Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 released earlier today – but only after several delays, and without its planned multiplayer mode. Developers CI Games have explained why this is in a statement today.

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The statement reads:

“CI Games, throughout our development of Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, we have had two focus (sic): The first is to provide the best possible single-player experience in our most ambitious game in the Sniper Ghost Warrior series to date. This has always been our goal and we are extremely proud of all the work we have done, and that we share with you. The second emphasis from us is to provide regular content updates post launch, focusing on content that enhances the gaming experience.

“Therefore, we have chosen to release the multiplayer update (that will be free for our players) after launch (the third quarter of 2017) for precisely the above reasons, that is not to dilute any potential from the single-player experience.”

You’ll note that the statement doesn’t mention any development issues, but frames the postponement of a feature that was at least strongly implied, if not outright promised, to be in the game at launch as a deliberate choice. Several maps for the multiplayer mode are in the game’s season pass, as you can see on its Steam page.

Sniper Ghost Warrior 3’s most recent delay, from April 4 to 25, was its third. Whether CI’s explanation satisfies you, the fact it’s missing an entire game mode from launch – and is beleagured byreports of poor PC optimisation on Steam– is further proof that development can’t have been smooth.

A Q3 release date means multiplayer is coming no sooner than July 1.

Are you playing Sniper Ghost Warrior 3? How’s it performing for you?