If you were looking forward to playing as the bad guys in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, you will have to wait a little longer. The game, which features a team of supervillains trying to take down the corrupted Justice League, was originally scheduled to be released in 2022 but was pushed back to Spring 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the game has been delayed further to February 2024, as announced by the developer on Twitter.
Reasons for the delay
In a tweet posted on December 20, 2023, Rocksteady Studios explained the reason for the delay, saying:
We know you’ve been waiting patiently for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and we appreciate your support and enthusiasm. However, we’ve made the difficult decision to delay the game to February 2024. This will allow us to deliver the best quality experience for our players, and to meet the high standards we set for ourselves. We thank you for your understanding and we can’t wait to share more with you soon.
This delay follows the game, announced at the February 2023 PlayStation State of Play event with a new trailer and details being met with mixed responses from both fans and critics. The PC version, available only on the Epic Games Store, was received negatively for having a battle pass system and microtransactions similar to other live-service games. Many fans expressed their disappointment and frustration with the direction of the game, which seemed to deviate from Rocksteady’s previous titles, such as the acclaimed Batman: Arkham series.
It is unclear if the delay means that Rocksteady will make any changes to these features or if they will focus on polishing and optimizing the game. Some fans have speculated that the delay could be a sign of a major overhaul. In contrast, others have suggested that it could be a result of the ongoing lawsuit between Warner Bros. and Apple over the Epic Games Store exclusivity.
What to expect from the game?
In the game, you can fight and adventure in an open-world Metropolis with different places to explore: Daily Planet, LexCorp & S.T.A.R Labs, etc). A day and night cycle with weather that influences the gameplay is another feature of this Very Long Game. Combat in the game is chaotic and free-flowing; each character has his abilities and weapons.
People like Harley Quinn can use her baseball bat and grapple gun, or Deadshot fly with his jetpack while sniping down from above; Captain Boomerang teleports in on boomerangs to throw explosives at the enemy; King Shark bites or slashes away. You can also change between characters at will or combine their abilities with your friends in cooperation mode.
The story of the game will also be interesting and fun, with a dash or two of humour mixed in. Arkham series creative director Sefton Hill writes the dialogue for the game. The cast calls a galaxy of stars, with the likes of Tara Strong (Young Master), Sam Witwer and John DiMaggio for voices. Your choices affect both the game’s plot and different endings.
Implications of the delay
The delay of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League means that the game will now launch more than two years after its original release date and almost a year after its previous one. This could have a significant impact on the hype and expectations for the game, as well as its sales and reception. The game will also face more competition and pressure in February 2024, as it will have to contend with other highly anticipated titles, such as Horizon Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarok, and Starfield.
However, the delay could also have some positive aspects, such as giving Rocksteady more time to develop, test, and refine the game and to address the feedback and concerns of the fans. The delay could also allow the game to benefit from the improved hardware and performance of the next-generation consoles, such as the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, and offer a more immersive and enjoyable experience for the players.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set to release on February 24, 2024, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. The game will feature four playable characters: Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark. You can control them solo or cooperatively with up to three other players. The game will also feature a dynamic and open-world version of Metropolis, where the Suicide Squad will have to face off against the corrupted Justice League, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and more.