In a shocking twist that absolutely no one saw coming (everyone saw this coming), Lords of the Fallen 2 has been delayed away from the 2025 holiday window. According to Kotaku, developer CI Games cited a 'highly competitive holiday period' as the reason for pulling the release date - which is corporate speak for 'we are not dying on the GTA 6 hill.'
Let's call the final boss by its name here: Grand Theft Auto 6 is essentially a reality-warping event horizon that is reshaping the entire games industry release calendar around itself. Publishers and developers are scattering like NPCs fleeing a grenade, and honestly? Respect the survival instinct.
A tough run for the Lords franchise
This is a bit of a rough ride for CI Games, whose 2023 reboot of Lords of the Fallen was a genuine soulslike sleeper hit that punched above its weight class. The sequel had some real hype building around it, and getting benched before you even announce a firm date is the kind of early-game wipe that stings.
The studio hasn't announced a new release window yet, which means Lords of the Fallen 2 is currently in the void - that limbo state between 'announced' and 'actually coming out someday' that every gaming fan knows all too well. Think of it as being stuck at a fog gate with no estus left.
The GTA 6 effect is real and it's swallowing the calendar
This is far from the first game to dodge the GTA 6 release window like it's a red barrel in a shooter. The Rockstar juggernaut is essentially playing a slow-motion area-of-effect attack on the industry, and developers are rolling out of range one by one. Can't really blame them - going toe-to-toe with the most anticipated game in a generation is a speedrun to financial disappointment.
CI Games is playing it smart here. A polished, well-timed release in a quieter window could do wonders for the sequel's success, especially if the first game's legacy keeps building in the meantime. Sometimes the best strategic play is to respawn at the bonfire and pick your moment.
No new release date has been confirmed. Kotaku has the full story, and we'll be watching the fog of war for any updates.
