The world of games has always been defined by expectations. Few things capture the imagination of players more than a long -awaited edition, with years of speculation, rumors and varying development of expectations, with some delays as almost as famous as the games themselves.
While Hollow Knight: Silksong Have built its own reputation for being difficult to catch, it is hardly the first game that leaves the fans to wait year after year. From ambitious sequels to troubled restarts, many editions proved that sometimes the journey is to launch as dramatic as the stories in the games themselves.
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The last custodian
A decade in the shadows
First was announced in 2009 as the next project from Team ICO, The last custodian Immediately caught the attention with his striking pictures of a boy and his high companion, Trico. Fans expected an edition not long after, following the fame of ICO and the shadow of Colossus.
Instead, years of technical setback, motor struggle and studio that reworked the game in the development hell, left, and when it was finally launched in 2016, The last custodian had developed for over seven years. Despite the rocky journey, its emotional story and wonderful aesthetics proved that some things are worth waiting for.
7
Cyberpunk 2077
Ignite hype for a new icon
CD Project Red first teased Cyberpunk 2077 In 2012, a dense, futuristic RPG promised expectations through the roof. Years of silence, date of change and ambitious promises, however, created one of the longest hype cycles in modern play that made many people wondering if it would ever be released.
When the game finally arrived in 2020, it met both praise for its story and criticism for its technical issues. Still, after many patches and extensions, the game has been taken closer to its high vision, which now stands as one of the best Open-World RPGs in the latest memory.
6
Duke Nukem forever
The king of delays
Originally announced in 1997, Duke Nukem forever has the questionable honor to be the most notorious delayed game of all time. The game promises to bring the wise cracking hero into the modern FPS landscape and was repeatedly started over several engines and development teams and got stuck in a loop from which it could not escape.
It wasn't until 2011, 14 years after the announcement, that Duke Nukem forever was finally released. Unfortunately, the game felt like a relic from its era, filled with outdated design choices, and although it failed to meet expectations, it remains a cultural touch stone for what the “development hell” means in the gaming industry.
5
Team Fortress 2
Memed in the ground
Valve first revealed Team Fortress 2 1998 as a realistic, tactical military shooter, but over time the concept shifted dramatically with the game that lasted silence and many engine changes before they finally saw it launched in 2007 with its NU-iconic artist style.
The wait turned out to be valuable, and the game quickly became one of the most influential multiplayer shooters of all time, popular class-based battle and set the standard for live service support. Gaben himself even joked for the development time and stated that “hopefully it was worth waiting”, and for many it really was.
4
Prey 2006/2017
Reinvented twice over
The trip on Change is unusual, as it involves both the original game in 2006 and its restart in 2017. First announced in 1995, with development that was pulled further for over a decade before he was finally released in 2006 as a sci-fi shooter, the game was then played to get a sequel, which unfortunately suffered from the same curse as the original.
Instead, the Arkane Studios fully reformed the game and launched a new Change 2017 after several years of uncertainty of development. Although it is radically different from its predecessor, it delivered a deep, engrossing experience that motivated the long way from the first announcement of the franchise.
3
Skull and legs
A ship lost by sea
Ubisoft announced Skull and legs At E3 2017, pitching it as a pirate theme multiplayer experience inspired by Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Fans were pleased to see the Naval Combat system develop into a complete game, but after that announcement, the project was associated with redesign, delays and missed deadlines.
Years later, Skull and legs Still struggled to reach players, with several release dates driven back, and when it finally arrived in 2024, the long development cycle had hardened part of the excitement. The game still has a long way to go, but with updates that roll in, the ultimate pirate fanatic is just around the corner.
2
Too human
Missing the hype train
First was revealed in 1999 as a Playstation project, Too human shifted platforms several times and eventually landed on Xbox 360. Promising an ambitious sci-fi-action rpg that combined northern mythology with futuristic technology, the hypaded as a massive trilogy that would revolutionize the gaming world.
When it was released in 2008, almost a decade had passed, and unfortunately the game met with a lukewarm reception and failed to lead to the franchise it had promised. Its long way to be released finally became more memorable than the game itself, and its inheritance is more focused on the structure than the actual launch.
1
Dead Island 2
Bring back a franchise from the dead
Was announced on E3 2014, Dead Island 2 Immediately made an impression with its stylish trailer and continuation of a beloved series. However, the game quickly fell into the concern's concern, switched between several studios and disappeared from the limelight for several years, with many fans who thought it would be completely interrupted.
Shocking, Dead Island 2 Resurfaced years later and was finally released in 2023, almost nine years after its first announcement. Although it was not revolutionary, the chaotic delivered, Gory fun and proven that even games left for the dead can eventually find their way in the players' hands.
