The video game industry loves spectacular announcements.
You’ve probably heard of impressive teasers shown at big events, ambitious promises from developers, and assurances of a revolution that can ignite the imagination of players around the world.
The problem starts when five, seven, or even more than ten years pass since the announcement, and the game is still not on the market.
Below we present the biggest games in development hell, that is, titles that have been stuck in production limbo for years and still make fans arm themselves with patience.
Biggest Games In Development Hell
Before we move on to detailed descriptions of each game, it is worth noting that the titles below are truly of a large caliber.
These are productions announced with great fanfare, backed by well-known studios, massive budgets, and some of the most powerful brands in the industry.
In many cases, they were positioned as flagship projects meant to define a new generation of gaming experiences.
What they all share is one thing: despite years of anticipation, they still haven’t been released.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look below.
Beyond Good & Evil 2
This game is an ambitious prequel to the cult game from 2003, which aims to transport players to an expansive, interplanetary science fiction universe. The game is announced as an open-world sandbox, allowing players to explore planets, pilot spaceships, and develop their own crew within a colonial galaxy setting. The game was announced in 2008 by Ubisoft.
The comeback happened in 2017 at the E3 conference, where an ambitious vision of an interplanetary sandbox with online co-op was showcased. Since then, the developers have assured that production is ongoing, yet there is still no release date or longer gameplay footage.
Star Wars Eclipse
The game was announced in 2021 during The Game Awards. The project is being developed by Quantic Dream, and the action is set in the era of the High Republic. The impressive CGI trailer sparked huge expectations among fans of the universe.
Several years have passed since the announcement, yet no gameplay footage has been shown to date. The creators assure that production is ongoing, but according to unofficial information, the release could be very far off.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake
Knights of the Old Republic Remake (KOTOR remake) is a refreshed version of the legendary RPG set thousands of years before the events of the movie saga. Players take on the role of a hero caught in the conflict between the Jedi and the Sith, making moral decisions that affect character development and the story’s outcome. The remake was announced in 2021.
In 2022, information emerged about the suspension of work and changes in the development team. Since then, communication has been very limited, and although the game has not been officially canceled, its future remains uncertain.
Jurassic Park Survival
Jurassic Park Survival was announced in 2023 as a first-person action game set on Isla Nublar, the day after the events of the 1993 film. Even the atmospheric trailer alone quickly caught the attention of fans of the franchise.
Since then, however, no longer gameplay footage or details about the game systems have been shown. The project is still in development, but concrete information is still lacking.
The Wolf Among Us 2
The Wolf Among Us 2 is a continuation of the episodic adventure game based on the Fables comics, in which we take on the role of the sheriff of a fairy tale community hiding in New York. Like the first part, the sequel is set to offer a dark, detective-style story, tough moral choices, and a strong focus on narrative. The game was announced in 2017.
Shortly after, Telltale Games announced bankruptcy, which practically halted work on the project. After the Telltale brand was revived, production resumed, and the developers assure that the sequel is still in the works. Nevertheless, many years have passed since the initial announcement, and players are still waiting for its release.
Star Citizen
Star Citizen launched in 2012 as a crowdfunding project for an ambitious space simulation where players can freely explore a vast universe, trade, fight, complete missions, and pilot highly detailed spacecraft. From the beginning, it promised immense scale, realism, and an extensive multiplayer mode. The project has raised hundreds of millions of dollars and has become one of the most expensive games ever developed.
Although a playable alpha version is available, the full release still has no set date. At the same time, the single-player campaign Squadron 42, which has been talked about for years, is in development. For many players, Star Citizen is an example of a project that theoretically exists and is constantly being developed, but a clear end to the work is still not in sight.
Fable
Fable is the long-awaited continuation of the iconic RPG series, set in the magical world of Albion. In that game, players explore an open world, make moral decisions, and experience the humor characteristic of the series. The game was announced in 2020 by Playground Games.
Despite the relatively recent announcement, the production has already faced numerous delays and team changes. Although the developers assure that the project is ongoing, players will need to be patient, as Fable may take a long time to arrive (though it’s scheduled for a release in Q3/Q4 2026).
Hogwarts Legacy 2
This game is the sequel to the huge 2023 hit set in the Harry Potter universe. Players will once again take on the role of young wizards, explore the open, magical world of Hogwarts and its surroundings, develop their magical skills, attend classes, and make decisions that affect the story. The game is being promoted as an extensive action RPG with a rich world and numerous side quests.
Although the project is in the production phase and the developers assure that work is ongoing, no official release date or detailed gameplay footage has been released yet. Therefore, fans will have to be patient.
Not Every Game Is Stuck Forever
It’s worth remembering that not every production that ends up in development hell is doomed to eternal waiting. Industry history shows that even projects going through restarts, team changes, or years of silence can ultimately see a release.
A good example is Metroid Prime 4, which after its announcement in 2017 was officially restarted and didn’t receive new material for a long time. Despite this, the project returned with concrete information and realistic release plans.
Similarly, Hollow Knight: Silksong remained one of the most anticipated indie titles for years, frequently delayed but still in development. This shows that even after many years of uncertainty, there is still hope that ambitious productions will eventually reach players.
Conclusion
This is everything you need to know about the biggest games stuck in development hell.
Projects like Beyond Good & Evil 2, Star Wars Eclipse, or Star Citizen show how difficult and unpredictable the process of creating high-ambition games can be.
Despite long years of waiting and numerous production issues, the history of the industry proves that patience can be rewarded; a few titles with long delays, such as Metroid Prime 4 or Hollow Knight: Silksong, eventually made it to players.
This gives hope that even the most anticipated productions, which seem distant today, may one day have a release date.