The highly anticipated release of Prison Architect 2 has been postponed indefinitely, just a month before its scheduled launch. This marks the third delay for the 3D successor to the 2015 prison management simulation game. Initially slated for a 26 March release on PS5, Xbox Series X | S, and Steam, the release date was first moved to 7 May, then to 3 September, and now faces an indefinite delay.

The development team behind Prison Architect 2 issued a statement explaining the reasons for the delay. “Our continuous internal reviews and beta test groups have highlighted areas that we need to focus on more, mainly performance and content, which we need to address before launch to ensure that you, the players, get a good experience in the game,” they stated. They emphasised the need to enhance the game’s quality to meet the high standards set for this sequel. Despite the setbacks, the team remains optimistic about the game’s potential.

“We are confident that the sequel to Prison Architect will be great, and we’re looking forward to showing you all the new ideas brought into it: the switch to 3D, multi-floors, and the new behaviour system that all bring a new dimension to the game and open new gameplay possibilities for the players.”

The developers stressed their commitment to delivering a game that honours the legacy of the Prison Architect franchise and satisfies both players and the development teams at Kokku and Paradox Interactive.

In light of the delay, Paradox Interactive announced that it would refund all pre-orders across all platforms. Additionally, items initially offered as pre-order bonuses will now be included in the base game.

This delay adds to a challenging year for the Swedish publisher. In April, Paradox had to refund customers who purchased the first DLC for Cities Skylines 2, as the content, deemed unsatisfactory, was rushed out. The DLC was subsequently added to the base game for free, and further paid DLC and the game’s console version faced additional delays. Furthermore, in June, Paradox revealed plans to close its Tectonic studio following the cancellation of the life simulation game Life by You.