Microsoft’s Xbox One exclusive, Crackdown 3, has been stuck in development hell for years and may be stuck even longer if a recent rumor is to be believed.
Microsoft has been struggled with its exclusives over the years, with many first-party titles on the Xbox One being critical failures or outright canceled. Then, of course, there are games stuck in development hell, the most prominent of which currently being Crackdown 3, the city-leveling game featuring Terry Crews that may be getting delayed yet again.
The news originally broke via Kotaku’s Jason Schreier, who received the information from two unnamed sources close to the project, which should now be released sometime in Spring 2019 if they are to be believed.
While still unconfirmed by Microsoft, another Crackdown 3 delay isn’t exactly hard to believe. The game was originally announced at E3 2014 and has had a tumultuous few years since. At one point the game was set to be released alongside the Xbox One X but it was eventually delayed for various reasons. Officially, the game is currently slated for an ambiguous Spring 2018 launch window, but with Summer looming a few weeks away, it’s hard to imagine Crackdown making that window, save any surprise announcements at E3.
What exactly is causing so many problems with Crackdown 3’s development is anyone’s guess. The most likely answer is potential issues with the game’s use of cloud processing to bolster the environmental destruction in the game. While that’s purely speculation, its unlikely Crackdown could ship without it due to the level of destruction developer Sumo Digital is hoping players will be able to inflict on the city. Being such a new piece of technology, it isn’t hard to imagine that being the primary source of the game’s woes.
This delay flies against recent rumors that Crackdown 3 is nearing the end of development, having recently been rated by a Brazilian rating board. It’s also very bad news for Microsoft, as the company has struggled to offer any first-party support for their console for the past few years. While 2018 has seen the release of both Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2, both games have launched to relatively low critical success. With E3 right around the corner and very few games appearing on Microsoft’s roster for the show, the company needs some major cards up its sleeves to keep customers engaged and shirk its reputation for lackluster exclusive titles. The delay remains a rumor for now, but more will almost certainly be shared next week at E3.
Crackdown 3 will be available at some point for Xbox One and PC.
