Prey 2 lives, but won't be out this year

Bethesda has confirmed in a blog post that Prey 2 is not, in fact, dead - but it is in trouble.

The post doesn't clarify what went wrong with the game's development, but it doesn't bode well for the game's future - nor for developers Human Head. Nonetheless, Bethesda claim to be taking steps to resolve the issue. "We have made a substantial investment in game development to deliver the experience fans want. We are determined only to release the AAA game that fans rightfully expect, and are unwilling to compromise our quality standards to meet a release schedule."

Prey 2 originally won our interest for its mix of Deus Ex-style open ended missions, Mirror's Edge's traversal, and a visual style that blends Blade Runner and Mass Effect. That said, we've seen very little of the game since Graham previewed it almost a year ago. There was always a danger that Prey 2's impressive E3 demo could turn out to be more smoke than fire, and hopefully Bethesda's renewed investment in the game will help the final product live up to its original promise.

There's also a chance that the game was cancelled, and that the subsequent internet grumbling caused the publisher to reassess its position. In which case: good work, internet! The power of your collective dissatisfaction has saved the day once again.

Joining in 2011, Chris made his start with PC Gamer turning beautiful trees into magazines, first as a writer and later as deputy editor. Once PCG's reluctant MMO champion , his discovery of Dota 2 in 2012 led him to much darker, stranger places. In 2015, Chris became the editor of PC Gamer Pro, overseeing our online coverage of competitive gaming and esports. He left in 2017, and can be now found making games and recording the Crate & Crowbar podcast.