505 Games assures that Overkill’s The Walking Dead is still being developed on console

After a bumpy PC release and restructuring Starbreeze Studios, the publisher indefinitely delayed Overkill’s The Walking Dead before its console release date. Some publications took this to mean that the title was cancelled, but 505 Games assures fans that the release date has simply been shifted as development continues.

As we reported when the story broke last month, Starbreeze simply removed its February 6 release date in the United States and February 8 in other territories. The lack of alternative launch window is concerning, but doesn’t necessarily mean that a console version of its latest game is doomed.

505 Games, an Italian video game publisher that struck an agreement with Starbreeze regarding Overkill’s The Walking Dead, took to Twiiter to clear the air by stating that “development is on-going” despite being postponed. “We will share further news as soon as possible.”

We just wanted to clear the position on the OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead on console and confirm that the game has not been cancelled, purely postponed whilst development is on-going. We will share further news as soon as possible.

— 505 Games (@505_Games) February 20, 2019

Unfortunately, the waters are already muddied as Sony’s PlayStation has already begun sending out refunds to customers. According to the emails being shared with fans, “the publisher has notified us that the game is cancelled. As a result, we have withdrawn the current pre-order from the PlayStation Store and will cancel all pre-orders.”

Starbreeze has kept understandably silent in the mess, as it continues to narrowly avoid closure by applying for an extension on its reconstruction period. Overkill’s The Walking Dead managed to generate $3.7 million for Starbreeze, vastly underperforming. The publisher has since sold System Shock 3 rights back to developer OtherSide Entertainment in order to quickly recoup the cost it has sunk into the long-awaited sequel.

Given that Starbreeze is on the brink, it remains uncertain what will happen to Overkill’s The Walking Dead on console. Sony has yet to comment on the debacle, after it has previously issued refunds for games that continually get delayed in the past such as South Park: The Fractured But Whole.

KitGuru Says: It’s no surprise that Starbreeze is just trying to survive for the time being. Hopefully clarity will come when the publisher is finally in the clear itself. Have you played Overkill’s The Walking Dead? What did you think of the game?

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