The news we were hoping we wouldn't hear has now been officially confirmed. No More Heroes 3 will no longer be arriving on the Nintendo Switch this year.
Director, Goichi Suda, broke the news on Twitter in a lengthy statement - explaining how the pandemic has taken its toll on the game's development schedule. The team will now shoot for a 2021 release.
This is Goichi Suda from Grasshopper Manufacture, with an announcement regarding the postponement of the release of No More Heroes 3.
Reading through the comments of fans on social media, we know 2020 has been a very tough period for many of you. To everyone who has been waiting for further news and release date confirmation ever since the reveal of the trailer for No More Heroes at TGA at the end of 2019, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies.
All staff members at Grasshopper have been working as hard as possible on developing the game in hopes of releasing it in 2020, but the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have unfortunately proven to be a real body blow to our schedule, causing unforeseen delays in development. Now that we have managed to get back on our feet with development, we have decided to focus on prioritizing quality, and to therefore push back the final release date.
Very sorry once again. We hope that everyone who has been waiting patiently for No More Heroes 3 can understand and accept this decision, and we will continue to put every effort into the title's development as we shoot for a 2021 release date.
In other and hopefully better news, we are extremely pleased to announce that Darick Robertson - of The Boys fame, and of whom I am personally a huge fan - will be joining the project to provide illustrations for the game. We will be posting some original illustrations, so please be sure to check them out. Please stay tuned for key art from Darick himself, as well as further announcements and news regarding No More Heroes 3.
SUDA51 [No More Heroes 3 Director]
As also noted, Darick Robertson - of The Boys fame - will be joining the project to provide illustrations. Plenty of original illustrations will be shared and Darick himself will also be showing off some key artwork.
How do you feel about this delay? Tell us down below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 86
Please take your time, just make it good!
Guess the '2020 release? Good luck!' line from the trailer was foreshadowing of what's to come.
Not that it matters. That Miyamoto 'delayed game' quote still holds true, double so in the pandemic. They can take all the damn time they need, and anyone who complains is just being selfish.
I saw that...it is disappointing but a delayed game is eventually good, right? Stupid Covid and all around 2020. I feel like 2021 is going be extremely packed for all publishers and developers. Save your money folks because 2021 is coming for it.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will have tons of content so I’m fine.
Mario 3D Anniversary Collection will keep me busy so I’m fine.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe is going to have plenty to do so I’m fine.
The launch of Switch Pro next year definitely influenced this decision.
Very expected and perfectly fine. I have more than enough to play and I'd rather them not rush it!
Insert Shigeru Miyamoto quote about delaying games here.
It’s unprecedented circumstances. The fact games like Cyberpunk are still coming out this year is pretty crazy.
That’s ok!
My wallet is relieved.
Figures. With this covid thing the whole world is delayed. New games, new movies etc.
Bravely Default will follow.
The man is an artist and if he needs time to create, we can learn to be more patient.
Covid-19 pandemic mucked up everything for everyone.
I wish SUDA and his team luck and safety during these unfortunate and unpredictable times.
@Zeldafan79 Yeah, with all those people dropping dead, it’s really quite inconvenient for those of us who want our games and movies on time 😉
@nessisonett It's not for nothing that crunch is a huge problem in the industry. I'm expecting horror stories from CDPR.
@NoTinderLife Or maybe, just maybe, the global pandemic caused unforeseen set backs for Grasshopper?
Honestly i think we all figured that.
@JimmySpades It’s almost as if the lack of decent union representation might affect workers’ rights.
I forgive you Suda51. I know these times must be tough.
This comment section is very calm for nintendolife
Yeah, covid sucks, but it's taken its toll on the industry. It's not just an "excuse" as to why some games are getting delayed/not given a release date either.
@AlienigenX No matter how true, my heart still aches.
<insert classic Miyamoto quote here>
Meh thats fine take as long as is needed... but.. how bout in the mean time we get No More Heros 1 and 2 ported to the switch in a collection? I'd love that lol
All good,,,, we’ve got plenty to play. But yea it’s gonna be hard to find time for all the games of 2021
Between school, Mario 3D, the new Hyrule Warriors, and (maybe) Pikmin 3, I’m okay with this. 2021 should be an awesome year for Switch.
