Microsoft's upcoming open-world shooter Crackdown 3 has been in development for quite a while, and fans have been worried about the state of the game following various rumors and general radio silence from Microsoft.

Today, Microsoft provided us a statement to say that the game is now targeting a February 2019 launch date, and will focus on adding extra polish and features to create the game fans have been hoping for.

"Our fans' response to the signature antics and explosive gameplay of "Crackdown 3" has been incredible. To ensure we deliver the experience they deserve, "Crackdown 3" will be launching in Feb 2019. We look forward to sharing more on "Crackdown 3" this Sunday during the Xbox E3 2018 briefing."

We played Crackdown 3 at E3 2017, and found it to be an incredibly fun, explosive experience even in its earlier incarnation. The delay will not only give Sumo Digital the opportunity to build on what already looked quite promising, but will ensure the game avoids the deluge of massive franchise games hitting this fall. Even heavy hitters like Battlefield and Call of Duty are swerving to avoid the Red Dead Redemption 2 juggernaut.