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[Torrent of Pork]

At least the toilet paper shortage was bullshit. At least that.

I was lucky in that my family did a big Sam's run a week or so before the hysteria hit that included a mega-pack of TP, but I assure you the empty shelves were real.

I delivered mattresses to membership big box stores at the time, and receivers were telling me how they had to have cops on hand to break up actual fist fights over shit tickets.

 

[vpance]

Fucking lazy devs

 

[xBlueStonex]

The sooner game development teams get over the pandemic and get back into the office, the sooner we get back to releases on time.

 

[MiguelItUp]

I'm well aware. But can you explain to me how the people who need to communicate together are able to do that in person, but they are unable to do that with Discord/Microsoft Teams/et cetera? I truly am not understanding what's different about a physical presence versus a digital presence.

So the inefficient studios can't be called out for being inefficient? Wut?

What? I'm just saying to stop using Covid as the excuse. Just say you're behind and give a road map or something. You don't have to shout "Covid!" every time there is a delay. There were tons of delays pre-Covid. Now virtually every single delay is Covid-related. Common sense tells us that there are studios making an excuse for their inefficiency.

Some people honestly just do better in person than via webcam, chat, email, phone, etc. When it comes to explaining tiny details to other programmers, artists, etc. I certainly don't have an issue, but those people exist, be it preference or other wise.

I never said that, insufficient studios can most certainly be called out. Those are surely the same studios that would be feeling issues from such an ordeal.

Well, to be fair, I don't think a lot of delays even mentioned COVID, of course some did, but not all. Transparency is always preferred, but I dunno, I guess some studios think it'd just be easier to use that excuse if they do? You know? I can't speak on behalf of everyone. I was just sharing what I've experienced in the almost 5 years I was at that studio. Maybe people were just whining? Who knows, but the faults were certainly there.

 

[Magic Carpet]

At least the toilet paper shortage was bullshit. At least that.

There is always a toilet paper shortage in this house. No matter the season or the world disaster going on.

 

[rapid32.5]

I need more time to delay my game to be woke enough.

 

[jroc74]

And yet some studios seemed to handle things better than others.

Yes, its a valid reason, but lets not act like every studio is effected the same way.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Developers danced on Covid and finished their projects despite frustrations.

 

[IndianaJack]

Developers danced on Covid and finished their projects despite frustrations.

What does that even mean.

 

[IndianaJack]

And yet some studios seemed to handle things better than others.

Yes, its a valid reason, but lets not act like every studio is effected the same way.

So why are Playstation/Nintendo studios magically coping with COVID, but XBox Studios can't? Last I checked everyone in the video game industry got the jab.

 

[Borowski_1]

Covid 23

 

[jroc74]

So why are Playstation/Nintendo studios magically coping with COVID, but XBox Studios can't? Last I checked everyone in the video game industry got the jab.

I have no idea, but yes....you are getting my point.

We can go back and look at 2020 up til now to see OP is glossing over some things.

 

[IndianaJack]

I have no idea, but yes....you are getting my point.

We can go back and look at 2020 up til now to see OP is glossing over some things.

Again, I want to know what your point is.

 

[Quasicat]

If BOTW2 gets delayed I may riot.

But what if it leads to Wind Waker HD getting released? That’s almost a suitable consolation prize for it being delayed again.

 

[TheTony316]

What is up with these threads lately? The Starfield delay really did a number on some people, lol.

 

[Topher]

What is up with these threads lately? The Starfield delay really did a number on some people, lol.

 

[Zannrebel]

I am super pissed about starfield. If that happens, then I am gonna mega rage.

These 2 are my most anticipated games, with God of war ragnorak having a chance this year.

Reminds me of 2015 when people were expecting Uncharted 4, Halo 5 and Breath of the wild to come out fall of that year.

 

[DukeNukem00]

I already convinced myself that Hogwarts Legacy and S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 are coming 2023.

Stalker 2 isnt even being worked on since the war started

 

[MDSLKTR]

Enough with this excuse, movie and music industry been doing great. I blame kotaku and bloomberg crunch hit pieces for the sad state of wailing toddlers devs.

