10 Video Games Delayed To "Get It Right" (But Still Got It Wrong)

Delayed video game announcements often come with the promise of something better, and many projects end up more polished with the extra time spent on refining them.

One classic example is Bethesda's Fallout 3, which was delayed but remains one of the best titles to emerge from the franchise. Another famous example is Alan Wake - a game announced in 2005 but not released until 2010 - that was a critical darling when it debuted. Likewise, Resident Evil 4 was pushed back many times, yet it was a masterpiece and hailed as one of the greatest games in the series.

Sometimes this is necessary because a project coincides with a major player's release and as such their game will likely get brushed under the rug. In most cases though, the game simply is plagued with bugs and errors that need ironing out.

However, while some fans will be happy games such as these get the time to become a more polished and final product, history has shown that some developers often promise the delay is to ensure they can 'get it right', only to release their project and it still be a hot pile of mess.

The name Duke Nukem Forever has long been tarnished and is the most infamous example of a bad video game which was delayed.

Its development began all the way back in 1996 with a release date pencilled in for two years later. However, it didn't arrive until 2011. That's right, it took 14 years to be fully developed and released.

The entire process was plagued from start to finish and the game was subject to criticism both commercially and critically. In 2009, Take-Two Interactive - who at the time owned the publishing rights to the title - filed a lawsuit against 3D Realms for failing to finish development in the designated time frame. It was eventually completed by Gearbox.

There were many reasons for why Duke Nukem Forever didn't quite hit the same spot as its predecessor. It felt like it was entangled in an identity crisis between what made the name Duke Nukem pop like it did back in '90s while also trying to suit the modern era of first-person shooters.

Its childish humour likewise felt very out of touch with contemporary audiences and while it appealed to some, it ultimately failed to reel in the rest of gamers and critics alike.