Frogwares has made headlines with the announcement of a delay for their highly anticipated title, The Sinking City 2, now set for a 2026 release. Initially slated for 2025, the decision to push back the launch reflects both the challenges of game development amidst ongoing conflict and the complexities of transitioning into a new genre.
Challenges Amidst Conflict
As a Ukrainian studio, Frogwares is navigating the tumultuous landscape shaped by the Russian invasion, which has significantly impacted their operations since 2014. The head of publishing, Sergiy Oganesyan, shared insights into the difficulties faced during this period. “Developing a game during a war isn’t something you can ever really prepare for, but something you need to keep adapting to,” he stated. The studio has experienced power outages lasting days due to military actions, and the constant threat of drone attacks has added to the strain. Oganesyan described the challenge: “You work all day, then spend the sleepless night listening for explosions, and somehow still need to function the next morning.”
These circumstances have led to a reassessment of their timeline, as Oganesyan emphasized the importance of not rushing the development process: “It just doesn’t make sense to try to rush what we have left to meet a date that we no longer feel is worth chasing.”
A New Direction in Game Design
In addition to external pressures, Frogwares is also grappling with the internal challenges of venturing into the survival horror genre for the first time. Lead designer Alexander Gresko noted that this shift requires a “completely different kind of design thinking” compared to their previous titles, which have included popular investigation adventures like the Sherlock Holmes series. Gresko expressed both excitement and the realization of the extensive work required: “We’ve always loved the genre as fans, but once you start building it yourself, you realize how much you still have to do. It’s exciting, but it definitely makes development slower.”
While a specific release date remains unconfirmed, the studio is targeting the first half of 2026. In the meantime, Frogwares plans to provide updates on gameplay in the coming months, allowing fans to glimpse the evolution of The Sinking City 2. Recently, they released a collection of thirteen new screenshots, offering a sneak peek into the game’s development journey.
