Crackdown delayed to 2019

UPDATE: Microsoft has confirmed Crackdown 3's delay into next year, saying it will now launch in February 2019.

The news comes via a statement provided to Windows Central, in which Microsoft said, "Our fans' response to the signature antics and explosive gameplay of Crackdown 3 has been incredible. To ensure we deliver the experience they deserve, Crackdown 3 will be launching in Feb 2019."

Microsoft also noted that it would be sharing more information on the game during this Sunday's Xbox E3 2018 briefing, which begins at 9pm in the UK.

ORIGINAL STORY: Microsoft has delayed Crackdown to 2019, sources have said.

The news of the delay was first reported by Kotaku overnight. Eurogamer sources close to the project have this morning confirmed the report. We've asked Microsoft for comment.

The new Crackdown has already been delayed a few times. It was originally unveiled at E3 in 2014 and slated for a 2016 release, but was delayed. Then, it was due out November 2017 before being pushed back to spring 2018 and then this summer.

At least three UK studios have had a hand in Crackdown's development: Sumo Digital, perhaps best known for making Sonic & All-Stars Racing, made the campaign. Reagent Games, whose creative director Dave Jones co-founded the now defunct Realtime Worlds, maker of the first Crackdown game, and Ruffian Games, who made Crackdown 2, were building the competitive multiplayer portion of the game.

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When Crackdown was announced, it promised a giant open world and destructible environments. When the game was shown at E3 in 2017, we got the chance to run around the open world in the Sumo-built campaign, but the destructible environments were nowhere to be seen. This destruction was intended to be exclusive to the multiplayer, but it has yet to be revealed.

The delay of Crackdown leaves a glaring hole in Microsoft's first-party lineup, save the expected new Forza game. Will Xbox have something up its sleeve at E3 next week? The pressure is on.