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Fatshark delays Warhammer 40,000: Darktide’s Xbox release

Fatshark has announced its decision to delay the release of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide for the Xbox Series X/S version to make changes and improvements to the game.

Following the release of Darktide on PC in November 2022, Fatshark CEO Martin Wahlund said they had received feedback from players and would use them to improve the game.

Wahlund explained that the Fatshark wanted to create a game that would reward players for weeks to come, not hours. He admitted that the developer did not meet the expectations of players.

Based on the feedback, Fatshark announced some changes to Darktide, including a complete crafting system, a more rewarding progression loop to enhance the late-game experience and improved game stability.

On their blog, Fatshark also announced it would tweak more areas in the game, such as localization, combat mechanics and missions.

Wahlund added that since Fatshark would focus more on the technical aspects of the game, it would also delay the release of seasonal content along with the game’s launch for the Xbox platform.

“This also means that we will delay our seasonal content rollout and the Xbox Series X/S launch,” Wahlund writes.

“We will also suspend the upcoming releases of premium cosmetics. We just couldn’t continue down this path, knowing that we have not addressed many feedback areas in the game today.”

Reviews on Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Based on reviews on Steam, most players found that the developer took out many things from the game that had previously been shown in the trailer. These missing elements include story, campaigns, mission selection, mob patrols and enemies.

Some said the story in the game was non-existent and accused the developer of only bringing in game writer Dan Abnett as marketing material. Fans have also criticized the random and odd chances of upgrading weapons, unsatisfying weekly quests and rewards, and the incomplete state of crafting, which Fatshark has directly addressed.

Due to these issues, Darktide receives primarily negative reviews with mixed overall reviews. Regardless, some players still praise the game for satisfying combat mechanics, astounding audio and soundtrack, and rich and detailed environments. The game also has a fully operational cash shop.

Darktide’s features, issues

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a co-op first-person shooter announced in 2020. Fatshark initially planned its release in 2021 before eventually launching it for Windows PC on November 30, 2022.

The game features a story with an evolving plot with Abnett as the writer, who previously has written numerous novels and graphic novels for the Warhammer series.

“We take enormous pride in our ability at Fatshark to deliver a game that millions can enjoy.”

Martin Wahlund, CEO and co-founder of Fatshark

Fatshark said it had designed Darktide with a high replay value. Players can level up their characters and craft new weapons to take on more engaging challenges, which is the core of the game’s identity. It is the one element in the game that Fatshark expected to keep active players for weeks.

However, following Darktide’s release, players have been demanding changes to the progression of the game and crafting systems. Many players have also been experiencing optimization issues such as crashes, low framerates and visual bugs.

Many have compared Darktide to Vermintide II, saying that the latter had similar issues on launch, which Fatshark did ultimately fix. However, despite the game’s disappointing launch state, some still praise Fatshark for being upfront about its plans for Darktide, including the suspension of new paid cosmetics.

The Xbox Series X/S version of the game was initially going to be available shortly following the PC release. Fatshark has not announced a new release date at the time of writing.