King's Bounty was originally released in 1990, a defining game in the industry that would eventually inspire franchises like Heroes of Might & Magic. Now, 30 years later, King's Bounty is coming back. 1C Entertainment, with publisher Deep Silver, announced King's Bounty 2 back in mid-2019. Since then, however, the game has seen some extended delays pushing it past its original 2020 launch. Now, unfortunately, King's Bounty 2 is getting what will hopefully be its last delay, as it's being pushed back to August.
King's Bounty 2 was most recently slated for release in March. But as 1C Entertainment neared that deadline, it realized that the game wasn't quite ready. Producer Denis Maltzev confirmed in a press release that King's Bounty 2 needs the extra time for playtesting to smooth out gameplay balance and polish for the game's remaining bugs and issues. As the gaming industry has proven many times over, game delays almost always result in a better game in the long run.
Part of the reason why King's Bounty 2 has been delayed, says Maltzev, is due to 1C's ambition for the project. King's Bounty 2's open world, as well as its complex narrative, will prove why 1C needed the extra time for the game. At least, that's what 1C hopes.
In the end, waiting an additional few months for the release of King's Bounty 2 will likely be understood by fans. After all, they've been waiting since 1990 for a proper sequel. King's Bounty 2 has a legacy to live up to, even if most gamers won't remember or care about it. But that's something the developers likely know well and will strive to meet.
King's Bounty 2 releases August 24 on PC.