When the reality of the current pandemic first started to set in there were a lot of questions about how it would impact the video game industry. With developers working from home, some unable to work at all, and studios faced with logistical challenges, it was expected that many games would be pushed back from their planned release dates. Tons of games and studios have been impacted by the pandemic, but one seems to have been hit pretty significantly: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Of the known games that Warner Bros. has in development, those with release dates have all been delayed. Some have been pushed slightly, while others have moved clear out of 2021 and are regrouping for a 2022 push. Most studios wouldn't give a clear picture of how things have changed over the last year, but Warner Bros. has offered a lot of information without saying anything. Its delays have done all the talking.

Hogwarts Legacy Delayed

Hogwarts Legacy was the first of the WB games to slide out of 2021. Set within the Harry Potter universe but before the events of the movies, Hogwarts Legacy has a lot of excitement around it. Playing as a wizard or witch and taking on adventures in Hogwarts has a lot of appeal and Warner Bros. seems poised to have a major hit when the game does release.

Unfortunately, Warner Bros. couldn’t make the planned 2021 release window and the game will now target 2022. Since then, there have been some other controversies around Hogwarts Legacy that might have changed fans’ anticipation for the game. But at the time that the game was announced and then delayed, many fans were disappointed if understanding.

Gotham Knights Delayed

Gotham Knights was one of the biggest games set to release in the fall of 2021 and then WB Montreal surprised fans by announcing its delay. The co-op game that sees players taking on either Robin, Nightwing, or Batgirl has a lot of the Arkham lineage to it, just without Batman as a playable character. It is a chance for fans to dip back into that counter-based combat - but they will have to wait a bit longer.

When Hogwarts Legacy’s delay was announced it wasn’t as surprising as Gotham Knights’. The devs at WB had seemingly assured fans that the game was on track, and usually, that’s a good sign. Even as a number of games were announcing delays, Gotham Knights stood as the lone constant in the fall - alongside Call of Duty, of course. But it to faced a similar fate and was delayed.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Delayed

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the weirdest of the trio, in that fans were concerned before the developers even announced a delay. So much time had passed between LEGO Star Wars trailers that most fans assumed that something wasn’t right with development. They expected a delay despite the fact that Warner Bros. and TT Games weren’t saying anything.

Then the LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga developer came clean. The title has been set back by the pandemic and will not hit its initial, planned release date. But the good news is the game is still targeting 2021 for launch.

Suicide Squad Unofficially Delayed?

Rocksteady Studios’ Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League made it out the best of the bunch because it didn’t even have a release date. Gamers have no idea when the title plans to launch and all they have seen so far is a CGI trailer. Rumors have suggested that the game has been delayed past its internal target, but that is outside of gamers’ sightlines. Still, the fact that Rocksteady has been working on its new game for so long suggests that Suicide Squad has had some setbacks.

Warner Bros. looked to have a killer lineup on its hands and could have cleaned up in 2021, but the pandemic hit it extremely hard. The dust that leaves only LEGO Star Wars standing is enough evidence to show just how significant an impact the pandemic has had on game development throughout the industry. But on the bright side, WB has two huge titles - maybe a third if Suicide Squad is far enough along - that should be ready to take over in 2022.