The Haven PS4 release date and Nintendo Switch release date has been pushed back to 2021, and now we know why: The Game Bakers cite "unexpected challenges" from the ongoing pandemic as a core reason.
Haven is an upcoming game that tells the tale of the lovers Yu and Kay, a pair who have escaped the "Apiary" to start a new life on a remote planet. Unfortunately, the Apiary Council is not too fond of them making a run for it and it's keen to track them down.
The game has been featured as a playable demo during multiple Steam Festivals; since then, the developers have announced that Haven will be launching for most platforms on December 3, 2020. The PS4 and Nintendo Switch versions, however, won't be ready until early next year.
Why the Haven PS4 and Nintendo Switch Versions Are Delayed
"Our plan with Haven was to ship all the platforms at the same time, including Nintendo Switch and PS4, as we wanted players to be able to play the game regardless of the system they own," explained The Game Bakers Co-Founder and Executive Producer Audrey Leprince in an e-mail to TechRaptor. "Haven is the adventure of two lovers escaping at the end of the world, but it's also a game about the happiness of everyday life. It packs a lot of positive and wholesome vibes, is designed to be accessible and [stress-free], and it was important for us to make it available with a minimum of friction to players."
Haven is indeed a super chill game; while there is certainly a measure of conflict, the early moments of recent Steam demos have shown a delightful experience that can be played alone or with someone close to you. Unfortunately, the real world is not always so laid back.
"Rare are the indie games made by a team of 14 people that ship on all platforms at the same time. We are working hard as we speak to make the best Nintendo Switch and PS4 versions available as soon as possible. " – Audrey Leprince, Co-Founder and Executive Producer at The Game Bakers
Leprince explains that The Game Bakers has a team of 14 people working on the project. It was aiming to deliver the game to all platforms simultaneously, but extra work had to be done to optimize it for the newer generation of consoles. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic compounded these issues, ultimately resulting in The Game Bakers making the decision to delay the Haven PS4 release date and Nintendo Switch release date until early 2021.
Haven was first announced before we had firm details on next-gen consoles; with the PS5 and Xbox Series X on the way, we at least know that the game will be taking advantage of their power. Audrey Leprince confirmed that the Xbox Series X and PS5 will both feature 4K graphical assets, a higher framerate, and more environmental detail such as a higher amount of grass. That said, she has conceded that this game is "not especially a 'tech benchmark game'" — its focus is on giving players an interesting story and gameplay experience.
As part of that next-gen release, anyone who purchases the game on PS5 will also get the game on PS4 (and vice versa). As for the Xbox side of things, the Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows versions all share the same progression; a player could start the game on their PC and continue to play on their console.
When is the Haven PS4 Release Date?
For now, the Haven PS4 release date will be sometime in the first quarter of 2021; the Haven Nintendo Switch release date will also be within that window.
Players will still have plenty of options to play the game on the Haven release date of December 3, 2020. You'll be able to get it for the PC, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. For now, you can learn more about the game on its official website and add Haven to your wishlist on Steam.
What platform are you buying Haven on? What do you think of select current-gen consoles being delayed in favor of next-gen consoles? Let us know in the comments below!
