The Last Guardian release date: Sony's follow-up to Shadow of the Colossus is coming to PS4 in September

After years of delays, it finally has a release date

Having been announced at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo, it’s fair to say The Last Guardian has been a long time coming.

Originally developed for PS3, Team Ico switched hardware to PS4 in 2012, adding yet further delays to the long-awaited Shadow of the Colossus follow-up.

Finally, the Sony exclusive has a release date, announced at this year’s E3: 25 October 2016. Not 2018. not 2017. But 2016. Later. This. Year. Watch the announcement trailer below.

For some fans, including myself, this is a lot to handle. Both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus were beautifully designed games, both sharing stylistic flair and spectacular graphics - especially for PS2.

The Last Guardian will have many of those games' characteristics, combining action and puzzle solving in a desolate, atmospheric surrounding.

The game’s story focusses on a young boy and Trico, a winged hybrid creature who acts as the boy’s pet, controlled via treats and taking him to unreachable locations.

At last year’s Sony E3 conference, they also showed new footage from the game.