The digital versions will still be out on time but there’s a good chance boxed copies of new video games are going to be delayed.
The games industry is doing its best not to allow the coronavirus crisis to delay its upcoming releases but sometimes, that’s unavoidable, as demonstrated by new announcements from Capcom and Square Enix.
The Resident Evil 3 remake, one of the biggest titles of the year, is due for release next week on Friday 3, April and while the game isn’t technically being delayed those who ordered physical copies of the game may have to wait a while longer.
In
an official statement on one of Capcom’s Twitter accounts, the lockdown means
that ‘Some European markets may experience delayed deliveries or availability
of physical goods, including disc copies of games.’
The only advice Capcom was able to give was to check with local retailers about updates regarding orders. Although, of course, at the moment you can’t pop out to a nearby shop either, since nearly all retailers have been ordered to close.
Square Enix has offered essentially identical warnings, and advice, for Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which comes out a few days later on Friday, 10 April.
There’s still a chance you might be lucky though, and your boxed copy will turn up on time, with the chances increased if you pre-ordered the more expensive collector’s edition (not because you paid more but because the bigger box is going through different channels).
Here’s the Square Enix statement in full:
As we prepare for the release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake on April 10, we wanted to keep you updated on how the proactive measures being taken to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus are likely to affect the distribution and retail landscape in western regions at launch.
As you will be aware, many countries are limiting entry or closing their national and state borders and restricting the distribution and delivery of non-essential items. Understandably these restrictions are being implemented so that essential items can reach their destination as fast as possible.
This does not mean that box copies of Final Fantasy 7 Remake will not be dispatched, it just means that we cannot control the date the game may arrive.
In many countries and states, retail stores are closing to help with social distancing measures. If you placed a pre-order with one of these retailers, we advise you to check their websites for the latest information about the status of pre-orders, as well as pick-up and/or delivery information. Please ensure your mailing address and contact details are up to date, as some retailers have begun contacting customers with delivery updates.
Finally, we are currently making arrangements to ensure that pre-orders from the Square Enix Store reach you by 10 April.
We are working hard to ensure as many of you as possible can play the game on 10 April and will update further when we have more information.
Thank you for your continued support and most importantly, stay safe.
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