Mouse: P.I. For Hire has been delayed to April 2026, and while the developers say it is to further polish the game, we think the reason is Crimson Desert.
Fumi Games and PlaySide Studios' upcoming first-person shooter game, Mouse: P.I. For Hire, has had its global release delayed from March 19 to April 16 as the developers aim to "deliver you the best game" that needs a few extra weeks of work.
Initially, the game was slated to release on March 19 on all major platforms, including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. Now, the new release date is April 16, which is not that far away.
In a statement released on the delay via the game's official X (formerly Twitter) handle, PlaySide Studios said:
We have made the decision to move the release date of Mouse: P.I. For Hire to 16 April 2026.
As we approach the final stages of development, we want to ensure we are taking the extra time and care needed to make Mouse: P.I. For Hire an experience to remember. We remain unwavering in our goal to deliver you the best game we can, and that will take just an extra few weeks.
We are excited to share more of the game with you in the lead up to launch. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your incredible support.
Now, delays to further polish a game are nothing new. We think this decision was taken in light of one of the most hyped releases of this year, Crimson Desert, which also arrives on March 19, the previous release date for Mouse: P.I. For Hire.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire will now launch on 16 April 2026. pic.twitter.com/gwD3QW5Vyt
— MOUSE: P.I. For Hire (@mousethegame) February 23, 2026
Mouse: P.I. For Hire's unique monochromatic, hand-drawn art style, which is reminiscent of early Mickey Mouse cartoon designs, is something unique to this game.
You take the role of private investigator Jack Pepper in the city of Mouseburg, with the gameplay focused on intense combat and investigative puzzle-solving.
It is yet another game that players have been waiting for a long time. But there's no denying that the game's reach would have been easily overshadowed by Crimson Desert.
This is not the first time this has happened. We saw how a great game like Hell Is Us's release coincided with Hollow Knight: Silksong; as a result, it did not even cross the 4 and a half thousand concurrent players mark on Steam.
Hell Is Us is just one example. There have been many other releases that failed not because they were bad games, but because their release date was scheduled close to or on the same date as a big release.
In any case, whether the devs delayed Mouse: P.I. For Hire to further polish the game or to avoid getting overshadowed by a big release like Crimson Desert, it's a great decision.