Hmmm, got Pikmin, Link, and Mario this year... and Cyberpunk when I'm cheating... i'm good
My backlog is just ridiculous at this point, this can wait.
2021 is starting to look a lot like 2017:
I'm satisfied with everything coming to Switch for the rest of this year, and very excited for 2021!
Why not remaster NMH1&2 and toss em on the Switch while we wait? 😉👍
It happens. They are hardly the only ones. And only the most selfish or the most crazy people are upset. No one expected this year to be the crap storm it has been.
@Volmun @Dm9982 ...yes, I’m sure the team swamped and struggling because of Covid working on the 3rd game will have the time to port over other games ‘while we wait’.
"2020 Release? Good Luck."
its ok im busy with nba2k21 anyways
I'd rather NMH3 not release until it's ready, no questions asked.
@nessisonett it was more of a joke than anything, but in all honesty it wouldn’t take much to get NMH1&2 on Switch. A small 2 man team could likely do it. All the assets exist already, story written, and alternate control scheme made (ps3 port) even.
I mean companies bring forward and port stuff all the time in the interim when other delays occur. It’s a sound business decision for all basically. Customers get sated and the company makes money / floats between major releases.
everyone banking on the PS5 and XBOX Series X please leave Nintendo has won the year next to Persona 5 Royal
I don't think anyone was impatiently waiting for it.
@Menardi The first tech company to unionise in the whole of Silicon Valley was Kickstarter this year. The tech industry as a whole has a terrible relationship with their workers while also having massive problems with burnout and overworking. An effective union is the first step towards securing basic workers’ rights and the ‘they’ll have less money’ argument is exactly what they want you to think. Amazon already have an extremely hostile attitude towards unionisation and workers protesting, they just sack anybody who bothers to ask for better conditions. Workers aren’t robots, they’re people who deserve to have their voices heard.
Sucks, but totally understandable. I'll happily wait for quality.
Despite what people like to insist, this year just can't safely function like any other. Delays are to be expected.
It’s all good, I totally understand the delay, me and my family and friends have been through a lot this year too.
I don’t mind at all, the important is that it will come out awesome, so no pressure.
Beside, There’s a breathtaking game coming out in November that will keep me busy for a while😏😎👌🏽
Looking forward to further news!
Had a feeling this would happen. Just take your time and get it right
Bravely Default 2 is next
Magically delayed untill March, when the new Switch "model" gets released. Same will happen with Bayonetta 3.
@JJtheTexan Metroid isn't in any place a huge title. It's best selling game is less than 3 million and only two games surpassed 2 million.
Whatever happened to
All of the heroes?
All the Shakespearoes?
They watched their Rome burn.
Aside from that, totally understandable.
"prioritizing quality"
That's all I need to hear.
I played through Travis Strikes Again and the writing was funny but man did the gameplay absolutely suck! One of the worst gameplay loops on the Switch so I'm a bit skeptical for the mainline games.
@Nemesis666 that's fair, though I would argue it's huge in terms of a very enthusiastic (if somewhat niche) fan base. Look how folks reacted to Ridley in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (cheers and applause) and Metroid Prime: Federation Force (angry mob)
@Kilamanjaro I haven't played the mainline games either, but I believe they are much better and more varied than the spinoff TSA, which was a mixed bag.
As expected. No worries if the game is awesome.
2021 will be HUGE.
To be fair, Travis himself seemed doubtful in the extended trailer.
"2020 release? Good luck."
If he only knew...
But yeah, can't say I am too surprised.
Travis did doubt that it would come out in 2020.
Let’s hope it’s better than that Travis Strikes Again nonsense
@Dm9982 ‘a 2 man team’!! If there was ever a comment made by someone who knows absolutely zero about game development then this it.
I've waited like 3 years for No More Heroes 3, what's a few more months?
Well, no problem. We have a lot of ports to play.
@Rodan2000 again porting is not that difficult of a job compared to developing the whole game from scratch. I’ve done programming and coding in the past, and recompiled my own code in varying languages.
The issue only arises if the system you’re porting to does not support an engine with the assets in it. In that case the game basically has to be rewritten from the ground up. Considering NMH3 exists and we already have NMH: Travis Strikes Back, an engine and assets already exist. Thus the matter of porting would be relatively simple. A 2 man team is an exaggeration of course, but I’m sure a small team of 3-5 could indeed accomplish that task in 3-5 months time. Possibly less.
