Hades 2 was initially launched into early access just under a year ago, and since that time, it has gained significant popularity on PC and Mac. Supergiant Games recently issued a substantial update for the title last month, which introduced a “final boss” encounter. With such a significant feature added, it may seem like the game is nearing its long-awaited 1.0 release, but for those eagerly anticipating its console debut or hoping for an end to early access, you may be waiting longer than expected.
At the Dope Indie Game of the Year Awards, Hades 2 was awarded ‘Best Early Access’, outperforming contenders like Manor Lords, Enshrouded, and Grocery Store Simulator. While the game’s creative director, Greg Kasavin, accepted the award in person, the Supergiant Games Twitter account took a moment to acknowledge the honor and provided some potentially disappointing news along with it.
The tweet mentions, “Whether you’ve tried Hades 2 yet or are patiently waiting for the 1.0 launch (whenever that may be), know that Early Access development is crucial for us to maximize the potential of this game!” The implication that the full release is not imminent has made some fans a bit anxious. While the original game spent just under two years in early access before its full release, many are hopeful that this sequel’s timeline will be shorter.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that Supergiant is being intentionally vague and that a surprise launch could happen in the near future (the early access debut was unexpectedly announced just a week after the Hades 2 beta concluded, after all). Nonetheless, perhaps that’s just my way of coping. To be fair to Supergiant, Hades 2 was already impressive upon entering early access, but the inability for console players to join in is disappointing to those like myself who exclusively played the original on Switch (though I’m currently playing Hades 2 on PC; sorry, I can’t help it).
If you are anxiously awaiting Hades 2 to arrive on your preferred platform, you might consider checking out our list of the best roguelike games to pass the time.