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Game Delays: Major Titles Pushed to 2025, 2026, and Beyond

Last Updated: November 2, 2025

A montage of game box art representing the delayed titles.

In the ever-turbulent world of video games, some things are as certain as a final boss battle: death, taxes, and the dreaded delay announcement. As we navigate the current gaming landscape, this trend continues to hold, with several of the most anticipated titles seeing their release dates shift. The calendar is in a constant state of flux, and while the wait can be agonizing, these postponements often signal a crucial commitment to quality, polish, and team well-being.

To help you keep track of the ever-changing schedule, we've compiled the definitive, continuously updated list of every major game delay.

The Shifting Release Calendar: Polish, Pandemics, and the GTA 6 Effect

The release schedule for 2025 and beyond looks vastly different than it did just a year ago. The reasons are multifaceted. Many ambitious projects that began development during the turbulent early 2020s are now in their most critical and complex final stages. The lingering effects of the global pandemic on production pipelines, combined with the escalating complexity of developing for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and high-end PCs, have stretched timelines to their limits.

Studios are also more conscious than ever of avoiding the "crunch" culture that has historically plagued the industry, opting for healthier, more sustainable development cycles. In an era haunted by the cautionary tales of rushed, buggy launches, developers are choosing to take the extra time to get it right—a decision most gamers agree is for the best.

This year, however, there's a new, colossal factor: the *Grand Theft Auto VI* effect. With Rockstar's behemoth set for Fall 2025, many publishers are reportedly considering strategic delays for their own major releases to avoid competing with what will undoubtedly be the biggest entertainment launch in history.

High-Profile Games Taking Extra Time

Grand Theft Auto VI

The undisputed king of the conversation is *Grand Theft Auto VI*. While publisher Take-Two Interactive has officially slated the game for a "Fall 2025" release, recent reports and industry analysis suggest this window is becoming increasingly tenuous. Leaks and insider speculation point to the monumental scale of the game causing production to fall behind schedule, making a delay into 2026 a significant possibility. While Take-Two remains publicly committed to the Fall 2025 window, the industry is holding its breath. For a game with this level of expectation, Rockstar will take all the time it needs to deliver a polished masterpiece.

Marathon

Bungie's revival of the classic sci-fi shooter, *Marathon*, was originally planned for a 2024 release. However, following a leadership shakeup and a desire to refine the game's core systems, the title was officially pushed back. It is now expected to arrive in 2025, though no firm date has been given. Bungie stated the delay was to ensure the game would be "one that will be enjoyed by players for years to come."

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake

Perhaps one of the most famously delayed projects in recent memory, the remake of this beloved classic has been in a state of flux since its announcement. After a poor initial reception, the project was completely rebooted and handed to Ubisoft Montréal, the studio behind the original trilogy. The game was delisted for pre-orders and currently has no release window, with Ubisoft simply stating that development is progressing. It is highly unlikely we will see it before 2025, if not later.

The Complete List of Major Delayed Games (Updated)

Here is our running list of the most significant titles that have been officially delayed or have had their release windows shifted.

  • Grand Theft Auto VI (Was a general "2025," now "Fall 2025," with high potential for a slip into 2026)
  • Marathon (Was 2024, Now TBD 2025)
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake (Was January 2021, Now TBD)
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Delayed multiple times from 2022/2023, now launching September 2024)
  • Time Takers (Delayed to a Q2 2026 release window)
  • Perfect Dark (Announced in 2020, this reboot from The Initiative has reportedly faced development hurdles and has no release window, making a 2025 launch uncertain)
  • Metroid Prime 4 (Famously rebooted in 2019, development restarted from scratch. It has no release date and remains one of Nintendo's most anticipated, long-gestating projects.)
  • Marvel's Wolverine (While never given a firm date, Insomniac's title is now widely expected in 2025 or later following a major data breach and the studio's focus on other projects.)

While the growing list may be disappointing, it's crucial to remember the old industry adage: a delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad. For now, we must remain patient and trust that this extra development time will result in the groundbreaking experiences we're all eagerly awaiting.