I completely understand. They should take their time making the best game possible.
Good, the game will be better for it, and 2020 already has a memorable game with Deadly Premonition 2.
Good. Make it as great as can be and I'll be preordering.
Whelp, I would like to play it this year. But I totally understand and wish for the game to be high quality.
That is an amazing art! The gauntlet reminding a Switch, the inverted Triforce decal
@Quarth here's hoping they mix it up. I knew it wasn't going to be super polished with the spinoff but man it was such a grind to finish the last part of the game
He probably want to make it 4K ready
@Kilamanjaro I agree with you. TSA is very repetitive and the platform elements are bad. But it feels like a low budget game, so it's flaws might be somewhat forgiven. Hopefully there are more resources involved in NMH3.
Love the sincerity and honesty like the Metroid Prime restart the other year. This is how you manage expectations and win support! Great job, Suda!
100% ok with this. It's not like they announced a release date anyway. It's been over 10 years since NMH2 and I'm still just happy it's happening.
I would probably be more miffed if we hadn't had the Age of Calamity news as it was looking dangerously like there would be no original games to round out Nintendo's year.
I'm upset I was really excited for No More Heroes 3 this year, dissapointing
I kind of expected this since we've had hardly any news on the game. However, I'm glad the guy from The Boys is going to be involved. Also, I hope it has an open world, like the first game. That was so much fun.
All the more reason to announce NMH 1 HD
I appreciate them being so up-front and open about it.
It'll make the final product even better, so, no worries.
Was to be expected to be honest
@Menardi I work in a huge national company which has a union of which 90-95% of the employees are members. For a nominal fee less that €20 per month this has secured us -extra sick leave during Covid. -5% pay increase during this pandemic. -representation in disciplinary or legal issues. -secure working from home rights. All this while not losing any of our other entitlements/rights. These are just examples and we are lucky that our union is decent and may not work in all working environments but I do know for a fact our company would not have given us those extra gains without pressure from the union. Why would they their job is to make money for the business and shareholders. Might not work in context of game developers but is for sure worth a shot
I knew this was coming but fine with the news, keep that bad boy cooking until its ready🙌🙌
@LilMuku yes yes yes🙌
Maybe he delayed it so it is released for Switch PRO, as the regular Switch will struggle running it?
Suda was my boy. Now he's dead to me. Dead. To. Me.
@Rodan2000 Yeah, you just like drag the games over to a program called ‘Switch porter’ and it’ll do all the work for you. One man on mouse, one man on keyboard 😉
@nessisonett that’s literally all it takes.....The Witcher 3, just 2 guys, into the Switch porting machine and it was ready 😉
Please take your time, just make it good!
Take your time, make it good ect ect...
But just wondering, what makes everyone believe 2021 will be any better?
The world has been progressing slowly into madness for sometime now, 2021 just feels like it's just going to be another chapter in this crazy ride we're all on.
I'm staying a bit more grounded when it comes to expecting games to come out when they were originally announced. I doubt that'll change in 2021.
We may get this game but I wouldn't expect a crazy packed year, everyone keeps saying we're going to have.
Hopefully with the rumors of an updated switch we can have No More Hero's upscaled to 4k
Take your time I’ve no intention of buying
Actually, it was first shown at E3 2019.
Couldn't they have announced it before? Maybe you just waited for the right moment, to announce it at the same time of Darick Robertson providing illustrations.
Coming back to this announcement, I'm actually glad it's being delayed?
Why? Because this game speaks of a high ambition for the studio. Right now, if a game's being delayed to next year, it's because it will be a giant AAA experience that will define what a big release must be. Now that the devs are back to full-developing, it's the best time to provide updates too!
And it's only going to add-up for the big releases coming up next year. I'm looking forward to all these releases, and I hope the other two comparable releases (Bravely Default II and Rune Factory 5) confirm their release dates/schedules soon.
They can take all the time they need.
I still the fact that what a series once thought to be niche has now become a major franchise with only 3 installments thanks to fan support. This bodes well.
Take all the time you need, Suda-san.
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