The problem with trying to enter the MMO market is attempting to branch out and be as far-flung from another game in order to stand out. So with Bossa Studios looking to do just that with Worlds Adrift, you should expect a lengthy development cycle.
Originally scheduled to release this year, Bossa Studios has become one of the reigning champs when it comes to closing a release window as close as possible. Throwing their title back into the kiln for a few more weeks (or months) means it's now targeting a Q1 2017 slot.
With Worlds Adrift, Bossa Studios are attempting to engineer a unified server capable of handling every player and their many actions in one shared world. The problem with this, however, it is means they're pretty much on their own when it comes to figuring out exactly how to do that. A hiccup has caused their feature staff to be shifted over to the network team, causing a noticeable delay in development.
Maybe you're more interested in building and destroying a world on your own; maybe Cities: Skylines - Natural Disasters is what you're looking for.
Being roughly 10 weeks behind schedule, the developers are still looking forward to introducing the game's next playtest phase. New loot, pistols, combat overhauls and a shipyard are some of the notable additions this time around. There's even the surprise inclusion of a male playable character. They're a pioneer in that respect, too.
Granted, the new Q1 release window is purely for Early Access. The official 1.0 release may be a long while off yet, but we'll at least be able to get hands-on in due time.
