THQ Nordic and developer Pieces Interactive have announced a delay for the upcoming survival-horror title, Alone in the Dark. This is the second delay after the previous moved it to the January 16th, 2024, release, but it will now launch on March 20th, 2024.
In their post explaining the decision, they said it came down to prioritizing developer well-being and ensuring a polished final product. Crunch is a notorious issue in the gaming industry, and THQ Nordic wants to avoid subjecting its team to excessive stress during the holiday season. Ultimately, this will also give them more time to refine the game and make it a bit better.
I usually hate those comments of “take your time!” when delays are announced because if the developer didn’t set an unrealistic time goal, they wouldn’t need to delay. If they’re not sure you can meet the time, then it feels like an insult when they delay right when they promised it would be released. However, I am in full support of this one because you don’t want anyone to have to work during the holidays. That’s a time for family, so we’re very happy that the developers get that time.
Alone in the Dark is supposed to serve as a tribute to the original game, transporting players to a haunting Southern Gothic atmosphere where psychological horror reigns supreme. I played the original and was scared out of my wits, and a sewer monster ultimately killed me, if I remember correctly. I hope this meets fans’ expectations because it’s a great game to remake.
While the delay may be disappointing for some, it’s hard to argue against the reasoning. We can wait a few more months if it means we don’t push crunch. Sure, this is another delay, but it’s a good one; so March 20th, 2024, is the new date that fans should look to.