 

[Imru’ al-Qays]

No we didn't. Covid-19 is an excuse. Being able to Having to work from home doesn't suddenly change time-frames for digital content. I am a full-time remote employee and I get my job done. The only thing Covid-19 did was give people an excuse. That ship has sailed. If McDonald's workers can make it to work every day then video game developers have zero excuse.

I'm a full time remote employee and I do jack shit

 

[IFireflyl]

I'm a full time remote employee and I do jack shit

Congratulations on being useless? I don't know what response you were hoping to elicit from me.

 

[Imru’ al-Qays]

Congratulations on being useless? I don't know what response you were hoping to elicit from me.

If you're working hard from home you're a sucker. Nobody else is.

 

[ShadowLag]

Yeah it's a new variant that travels through network cables and sprays out of your monitor all over your face, I've heard about that one

Not even remote work is safe!

Game devs suiting up at home:

 

[Corndog]

We underestimated the impact of this covid 19 on gaming industry.
2 of the big 2022 titles were delayed, because of that.

At this point, any game that is slated for 2023 release would be delayed 100%. And any game which releases on that period, without delays would have day1 issues.

Fable 2026.

 

[Ozriel]

No we didn't. Covid-19 is an excuse. Being able to Having to work from home doesn't suddenly change time-frames for digital content. I am a full-time remote employee and I get my job done. The only thing Covid-19 did was give people an excuse. That ship has sailed. If McDonald's workers can make it to work every day then video game developers have zero excuse.

I’ve worked remotely since the pandemic and met all my goals, but I certainly wouldn’t be weird enough to try to claim that all industries or professions adjust to remote working at the same pace

 

[midasmulligan]

That is an invalid "point" IMO. I know you're not, but all teams and studios do not function at the same development speed or functionality. Some are much more efficient than others. Yeah, nobody should, but that doesn't mean nobody does. I think that's clear in us seeing things like this. What are you expecting? Them to just drag their feet because they can? Wtf? Lmao.

Every delay costs even more money in a variety of ways. I can assure you the last thing these studios are wanting to do is burn more money. The larger the studio, the more the money burns, and FAST.

His point is, instead of addressing the real issue (poor prioritizing, wasted resources, weak management, pivoting, sub par hiring practices, ect) many companies are resorting to an amorphous “covid bad” justification for any and all problems (also known as the “kitchen sink” approach taken during poor financial years for firms). Perhaps “covid bad” is the issue, but these guys were not sitting in a huddle and sharing a single monitor all day. Remote work has been a natural extension for most software focused companies, so blaming covid for you issues at this stage reaaaaaaaally seems like a stretch. Cause if you haven’t adapted yet, you may never.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Ok

 

[ACESHIGH]

System Shock HAS to be a 2022 release ffs...

 

[cash_longfellow]

At least the toilet paper shortage was bullshit. At least that.

Fuck no it wasn’t…I won out big time on that. Bought a house last August and in one of the upstairs closets, there were three big lawn trash bags. Opened them up and they where full of toilet paper. I’ve saved at least $500 there, give or take a cheesy Gordita crunch….real crisis = me winning. Keep it up internet rumors

 

[MiguelItUp]

His point is, instead of addressing the real issue (poor prioritizing, wasted resources, weak management, pivoting, sub par hiring practices, ect) many companies are resorting to an amorphous “covid bad” justification for any and all problems (also known as the “kitchen sink” approach taken during poor financial years for firms). Perhaps “covid bad” is the issue, but these guys were not sitting in a huddle and sharing a single monitor all day. Remote work has been a natural extension for most software focused companies, so blaming covid for you issues at this stage reaaaaaaaally seems like a stretch. Cause if you haven’t adapted yet, you may never.

Oh no, I got his point, it was straight forward. I was just saying you'd be surprised at how many studios could get impacted by the slightest shift in development workflow, that's all. Many had to adapt, many did successfully, I'm sure many didn't as well. But rather than coming out and trying to explain all of the mishaps, blaming it on such a thing may just be "easier" for them. But, who knows? Haha.

