Citing an ever-expanding scope and an attitude that errs toward perfectionism, developer Heart Machine has today confirmed that its crowdfunded action adventure game, Hyper Light Drifter, has been delayed into 2016.
Once scheduled for launch in late 2014, this isn’t the first time that the beautiful pixel art title has been postponed, though the studio has assured us that the final, consumer-ready experience will benefit from this prolonged development, even if it does ask for an extra helping of patience from fans and backers.
Here’s the official word from Heart Machine:
“We have set a high standard for ourselves throughout the entire process, and will not compromise those to release a title before it’s ready,” Heart Machine stated. “We’ve seen how that choice turns out time and time again. The final game will be far better for it.”
“Hyper Light Drifter is a big game, with a small handful of extremely dedicated people creating it,” the developer added. “It has required a massive amount of careful design considerations, extensive conversations about the story and world, engine and tools building, plenty of discovery, trial and error, working through a variety of game-breaking and time-draining bugs, reworking and cutting of systems, reshaping, and streamlining to feel like we can deliver on the original intention and vision of the project.”
Furthermore, the development woes that have beleaguered Hyper Light Drifter extend beyond the typical game-breaking bugs and technical issues; Game Director Alex Preston revealed that his own physical ailments have affected progress on the game, revealing that “my own physical condition has been growing worse (as is expected), leaving me unable to do as much until I have the necessary heart procedure performed.”
It’s worth noting that today’s delay applies to the PC and Mac versions of the artful title, and that the console versions – specifically PS4, Xbox One, Vita and Wii U – will follow suit “as quickly as possible.”
Heart Machine may have only hinted at release windows prior to today’s announcement, but the developer has assured fans that it remains committed to finally releasing Hyper Light Drifter in 2016.
