt is tasked with eliminating eight targets on the island, but if he fails to do so, the time loop will reset and he'll have to start over. The game will also feature a multiplayer function, allowing a random player to infiltrate the world of another as Julianna to try and stop Colt.
2 GhostWire: Tokyo - Action-adventure (PS5, Windows)
One of the most anticipated next-gen games was also bumped back a bit. In July, developer Tango Gameworks announced it would be delaying GhostWire: Tokyo to early 2022. Similar to most recent game delays, Tango Gameworks notes the health of everyone at the studios and ensuring the safety of its workers. The developer explains that the new release window should give them enough time to create the world they envision the game to be.
While not much has been shown of the actual game, Tango Gameworks describes it as an action-adventure with slight horror elements. Tango Gameworks are the creators of The Evil Within, so the studio is familiar with horror elements, though have assured fans this isn't a horror game. We should also expect GhostWire: Tokyo to be a timed console exclusive for PlayStation 5, as Tango Gameworks is owned by ZeniMax which Microsoft just acquired.
1 God of War Ragnarok - Action-adventure (PS4, PS5)
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The announcement of a God of War sequel wasn't particularly surprising news, nor is a subsequent delay announcement. Since Santa Monica Studio revealed the sequel in September 2020, fans were skeptical of its original 2021 release window. Seeing that the developer has only shown a title card of the game, an announcement to delay it seemed inevitable.
Fast forward to June 2021, and sure enough, God of War: Ragnarok is being pushed to 2022. While there were some who still held out hope for a miracle 2021 release, this news was seen as almost inevitable, given what we've seen of the sequel's development phase. The absence of any gameplay or cinematic footage was a clear sign this game wouldn't hit its original 2021 window.