 

[kingfey]

Oh no, I got his point, it was straight forward. I was just saying you'd be surprised at how many studios could get impacted by the slightest shift in development workflow, that's all. Many had to adapt, many did successfully, I'm sure many didn't as well. But rather than coming out and trying to explain all of the mishaps, blaming it on such a thing may just be "easier" for them. But, who knows? Haha.

Anyone that wasn't prepared for this, would be affected hard.

One of the biggest impact would be from logistic side, and recovering the lost time, during these period.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Anyone that wasn't prepared for this, would be affected hard.

One of the biggest impact would be from logistic side, and recovering the lost time, during these period.

Very true, and well, no one was prepared for this to be fair, y'know? Especially in the US. Exactly.

 

[jroc74]

Again, I want to know what your point is.

My point is some studios seemed to handle this wild situation better than others. Sony and Nintendo are good examples., that you said.

Somehow OP thinks all studios are being affected the same. The OP reads like someone trying to cope with something.

All one has to do is go back and look at whats actually been released, what been delayed and hasnt come out yet.... and whats been delayed and has came out.

 

[Hendrick's]

Covid is a scapegoat at this point. It's lack of crunch that's killing timelines. We did this to ourselves. Or rather the gaming media and the likes of Reeee did.

 

[kingfey]

My point is some studios seemed to handle this wild situation better than others. Sony and Nintendo are good examples., that you said.

Somehow OP thinks all studios are being affected the same. The OP reads like someone trying to cope with something.

All one has to do is go back and look at whats actually been released, what been delayed and hasnt come out yet.... and whats been delayed and has came out.

Nintendo delayed breath of wild .
God of war ragnorak doesn't have release date.
Hogwarts was delayed.
Forspoken was delayed.

Yeah, there is definitely agenda here. Its not like most studios aren't actually delaying their games, which had an actual release date.

 

[Killer8]

Microsoft Teams, Discord, et cetera. I'm part of a full team of people, and we have to collaborate closely every single day. Again, I'm full time remote, and I'm doing the same thing with other full time remote people. There are plenty of resources available to allow teams to come together and share ideas/content while working remote.

Some workers have a less than adequate internet connection. Just deploying new builds can take hours for some, which cripples entire departments like QA until everyone is on the same page. Technical difficulties exist, like remote desktop software and office-based servers going down. Even for companies which remained working in-office, it can still be a nightmare if their outsource help (which the industry is highly reliant on now) have to WFH. Some Japanese companies were very resistant to their outsource working from home due to NDA concerns.

Then you have artistic impact, like having to record voice overs in makeshift sound booths in actor's homes. Good luck doing that in the same time frame and quality as in a proper on-site studio. All of these are bottlenecks which gradually add up and eat away at time. You also overstate how effective things like Teams and Discord are for comms. Wheeling over to a co-workers desk to spitball ideas will always be faster in person. Minutes here and there, or an hour or two out of some people's day may not sound like much, but in a multiple year spanning project it adds up.

A delay also does not just impact one point in time. An internal setback can happen in 2020 which will still haunt you in 2022. You cannot just magically get time back. A company working on something longer also pushes back the next release. People seem to have this impression that a covid delay just meant that games made during 2020/21 are affected. If a company was affected at all, their timetable is forever affected. Such is a pandemic.

 

[jroc74]

Nintendo delayed breath of wild .
God of war ragnorak doesn't have release date.
Hogwarts was delayed.
Forspoken was delayed.

Yeah, there is definitely agenda here. Its not like most studios aren't actually delaying their games, which had an actual release date.

Again, you are dismissing whats already came out......since Nov 2020. I wont even count Jan thru Oct 2020.

Covid didnt start in 2022.

 

[kingfey]

Again, you are dismissing whats already came out......since Nov 2020. I wont even count Jan thru Oct 2020.

Because these games were already done.
Last month's of the game is being spent on shipping and QC the game.

Any game that started their production in 2019-2020 is suffering from this issue.

 

[jroc74]

Because these games were already done.
Last month's of the game is being spent on shipping and QC the game.

Any game that started their production in 2019-2020 is suffering from this issue.

I want you to remember this, think about Halo Infinite.....and all games the released right before or after that game, and recent games.

