Hand-to-hand combat game Sifu has been delayed to next year. Sloclap announced a delay into early 2022 during Sony’s State of Play presentation today, which will release on PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. It was originally supposed to launch later this year. Though it’s a bit disappointing to have to wait longer, Sloclap has given everyone a new “Fight Club Gameplay Teaser” trailer to watch.
One of the central mechanics of Sifu is that the protagonist ages upon “dying” in the game, and if the main character becomes too old to continue, you will have to start the game over. However, Sloclap community manager Felix Garczynski explained on the PlayStation.Blog, “We want to make that experience smooth and fluid: players will be able to restart instantly where they died and keep going forward like an unstoppable force of revenge.” Additionally, with age, the main character will also develop more skills and knowledge.
Garczynski explained the reason for the delay as well, saying that the extra time will allow the team to release Sifu in a more polished state without sacrificing their well-being. He added that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic also played a part in the decision.
“We’re very sorry about this delay – as gamers ourselves, we know how frustrating this can be, and as an independent studio, working multiple years on a single project, delaying a game can also create financial risks, so it’s certainly not a decision that we took lightly,” Garczynski said. “But at the end of the day, our top priority is to make the best possible game, a hugely entertaining and polished experience, and we’d rather ask our fans to wait a little longer than planned than release something we’re not totally proud of.”
Sifu was first announced earlier this year as Sloclap’s next game following Absolver. Keep checking in for more updates as the game’s release window draws nearer.
