Ukrainian developer Frogwares has announced that The Sinking City 2 is moving to the first half of 2026, citing two major challenges: the ongoing war in Ukraine and the studio’s ambitious shift from investigation adventures to survival horror. The game was initially targeting a surprise late 2025 release.
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The Sinking City 2 Delayed to 2026 Due to War & Genre Shift
The devastating impact of Russia’s invasion has severely disrupted development, with the team facing power outages from drone and missile attacks. Sergiy Oganesyan, Head of Publishing at Frogwares, shared the harsh reality: “You work all day, then spend the sleepless night listening for explosions, and somehow still need to function the next morning”.
Development Challenges Overview
| Challenge | Impact |
|---|---|
| War in Ukraine | Power outages, drone attacks, safety concerns |
| Genre Shift | First survival horror after 20+ years of adventure games |
| New Timeline | First half of 2026 (from late 2025) |
| Platforms | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S |
Why the Genre Shift Matters
Alexander Gresko, Lead Game Designer, explained that switching to survival horror requires completely different design thinking around tension, pacing, and combat. After making investigation adventures for over two decades—including several Sherlock Holmes titles—Frogwares is venturing into unfamiliar territory.
“We’ve always loved the genre as fans, but once you start building it yourself, you realize how much you still have to do,” Gresko noted. The complexity of creating authentic survival horror experiences with proper atmosphere and resource management has proven more demanding than anticipated.
What to Expect from The Sinking City 2
Set in 1920s Arkham during a supernatural flood, the game features Lovecraftian monsters, limited resources, and a morally grey story focused on personal loss. Players will explore decaying mansions and flooded markets while managing finite inventory and using period-inspired firearms.
Frogwares conducted private beta tests with the community early in development, and their feedback has been instrumental in shaping the game. The studio promises to share more gameplay footage in the coming months alongside 13 new screenshots already released.
Silver Lining in the Delay
While disappointing for fans anticipating a 2025 launch, the delay actually benefits both the developer and players. Rather than rushing to meet an unrealistic target, Frogwares is taking time to finish the game properly and polish their first survival horror experience.
With 2025 already packed with quality releases, a 2026 launch gives The Sinking City 2 more breathing room for success. For those interested in Frogwares’ investigation games or looking for upcoming horror titles, the extra development time should result in a more refined experience.
FAQs
When will The Sinking City 2 be released?
The game is now targeting the first half of 2026, delayed from its original late 2025 surprise launch window.
Why was The Sinking City 2 delayed?
Two main reasons: ongoing war in Ukraine disrupting development, and the challenge of shifting to survival horror for the first time.
