Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! Physical Release Date Delayed To October

The upgraded psychological horror dating simulator Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! has had its physical edition delayed to October 8th, 2021. The expanded version of the beloved indie game released digitally on June 30th, 2021, but the physical edition has been delayed before, initially being pushed back from July to September due to manufacturing concerns.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is an enhanced version of the game originally released in 2017. The original Doki Doki Literature Club gained renown in 2017 for its unique take on the psychological horror genre. The enhanced version, DDLC Plus, features side stories and remastered art for players to engage with. It was a substantial release that added nearly 50% of the original game’s size in extra content. While the game released digitally on June 30th, developer Team Salvato has also promised a physical version for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation consoles.

Publisher Serenity Forge (via Nintendo Life) has now pushed Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! back to October 8th. The company announced the delay with a hefty explanation as to why it has experienced so many hurdles in getting the game to consumers, emphasizing the shipping delays and labor shortages that continue to impact the video game industry and stating that “Due to these continued logistical challenges our partners have been facing, the physical release will be delayed to October 8th, 2021. After assessing their production timelines our partners have confirmed with us that there will be no further delays in the physical release.” The physical release includes a set of standees for each character as well as a poem, membership card, character sticker sheet, and soundtrack.

The amount of delays seen in the gaming industry demonstrates the ripple effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on developers, especially with physical releases which are so reliant on supply chains. Facing a similar plight to Doki Doki Literature Club Plus, Sonic Colors Ultimate had its physical release delayed as well. Until the pandemic subsides, it would appear that delays will continue to be common in the industry. However, this isn’t always a bad thing. The extra development time gained from a game delay can allow developers to give players a polished experience without straining themselves.

Serenity Forge seems to understand that fans of the game may be frustrated, as reflected in its statement, which assures fans that October 8th is the final date and apologizes for the inconvenience set upon those still waiting for the physical release. DDLC Plus! has many endings to unlock and secrets to uncover, and there is certainly reason to be impatient for the physical release. For those who have held out on playing the new content in anticipation for the physical release, it’s likely disappointing to them that they can’t dive in just yet. Regardless, fans shouldn’t have to wait much longer to revisit their favorite literature club once more.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is out now on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Source: Nintendo Life, Serenity Forge/Twitter