Capy Games delays 'Below' to make sure it doesn't disappoint

Capy Games has announced that its upcoming adventure game Below will be delayed beyond its expected release date. The title was intended to launch before the end of summer, but despite major efforts to hit that target, the development team was not able to complete its work in time.

“We knew we wanted to get it into your hands as soon as possible,” reads a statement from Capy Games announcing the delay. “We knew the game was there, and we’re super proud of it, but we also knew it needed more time to make sure it lives up to our studio’s standards, and the quality that you expect from our games.”

The studio has decided not to announce a new release date for Below at this time. Instead, work will continue with a measure of radio silence — the next time we hear a major update on development, it will come alongside a firm date for the title’s launch.

Below is a rogue-like top-down adventure game where players are tasked with exploring a mysterious, randomly generated world. The game is intended to carry a high level of difficulty, thanks to its permadeath system and its challenging combat mechanics.

The game was actually announced all the way back at E3 2013, and had reportedly been in development for a matter of years even then. Below was previously expected to launch at the end of 2015, until a separate last-minute delay caused that release date to slip into this year.

Despite these delays, there’s still plenty of reason to keep an eye on the game. Digital Trends had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with Below back in May, and the title certainly seems to be shaping up nicely.

However, the recent backlash against No Man’s Sky demonstrates that delays can feed into an overblown sense of hype that’s almost impossible to live up to. Below is nowhere near as over-exposed as Hello Games’ space sim, but any long-awaited release runs the risk of disappointing the most passionate sectors of its audience.