THQ Nordic has pushed the release date of Alone in the Dark back to 16 January owing to the packed October launch schedule.
I wrote about the alarmingly packed October release schedule back in August, highlighting how a large number of high-profile games were being released at almost the same time, which would surely affect the media coverage each one could expect, as well as their potential sales.
Of particular concern were Alan Wake 2 and the Alone in the Dark reboot, which were originally scheduled for 17 October and 25 October, respectively. “Both are firmly in the survival horror genre, and both are targeting practically the same audience,” I wrote, “so it seems almost inevitable that some consumers will be forced to choose one over the other – when they might have bought both if they had been released a few months apart.”
It seems the games’ publishers were all too aware of this potential impending disaster, and both Remedy and THQ Nordic have now shifted their release dates. First, just a day after that article was published, Remedy announced that Alan Wake 2 would be pushed back to 27 October. “October is an amazing month for game launches and we hope this date shift gives more space for everyone to enjoy their favorite games,” they said.
The new launch date pushed Alan Wake 2 a week past Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but put it on a direct collision course with Alone in the Dark on 25 October. Now, THQ Nordic has decided to abandon the packed pre-Christmas launch schedule entirely, and has pushed Alone in the Dark all the way back to 16 January 2024.
Horror games thrive on the eerie embrace of solitude, something that is impossible to achieve in a gaming month as busy as October.
To ensure a breathtaking experience for everyone, we have made the decision to move the release of #AloneInTheDark to January 16, 2024. pic.twitter.com/W5EgV4aTZc
— Alone in the Dark (@AITDGame) September 5, 2023
“Let’s face it: There are too many amazing games coming out this October. You want to play them all, we want to play them all, but there is simply not enough time,” said THQ Nordic in a tweet. “This is why we have decided to move the release date of #AloneInTheDark to January 16, 2024. The team will use this additional time to perfect the gaming experience of AitD while making sure everyone gets a chance to enjoy all the other fantastic games released in October.”
Unlike with most game delays, responses to THQ Nordic’s announcement were almost universally positive, with most fans happy that Alone in the Dark now has room to breathe outside of a packed release schedule. The January date means the game will miss out on pre-Christmas sales, but it also means Alone in the Dark is likely to make more of an impact when it finally arrives, away from the many other big releases in October.
Read more: Alone in the Dark reboot will star David Harbour from Stranger Things, Jodie Comer from Killing Eve
