Microsoft explains why Crackdown 3 had to skip 2016

Just days before E3, Crackdown 3 was pushed to 2017. Now we know why.

On the same day Microsoft announced that Crackdown 3 is a Play Anywhere title - coming to Windows 10 as well as Xbox One, the game was delayed to next year.

According to Microsoft Studios general manager Shannon Loftis, everything is going well on the development front, but because of how the game is essentially two components - Crackdown Online and the campaign, Microsoft didn't want to release a beta for the former too far apart from the main game.

"To be honest, because we obviously have this Crackdown Online mode and then we also have the traditional Crackdown campaign, which has multiplayer online," Loftis told Game Informer at E3.

"But we want to launch our online beta so that it’s not too far in advance of the complete campaign. It’s actually the campaign that we’re doubling down on now. We’ve got internal play sessions every week for Crackdown Online.

"We’re starting now to get the campaign in. Building these open world games is both challenging and a blast, because you have to build all of the systems that interact together. Before you get to the point where you can actually experience what the game feels like and can start building your missions and telling your stories."

Part of that can also be attributed a renewed focus on the campaign, which Loftis said will work differently from the earlier games. "It’s basically running a sim on top of the traditional Crackdown environment," she describe the game's campaign.

"We created this thing called a ‘hate table.’ Depending on what you choose to destroy in the environment, there will be massive, big reactions all over the city. Gangs will get together against you.

"This is the first time we’ve ever had something like that. It’s just starting to come online. We have lots of time to put together our missions. I don’t like letting gamers down and asking them to wait, but I’m also kind of proud of giving developers the time they need."

Crackdown 3 remains without a release date.