A Glimmer of Hope: Slay the Spire 2 Delayed, but Mega Crit Swears It’s Not Because of Silksong

The gaming world recently felt a familiar and collective sigh of disappointment. Mega Crit Games, the beloved indie studio behind the genre-defining deckbuilder roguelike, has officially announced that the Early Access launch of Slay the Spire 2 will be delayed. Originally planned for late 2025, the game is now targeting a “secret Thursday” in March 2026. While delays are never the news anyone wants to hear, Mega Crit’s candid and detailed explanation has been a breath of fresh air, and they made one thing abundantly clear: this delay has absolutely nothing to do with the surprise release of Hollow Knight: Silksong.

The Elephant in the Room and the “No-Drama” Delay

The gaming community has a notorious and long-running joke about the perpetually delayed Silksong. Over the past few years, any indie game delay has been met with the same tongue-in-cheek question: “Was it because of Silksong?” This is due to the fact that when Hollow Knight: Silksong‘s release date was unexpectedly dropped on September 4, 2025, it forced a number of other studios to reshuffle their launch plans to avoid direct competition. Mega Crit, however, was prepared for this. In their official announcement, they directly addressed the question in an FAQ, stating, “We got together as a team to determine our new release window before Silksong‘s date was announced. The timing just worked out like that, but on the bright side, everyone can keep busy playing Silksong during the wait!”

This humorous and transparent acknowledgment instantly put a stop to any rumors, and allowed the community to focus on the real reasons for the delay, which Mega Crit detailed with refreshing honesty. There was no single, dramatic reason. Instead, it was a combination of factors: some personal life events affected the team (everyone is okay!), a case of “we kept saying ‘wouldn’t it be cool if…’ one too many times,” and a simple need for more polish to meet their own high standards. This is a far cry from the radio silence that has plagued some other highly-anticipated titles. Mega Crit is prioritizing quality over a rushed release, and their commitment to transparency has been met with widespread support from the community.

A Bigger, Better Spire is Coming

The most compelling reason for the delay, however, is the sheer ambition behind Slay the Spire 2. The developers have revealed that the sequel has a “lot more content” compared to the original’s Early Access launch. They are not just re-skinning the first game; they are building a new foundation from the ground up, with a new engine, new characters, new mechanics, and a greater level of visual polish. The team has been working on a significant content push, which includes new cards, potions, relics, and entirely new mechanics. One of the most exciting revelations is the concept of “Alternate Acts,” where players will be randomly greeted with one of two possible Acts, a feature that will significantly increase the game’s already astronomical replayability.

This commitment to a higher quality bar for the Early Access launch is a testament to the growth of the indie space since the original Slay the Spire‘s release. Back then, a roguelike in Early Access was often a barebones experience. Now, players expect a certain level of polish and content even in the preliminary stages. By taking the extra time, Mega Crit is ensuring that Slay the Spire 2‘s first impression will be a lasting and positive one, worthy of the franchise’s legacy.

For players who are eagerly waiting, the good news is that the wait has a definitive end date. Mega Crit has an “actual specific date that we’re aiming for internally and are confident we can hit.” This is a powerful signal of confidence that will likely prevent the kind of prolonged “development hell” that other games have fallen into. While it may be a few months longer than expected, the promise of a more polished, content-rich, and bug-free experience is a trade-off that most fans are more than happy to make. Until then, as Mega Crit helpfully pointed out, there’s always Silksong to keep us busy.