(Photo : Paradox Interactive, Kokku / Screenshot taken from Steam)
Publisher Paradox Interactive and developer Kokku announced that Prison Architect 2 is being delayed again, this time indefinitely and that players who pre-ordered the game will be refunded.
The latest development marks the third time that the 3D successor to the 2015 prison management sim has been delayed for release. Prison Architect 2 was originally set to be launched on Mar. 26, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.
Prison Architect 2 Delayed Again
However, the first delay pushed back the release date to May 7, 2024, and the second one pushed it even further back to Sept. 3, 2024.
In a statement, the team behind the game said that their continuous internal reviews and beta test groups highlighted various areas that they need to focus more on, according to the Video Games Chronicle.
The developer said that these included issues that they need to address before launch, such as performance and content. The statement added that the team wants to raise the quality a bit more to meet the standards that they want to achieve with Prison Architect 2.
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It noted that the developers are excited to share the gaming experience that the sequel will bring, including a switch to 3D, multi-floors, and a new behavior system. They said that all of these factors bring a new dimension to the game and open up various possibilities.
The latest delay of Prison Architect 2 marks another disappointing update for Paradox Interactive, which has had a relatively rough time this year. Previously, the company canceled Life by You, closed down its Tectonic studio, and struggled to fix the issues with Cities Skylines II, said GameDeveloper.
Addressing Performance and Content Issues
However, Paradox Interactive appears to remain confident that Prison Architect 2 will deliver the goods when it does come out. It noted that it wants the sequel to live up to the legacy of the franchise to satisfy both players and the internal team.
The original Prison Architect game was released in 2012 on PC and lets players build and maintain large prisons that are filled with criminals and guards. For years, the first game received various updates and was later ported to consoles and mobile devices.
Paradox Interactive purchased the franchise from original developers Introversion Software in 2019. Five years later, which is this year, it announced a full, 3D sequel, Prison Architect 2.
For now, both the publisher and developer said that they are unable to commit to a new release date or window. This is because they are still re-assessing the "scope of work needed to be done," according to Kotaku.
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