The huge reveal of the PS5 last year also gave players an idea of what games would be coming to the system at launch or soon after. One game that caught the attention of many players was Kena: Bridge of Spirits, namely for its lush art design and Pixar-like visuals. Originally one of the biggest planned PS5 games coming this summer, it, unfortunately, looks like the highly-anticipated title has been hit with another delay.
Developed by Ember Lab, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is actually the studio's first game. However, the studio has an amazing animation portfolio behind it, like the impressive The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask fan film, "Terrible Fate." This story-driven action-adventure has players find and grow a team of small spirit companions called the Rot, which can be used to solve puzzles and other tasks in the environment. The plot of the game starts out quite simple, with Kena, a Spirit Guide, traveling to an abandoned village to search for a sacred mountain shrine.
Addressing the Kena: Bridge of Spirits community, Ember Lab posted on Twitter today announcing the game's delay to September 21, 2021. Ember Lab explains that the team is working diligently to bring the game to its audience, but that another month of development will help the studio "ensure the best experience possible." The developers want to deliver the best version of Kena possible, which no doubt includes polishing the stunning visuals in Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and making sure it works seamlessly on all platforms.
At first, Kena: Bridge of Spirits was supposed to be a PS5 launch title, then it was expected in early 2021, then it received the most recent release date of August 24, 2021. While an additional month until release may not seem like a whole lot, it will likely disappoint numerous fans who have already been waiting for over a year.
Considering how the development team was impacted by the effects of the pandemic, the delay can at least prevent unhealthy studio crunch. Even though many developers might mandate a period of crunch as a release day approaches, gamers have come to have a more positive view when a game gets developed without crunch.
Overall, many fans may be slightly disappointed to learn that Kena: Bridge of Spirits is getting another delay. On the bright side, fans only have to wait one more month than expected to experience all the game has to offer. Many fans have pointed out that Kena: Bridge of Spirits has some strong connections with The Legend of Korra, and it has been compared at times to games like The Legend of Zelda, Pikmin, and even Horizon: Zero Dawn. Hopefully, Ember Lab releases a fully-polished game that will be well worth the wait.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is expected to release on September 21, 2021, for PC, PS4, and PS5.