Again, all studios arent being effected the same way because of Covid. I said this before the consoles launched....Sony getting dev kits out early seemed like a better idea vs "waiting on tech/features"

 

[kingfey]

I want you to remember this, think about Halo Infinite.....and all games the released right before or after that game, and recent games.

Again, all studios arent being effected the same way because of Covid. I said this before the consoles launched....Sony getting dev kits out early seemed like a better idea vs "waiting on tech/features"

Deathloop delayed to September

This is its second delay

www.google.com

Horizon Forbidden West delayed to February 18th, 2022

It’s now slated for February 18th.

www.theverge.com

Ghostwire: Tokyo Delayed To 2022

Another delay has been announced. This time, it's Ghostwire: Tokyo that has been impacted.

www.google.com

These are some of the released games.

 

[IFireflyl]

I’ve worked remotely since the pandemic and met all my goals, but I certainly wouldn’t be weird enough to try to claim that all industries or professions adjust to remote working at the same pace

I'm not talking about any industry. I'm talking about an industry that is dealing with software which is 100% digital. Obviously industries that deal with something like hardware can't take the same approach, but (as I said before) there is no difference in me standing next to someone and having them look at my screen than having a Microsoft Teams video call with them and sharing my screen. To act like Covid is somehow hampering one's ability to create digital content is is ridiculous. You're creating and sharing the same content wherever you are.

 

[cireza]

Teams, turn on Webcam, share screen. Problem solved.

 

[Ozriel]

I want you to remember this, think about Halo Infinite.....and all games the released right before or after that game, and recent games.

Again, all studios arent being effected the same way because of Covid. I said this before the consoles launched....Sony getting dev kits out early seemed like a better idea vs "waiting on tech/features"

There were also COVID related delays for Ratchet, Horizon and God of War:Ragnarok. I don’t know what you’re on about.

Hogwarts Legacy got delayed. Ditto for Gotham Knights. Final Fantasy 16 got delayed. You think these didn’t have PS5 devkits?

 

[kingfey]

There were also COVID related delays for Ratchet, Horizon and God of War:Ragnarok. I don’t know what you’re on about.

Hogwarts Legacy got delayed. Ditto for Gotham Knights. Final Fantasy 16 got delayed. You think these didn’t have PS5 devkits?

They blocking those parts from their memory.
They don't want to admit, that their favorite system delayed games because of covid.

 

[bitbydeath]

There were also COVID related delays for Ratchet, Horizon and God of War:Ragnarok. I don’t know what you’re on about.

Hogwarts Legacy got delayed. Ditto for Gotham Knights. Final Fantasy 16 got delayed. You think these didn’t have PS5 devkits?

Ratchet was never delayed, but Insomniac are inhuman.

 

[CookieWithMatt]

I would say to expect more delays in the short term due to Covid-19 delaying production, and further delays due to the ongoing supply chain shortage.

There were many aspects of game development that either could not be done, or required significant adaptation to work from home models. Anything that required people to be in close proximity for several hours, was more or less a no-go for most of 2020 and parts of 2021. Motion capture, voice acting and music production just weren't possible in work from home environments. We've already seen impacts of this in the film industry, and when shooting did resume there were heavy regulations put in place.

The main worry for software houses moving forward I think, will be supply chain shortages. Getting the hardware needed for studios to build titles will be an ongoing issue, as old hardware becomes obsolete / fails or as studios expand and require new hardware for employees. That's not forecast to ease until 2024, and even then I expect it to go on longer.

Disappointing to see games get delayed, but it is what it is.

 

[jroc74]

There were also COVID related delays for Ratchet, Horizon and God of War:Ragnarok. I don’t know what you’re on about.

Hogwarts Legacy got delayed. Ditto for Gotham Knights. Final Fantasy 16 got delayed. You think these didn’t have PS5 devkits?

Ratchet

?

They blocking those parts from their memory.
They don't want to admit, that their favorite system delayed games because of covid.

Projection at its finest right here. When you are actively omitting games that didnt get delayed....

Ratchet was never delayed, but Insomniac are inhuman.

Thank you.

