Crackdown 3 delayed into 2018, no longer an Xbox One X launch title

Microsoft has moved to delay the launch of Crackdown 3 from November 7 to a more general release windows of "spring 2018." In a statement to Polygon, Microsoft Studios Publishing general manager Shannon Loftis confirmed the delay, noting that Microsoft felt the game needed a little more time in the oven to deliver the "right quality." Says Loftis:

We're very excited about Crackdown 3, and so are many fans, and so it's a difficult call to move the release date. However, we want to make sure to deliver the right game, with the right quality, and at the right time. Crackdown 3 is a hugely ambitious game and we want to ensure we deliver the right experiences all the way through every part of the game, whether that's campaign, co-op multiplayer or our competitive multiplayer mode, Wrecking Zone. Getting the balance right between the three modes is important, and we are going to take the extra development time to ensure that. Gamers can expect Crackdown 3 in Spring of 2018.

In particular, Loftis points to the game's visuals, which were a point of criticism when it was shown off at E3. The extra development time will give the team time to "focus on the visual polish," Loftis says.

What we showed at E3 was a preview of the game, and is a great indicator of the level of mayhem and vertical platforming action you can expect from Crackdown 3. Among other items, we are taking the extra time to focus on the visual polish so gamers can feel completely immersed in a living world. We want them to really feel the larger-than life enemies as they're exploring the expansive open world, combatting crime and collecting orbs.

Aside from being a blow to fans who will now have to wait a tad longer for the game to arrive, the delay also signals a blow to the launch lineup for the Xbox One X. Crackdown 3 was due to launch on the same day as Microsoft's new console, acting as a platform to show off its power with enhanced 4K visuals. Loftis remains optimistic about the Xbox One X launch lineup, however, pointing to a number of other games that will soon arrive with enhancements for the console.

Not only are there several new Xbox exclusives such as Forza Motorsport 7, Cuphead, Super Lucky's Tale, and the console launch exclusive PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, there is an incredible list of titles coming this holiday including Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Assassin's Creed Origins, Call of Duty: WWII, Star Wars Battlefront II, Destiny 2, and more — with many of these titles enhanced to play better on Xbox One X.

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