Gorgeous anime fighter Guilty Gear Strive delayed due to reviled lobby system

Guilty Gear Strive is the next instalment in Arc System Works’ longrunning 2D fighter series, and it’s as pretty as usual—the studio did Dragon Ball FighterZ and Granblue Fantasy: Versus, after all. But a recent open beta test left a bad taste in some players’ mouths, with its online lobby system being the main point of criticism. As a result of player feedback, Arc System Works delayed Strive to June 11 from its planned April 9 launch.

It’s easy to see why the lobby proved so controversial. It’s set in a sidescrolling pixel art environment where players roam and interact before launching into matches. The art style is dramatically at odds with the lush animation of the fights themselves, but it’s the practical aspects of…