It feels like Cyberpunk 2077 collided with kung fu and John Wick-style gunfights, yet months of silence followed. Nekki has finally spoken up, apologized for the lack of updates, and made it clear that SPINE is not in trouble, but a release date will only be shared once they are one hundred percent certain.

Some games take so long to develop that players begin to suspect cancellation, delays, or deeper issues. Plenty of projects have fallen into that category over the years, but SPINE is not one of them. Nekki’s action title, blending John Wick-inspired gunplay with classic gunkata and a cyberpunk aesthetic, was announced two years ago and has stubbornly resisted release ever since. Now, just days before the end of the year, the studio confirmed what many expected: the game will not launch in 2025, but it is not facing development problems either.

At its core, SPINE marks a bold step forward for Nekki, a studio previously best known for mobile projects. This time, the team is aiming for both a qualitative and quantitative leap, with the goal of delivering a shooter and melee-focused experience that raises the bar in terms of scope, technical polish, and production values.

SPINE Is Highly Anticipated, Which Is Why the Studio Refuses to Rush

That ambition explains why Nekki has been unable to stick to earlier expectations. While the studio never confirmed a specific release date, it previously hinted at a launch window before the end of the year, something that clearly did not happen. “We remember our promise and understand that many of you have doubts about the development”, the studio wrote on X, stressing that work on SPINE is progressing smoothly.

“We want to launch SPINE the way we originally envisioned it, staying true to our ideas and taking the time needed to polish the entire experience.” According to the developers, this is their first game for PC and consoles, and the team has continued to grow throughout development. As a result, they insist they will not announce a release date until they are completely sure. The studio concluded by saying that “2026 is going to be fantastic” for the project. Development has now entered its final phase, focusing on refining animations, content, voice acting, and the interface, alongside adding new language localizations. All that remains is to see whether SPINE successfully launches in 2026.

Source: 3DJuegos