Hyper Light Drifter was one of Kickstarter's early success stories, raising $600,000 via crowd-funding back in 2013 - considerably more than the $27,000 that was originally asked for. Billed as a fusion of Zelda and Diablo, the game has already been confirmed for release on the Wii U eShop, but the bad news is that we may not see it until next year.
Speaking to TiC Podcast Team recently, the game's creator Alex Preston admitted that while a PC release could happen in 2015, consoles may not get a look-in until 2016:
We have not yet announced the release date. We have only said 2015 for PC first. Consoles take some time so, for example, Xbox One has a certification process that you have to go through. There are hundreds of things on that list you have to make sure are good to go on that system. It takes time. We're a small team to do that. We want to get it out the door on PC first and we will give ourselves the correct amount of time after. Sometimes it takes months, sometimes it takes much longer depending on the certification process. It's all about getting it on the platform as quickly as we can, but doing it the right way. That stuff can be really intense and expensive.
We're trying to get it all out as quickly as possible. We can't rush the certification process. We don't want to release a broken game. We don't want to release a bad game. We'll take the time that we need to. Those are the realities of it and those are the goals.
Preston also revealed that while Hyper Light Drifter is going to be a download release, it will carry a larger-than-usual price tag:
As far as price goes, we're stating that it's $19.99 so it's a big game. The pre-order price starting out was $15 way back when, but since we had enough funding and a larger team, it's become a much bigger experience. We've put years of work into it at this point. It's well-worth that amount, if not more.
How do you feel about having to wait until next year to get your hands on this cool-looking game? And does the $19.99 price point put you off? Let us know by leaving a comment.
[source icxm.net, via gonintendo.com]
Comments 27
First. That price tag is understandable since it's going to packed with content and I would gladly pay it after all the work they are putting into the project, especially a small team working on pulling it together. I'm apart of a small indie team myself and I can relate to the struggles.
I supported this and Mighty No. 9
Kickstarter is both smart and really sucks at the same time. Shovel Knight hasn't even scratched the surface of what those guys promised with their stretch goals and that probably won't happen for years if ever.
If it's to make the game better, then it's understandable. Like Miyamoto once said. A delayed game can be good, but I rushed game will be bad forever...
I am looking forward to this game a lot, hoping it will turn out great. The delay is sad but I ll get it on PC anyway.
I dont buy download games from Nintendo eShop as long as games are hardware bound and Ninty does not offer me a state of the art account structure.
If HLD turns out a game I want to play I ll gladly pay 20 bucks for it.
As long, as they don't finish their project like Yacht Club games did I will be fine ...
I really loved Shovel Knight, but seeing what they promised during their kickstarter they will be busy for the next 5 years making free expansions to their game .... they really should ask Nintendo if they can help with this .... or if they can start working together ...
I'll buy it if i think its worth the price
After reading about this game I am definitely interested in it but for that price I will need a review to confirm that the game has as much content as the developers suggest it does. Still it is a long ways off and I still have an enormous backlog to clear out before then thanks to the many sales that have been on the E-Shop.
I will never spend $20 on any digital game. If you think your game commands a premium price, print it on a disc and sell it at retail and I'll gladly pay you $40 for it instead, but $20 is too high for something which has no resale value and can only be used on one system.
Ive been waiting for this game forever...looks like Ill have to wait a good deal more. I would gladly pay any price for this.
@Zach777 well we get plauge knight sometime this summer. thats a start.
@accc Just like I was never going to buy a phone without a physical keyboard...until they didn't make them anymore because that's how the market went. There are so many advantages to digital releases from a production standpoint--the marginal cost of producing additional copies is virtually zero; there is no chance of unsold inventory--and enough people either prefer or at least accept it that that's how the market is going for all but the biggest titles. Which I think is a good thing, because it helps create a wider range of games. Devs can focus on the game they want to make without worrying about needing the AAA budget and production values necessary to justify a physical production run.
This is one of my most anticipated indie games. I'm not crazy about waiting but, I'll of course still buy it. I should have plenty of other games to hold me over until then.
I was one of the backers and I got to play the preview build (alpha) of it last year. I can honestly say I would absolutely pay 20 bucks for this game after what I experienced. Controls are tight, visuals are impressive, and the gameplay is fun and VERY challenging.
Screw the price! I'll pay anything for this game!
I'd rather they take their time.
I already paid for it, so it might as well be as good as they want it to be when it arrives.
From what I've heard of the game, I'd gladly pay a $20 bill. With Wii U though, please include off screen play.
Man, I'm really getting sick of delay news on this game. The $20 price tag kind of stings too. It looks incredible though and I'm gladly going to buy it full price when it finally comes out.
I am patient, sitting with backlog a-plenty.
Oof, no 2015 release on consoles? That's quite the letdown - but it won't stop me rrom getting this, anyway. Looks too promising to ignore!
And it will be a $20 well spent.
For me, I don't spend $20 on digital games, no matter the quality. If I don't own a physical copy, I don't spend that much, simple as that. It is a rule of mine, as I don't believe in an all digital future, and this rule is part of my stand against that future.
Jokes aside, this is proof that Kickstarters shouldn't really have "release dates" since they're usually the kind of internal "we'd like to get it done by then" sort of thing that usually isn't released to the public. If they need an extra year, fine. But you shouldn't have promised to have it done by June 2014 in the first place...
@Tiredman For me, I don't spend $20 on digital games, no matter the quality. If I don't own a physical copy, I don't spend that much, simple as that. It is a rule of mine, as I don't believe in an all digital future, and this rule is part of my stand against that future... Oh you said that too? Okay then, I agree 100%
@Harry_Legs I wonder how many millions of dollars in sales they have lost due to people not wanting to buy digital products for the same reason you state.
20 bucks?! Will wait!
I am okay with both of these things. The game looks great.
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