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Harmonix Is Adding More To Amplitude, But It’s Delayed Until The End Of 2015
Harmonix has announced that it is delaying its Kickstarted Amplitude revival. The news comes with a silver lining, though. The studio has shared that more content is being added on the road to delivery.
Instead of the planned 16 tracks, Amplitude will include 30 (plus and additional song for backers). More modes are being added, also. The game will include a single-player campaign and free play, a two- to four-player free-for-all mode, and a team play option for 1-versus-3 and 2-versus-2 competition. Harmonix is also adding two more playable environments.
The game was originally planned for release this summer, but with the additions, Harmonix needs a bit more time. Amplitude will still be released this year for PS4 (a PS3 version will come later) for backers. Wide release will happen in early 2016.
“We know that this schedule slip will be a disappointment to many of you,” writes chief creative officer Alex Rigopulos. “(Frankly, it’s disappointing to us as well, as we’re all dying to play the finished game…) However, our judgment was that our highest priority is to deliver the best game we possibly can to our fans—the definitive version of Amplitude. We want to over-deliver for our biggest supporters, and that’s simply going to require some extra time.”
For more on Amplitude, you can check out an interview with Rigopulos.
[Source: Kickstarter]
Our Take
Ultimately, this will result in a bigger, better game. Addressing this up front with backers (and softening the blow with all the detail about added content) helps. Unfortunately, this means that Harmonix won’t begin realizing the majority of revenue until 2016 (excepting PS4 pre-purchases). Rock Band 4 should help close the cash flow gap.
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