Today, Ubisoft announced two changes to their upcoming release schedule. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction and Riders Republic are now set to drop in January 2022 and 28th October 2021 respectively. Rainbow Six Extraction has initially been penciled in for a September 2021 release and this four month delay is substantial. Riders Republic‘s delay is a little more palatable with the game missing its September 2nd 2021 date by around six weeks.
Rainbow Six Extraction is a spin-off of Siege, featuring the cast of the 2015 sweatfest shooter. The three-player co-op shooter sees the crew tackle an alien invasion. I am sure it sounded good to someone.
Meanwhile Riders Republic is The Crew 2 with a smaller virtual carbon footprint or Steep teased out to a whole continent. Players traipse across a persistent open world on BMX bikes, snowboards and other HPVs (not this HPV) with the fun of exploration and hideous neon jackets as prizes.
Reasons for Delay
In the statement issued earlier today, Ubisoft stated: “The goal with the decision to delay both of these games is to give more opportunities for players to test, play firsthand and give feedback to ensure we are bringing the best experiences to market and allow them to reach their full potential. We believe the new release schedules will allow us to achieve that goal. This is the right decision for our players and for the long-term performance of our games.”
Delays are better than the unfinished messes we have seen released in the last few years. Cyberpunk 2077 serves as just the latest posterchild for rushed releases. Plus neither delay is massive nor a last-minute disappointment that would suggest development turmoil.
If we may be slightly cruel, it’s also worth mentioning the relatively low-key hype for either title. Rainbow Six Extraction, in particular, met with a muted and mixed reception compared to previous entries in the series. Apathy over the game’s status as an unnecessary and nigh-on full-priced spin-off to the excellent Rainbow Six: Siege is certainly a factor.
Were you looking forward to either game? Do either of the delays bother you or are you happier to wait for a better product? Let us know in the comments below…
