High On Life 2 Review Postponed Indefinitely Amid PlayStation 5 Game-Breaking Bug
GameCentral will not publish a review of High On Life 2 today, February 12, 2026, as scheduled, due to a critical technical issue that has halted progress in the PlayStation 5 version. The review embargo lifts at 11am, but a severe bug prevents completion of the game, leaving our assessment incomplete.
Severe Crash Issue Halts Progress in Key Boss Fight
The problem occurs approximately four to five hours into the gameplay, during the Kreg Button boss fight at the end of the cruise ship section. This bug has caused the game to crash seven times on our PlayStation 5, forcing a return to the home screen each instance. Notably, Squanch Games, the publisher and developer, has not listed this as a known issue, despite our reports, and has remained silent on when a fix might be implemented.
High On Life 2 launches tomorrow, February 13, 2026. Even if the bug is resolved promptly, a full review from GameCentral will now be delayed until sometime next week, missing the initial release window.
Initial Impressions: Mixed Improvements and Comedy Shortfalls
Based on our limited playtime, High On Life 2 shows some gameplay enhancements over its predecessor. The gunplay feels tighter and more responsive, a notable upgrade from the first game's underwhelming one-shot pistol. However, it still falls short compared to other top-tier shooters in the market.
In terms of humor, the sequel features fewer jokes overall, and those present lack the punch of the original. This decline is likely inevitable, as Justin Roiland, co-creator of Rick and Morty, is not involved in this installment. The extent of the original team's participation remains unclear. Despite this, the game retains elements of decent satire that may appeal to fans of the first title, assuming the technical issues are resolved.
While it is unlikely to contend for game of the year awards, High On Life 2 could still offer a satisfying experience for its core audience once stability is assured.
Publisher Highlights Other Bugs, But Critical Issue Unaddressed
Squanch Games has acknowledged a list of other bugs in High On Life 2, promising fixes in an upcoming patch. Although day-one patches are common in the gaming industry to address pre-launch issues, it is rare to encounter a bug that completely blocks progression, as experienced here.
The original High On Life was a major success in December 2022, making this sequel's release in under three years unusually rapid for a mid-budget title. GameCentral cannot provide a preliminary score or final verdict until the game is fully playable. We advise caution for those considering a day-one purchase, especially given the unresolved critical bug.
Uncertainty Across Platforms and Future Updates
It remains unknown whether the PC and Xbox Series X/S versions suffer from the same game-breaking bug. A Switch 2 version is slated for release on April 20, 2026, but its status is also unclear. GameCentral will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available from Squanch Games or through further testing.
