This is according to a report from The Wall Street Journal (via Polygon) in which EA confirmed the new timeframe. However despite it sounding like and looking very much like a delay, EA is insisting that it is not. This is according to EA’s CFO Blake Jorgensen who said, “It’s not a delay. People are trying to create a story.”
This comment was made in response to an article on Kotaku last week, in which the publication’s sources told them that the game would be delayed due to development falling behind. However whatever the case is, it doesn’t really change the fact that gamers can only expect to play it in 2019, although when exactly in 2019 is anyone’s guess.
That being said, delays in the video game industry are pretty normal. In fact developers such as Blizzard have been known to take their time with new titles, going back to the drawing board again if they have to (as was the case with Project Titan which was scrapped and became Overwatch).