The Alters Release Delayed to 2025, But for Good Reason
When I played The Alters earlier this year—at the same preview event where I tried to push turbo-communism in Frostpunk 2 (it could have worked, I swear)—I was pleasantly surprised. Survival games aren’t usually my thing; I struggle enough with survival in real life. But The Alters grabbed my attention with its unique take on cloning and survival, combining elements of Subnautica with Midnight Suns.
In The Alters, instead of teaming up with Wolverine and Blade, you’re managing relationships with various alternative versions of yourself—different clones of a working-class Polish man. Each clone represents a life where you made different choices: one where you became a scientist to help with tech research, another where you became a miner to gather resources, and others with their backstories. Did you stay with your wife for one life? Go to university in another? Stand up to your abusive father? The game presents a fascinating exploration of “what-ifs” through these parallel-universe versions of yourself.
Unfortunately, the wait for The Alters has just gotten longer. Initially set to release this year, 11 Bit Studios announced that the game has been delayed to “Q1 2025.” In a quirky, in-character post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the devs said they’re using the extra time to “optimize all mission-critical systems and ensure that every aspect of your journey is as seamless as possible.”
In a more straightforward statement to the Polish outlet Bankier. pl, 11-bit president Przemysław Marszał explained that a tight production schedule was putting the quality of the game at risk. A machine translation of his remarks highlights that there was uncertainty about whether the devs could meet the quality expectations in the remaining time. Rather than rushing it, the team decided to take the extra time to perfect the game, given how long it’s already been in development.
As always with game delays, I’m feeling a mix of disappointment and relief. I was looking forward to diving deeper into The Alters after my preview, but I’d rather the devs take the time they need to deliver the experience they envision, without cutting corners. Here’s hoping the extra development time makes The Alters as compelling as its concept promises.