Honestly, is anyone really surprised? Since being announced by Ubisoft at E3 2015, further details for South Park: The Fractured But Whole have been scarce at best and non-existent at worst. In fact, ever since the creators of the TV show – Trey Parker and Matt Stone – strolled on stage to confirm that they were once again collaborating with the developer to pen a follow-up to the Stick of Truth, we’ve barely heard a peep. The last new snippet of gameplay footage came during last year’s Gamescom, which was followed thereafter by confirmation of the RPG’s initial delay.
According to Ubisoft’s latest earning’s call today (via VideoGamer), it confirmed that the revised Q1 2017 date was no longer applicable for the return of Cartman, Stan, Kenny and Kyle, with the new launch window pegging it for the company’s 2017-18 fiscal year. It’s a rather vague approximation, but all you really need to know is that Fractured But Whole won’t be releasing until at least April. In the worst case scenario, fans could be left waiting until March 2018 for the sequel. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, eh?
One has to wonder what could have happened that caused the title to slip so far from its original December 2016 launch, but considering how much work it required of both Parker and Stone while they also had the TV show to contend with, delays were never out of the realm of possibility.
Disappointing news, then, but if all those involved need the extra time to make South Park: The Fractured But Whole as genuinely funny and satirical as its predecessor, then we’re all for the added development period before it arrives on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.