I wasnt gonna post this but why not:

Deathloop delayed to September

This is its second delay

www.google.com

Horizon Forbidden West delayed to February 18th, 2022

It’s now slated for February 18th.

www.theverge.com

Ghostwire: Tokyo Delayed To 2022

Another delay has been announced. This time, it's Ghostwire: Tokyo that has been impacted.

www.google.com

These are some of the released games.

You list of games delayed is small vs what actually didnt get delayed. And when were they supposed to be originally released....

Forbidden West had few months deley, less than 3.
Death Loop few months delay, less than 5 months.

Without Covid as a reason those would seem normal.

Ghostwire Tokyo is the only one that you posted that had a damn near year long delay.


And again, its amazing you are skipping over games that had smaller or no delays. Because Covid didnt start in 2022. This is just a few games that come to mind:

Rift Apart
Returnal
Miles Morales
Spider-Man Remaster
SackBoy
Destruction Allstars
GT7 (might can add this for a longer delay vs other games)
Demon's Souls Remaster
Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection
MLB The Show 22
God of War PC port
Death Stranding PC port
GotG
Elden Ring (this might have been a longer delay, not sure)
Tiny Tina
RE Village
Metroid Dread

You can debate about remasters and ports...then I would point you to GTA V current gen edition and its delay.

Its really too many games to list from 2021 and 2022 were the devs seemed to handle Covid fine.

Another game for your list, Lego Star Wars was delayed from 2020 til 2022.

Your OP is going with the assumption all games will be delayed because of Covid. And that literally hasnt happened to all games. Games having day 1 issues was a thing long before Covid, so I wont even address that.

Again, Covid didnt start in 2022.

And again...seems like some studios are more affected by Covid than others.

And once more....Covid didnt start in 2022.

Maybe it has in your mind.

No we didn't. Covid-19 is an excuse. Being able to Having to work from home doesn't suddenly change time-frames for digital content. I am a full-time remote employee and I get my job done. The only thing Covid-19 did was give people an excuse. That ship has sailed. If McDonald's workers can make it to work every day then video game developers have zero excuse.

I'm not talking about any industry. I'm talking about an industry that is dealing with software which is 100% digital. Obviously industries that deal with something like hardware can't take the same approach, but (as I said before) there is no difference in me standing next to someone and having them look at my screen than having a Microsoft Teams video call with them and sharing my screen. To act like Covid is somehow hampering one's ability to create digital content is is ridiculous. You're creating and sharing the same content wherever you are.

At my job, going back into the office actually caused us delays for about 2 weeks.

Yeah...we had to go back to remote work to stay on schedule.

But Covid...amirtie.

 

[kingfey]

Projection at its finest right here. When you are actively omitting games that didnt get delayed.

How does that diminish the points?
If those games got delayed, then that means covid delays.

You literally have a proof from those 3 console owners.

 

[jroc74]

How does that diminish the points?
If those games got delayed, then that means covid delays.

You literally have a proof from those 3 console owners.

....you are actively dismissing games that didnt get delayed...in the exact same time frame....

It all cant be because of Covid. Because....some studios seemed to handle the situation better than others....

All Covid has done is made management or other issues more apparent for some studios.

Some of the games you posted literally had a few months delay. Which was a thing long before Covid.

Games having issues day one was a thing long before Covid.

Covid is a valid reason, but it can also be used as an excuse for underlying issues at some studios.

.....especially since some studios seemed to handle Covid better than others....


Again my job as an example:

I stated working with them from a remote position in Nov 2020, no problems, or major problems.
We went back into the office first week of April 2022.

Had to go back to remote work for at least a week, because problems.

Still have issues working in the office to this day.

Covid is the reason? No....its not.


Ask yourself an honest question: would you have made this thread and another thread kinda related to this...if Redfall and Starfield didnt get delayed.....

Because the games you mentioned were all delayed before Redfall and Starfield....

 

[The Eradicator]

Anyone that wasn't prepared for this, would be affected hard.

One of the biggest impact would be from logistic side, and recovering the lost time, during these period.

We are over 2 years into this now. No one on the planet was "prepared" for this. They should have been able to adapt by now, that is the point that everyone is making.