Hive Jump delayed beyond Q1 2016
Hive Jump was last scheduled for launch in Q1 of this year. Sadly though, it’s been pushed back. Graphite Lab is now only committing to a vague 2016 release window.
In its latest Kickstarter update, the studio explained that Hive Jump’s delay came about “simply because the game isn’t as far along as we had hoped when we announced that date.” The team has also “continued to invest in this game well beyond our Kickstarter budget”, but has taken on other client work at the same time. This is slowing down development, but Hive Jump’s actual creation is going smoothly.
Graphite Lab’s full Kickstarter update regarding the delay reads:
Delays suck. We hate to hear of them and hate being the bearer of them even more. Unfortunately, Hive Jump’s release is delayed past Quarter 1 of this year. The cause of the delay is simply because the game isn’t as far along as we had hoped when we announced that date.
We knew the large scope of the game would be challenging to execute on and that is why we listed that up front in our risks and challenges section of the Kickstarter page. We’ve continued to invest in this game well beyond our Kickstarter budget because we believe in the game and we want to deliver the best possible version of this game to you our beloved backers. But developing a game after the budget is exceeded slows things down considerably.
We’ve explored other options – publishers, 3rd party funding, and other options to move this game forward more quickly, but the current situation is that we need to continue to self-fund. This means continuing our balance of client work alongside Hive Jump development. (That’s what allows us to keep going beyond the initial Kickstarter funds.)
The good news is, based on our assessment of how much work there is left to do in the game, and how much work we’ve put in on average over the last two years, Hive Jump will launch in 2016! We hope to provide you with a more solid release window in the next update or two tops.
Thank you for bearing with us through the ups and downs of this development lifecycle. As far as Kickstarter communities go, you jumpers are the best! You’ve been very patient and understanding with us so far, and we appreciate it deeply.
