Haze release still hazy, but Ubisoft says before April

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 8th 2008 at 9:00PM }

An actual release date for Haze is slowly becoming clear, in so much as we've now got a three month window to focus on. Ars Technica spoke with Ubisoft who confirmed that the game is expected between now and the end of March (for you fiscal calendar trackers that's Ubisoft's Q4).

The release date of Haze has certainly kept up with the game's name. Originally expected for the holidays, the title was mercifully delayed for what Ubisoft says was to "put the final touches to the game." More recently there were rumors of a possible January release, which finally lead to Ubisoft giving this Q4 window -- but we've had a confirmed release date before, so hopefully by the time the Nectar causing this ridiculous release experience wears off the game will be out.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Tags: delay, FPS, free-radical, freeradical, haze, ps3, release, ubisoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Mr.ESC @ Jan 8th 2008 9:05PM

Well I hope the yellow power ranger gets its mask fixed..oh wait is the guy from Haze.

So tell me is Haze still a Ps3 timed exclusive?

motorer @ Jan 8th 2008 9:18PM

haze has been confirmed many many many many times that it is exclusive to the PS3. there are no plans at the time for release on the 360 or PC.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 8th 2008 10:01PM

Well it's pretty much a timed exclusive, but only until they decide to port it to PC or 360 if they ever do.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 8th 2008 10:48PM

So I watched a couple gameplay vids and I'll admit it, the whole Nectar thing seems pretty cool. Having said that, the whole gameplay aspect of using nectar to turn enemies on each other can possibly get a bit repetitive. But other than that, I honestly don't see why people are getting so excited for this game. It looks like a decent game, but nothing to go all crazy about(like going and buying a console for this game).

@sheppy
I'm sure Free Radical would blush and giggle like school girls if they ever saw your post, but I'll believe it when I see it. I'm just tired of developers telling me that I'll have to make choices that'll have a huge impact on the game and affect me as the player emotionally when all it really is me choosing one of two choices(do I kill this bitch or not) and then getting one of two endings.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 8th 2008 9:10PM

Without bashing or trolling... honestly, I don't see why PS fanboys are all hyped for this game... looks too generic, too regular... ala Timeshift.

Mr.ESC @ Jan 8th 2008 9:14PM

I sort of liked Timeshift,well the demo was cool maybe I'll buy it when it hits the bargain bin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=WmwUyL6vOvY&feature=related

Now is this game multiplatform? yeah it looks generic as hell but it can't be worst than Blacksite.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 8th 2008 9:20PM

My bet is that PS fanboys are all hyped only because the 360 version was cancelled and now is PS3 exclusive. Honestly.

motorer @ Jan 8th 2008 9:22PM

Timeshift was way fun - it just got burried under all the hype and marketing of the other november fps releases.

the progression and feel of the game reminded me a lot of half life 2. the timeshifting abilities were really neat i thought.

Secura @ Jan 8th 2008 9:22PM

My bet is that Fernando would bash a PS3 exclusive game even if it got a perfect 10 across the board.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 8th 2008 9:26PM

Well, the PS3 has to even get a 90% exclusive game in sites like metacritics or gamerankings.

phihexy27 @ Jan 8th 2008 9:49PM

"My bet is that PS fanboys are all hyped only because the 360 version was cancelled and now is PS3 exclusive. Honestly."

I'm excited about this game and I own all three consoles (by no means a "PS fanboy"). Everything that I have seen from this game looks good - good online, 4 player co-op, good campaign. You Fernando are the exact definition of a fanboy, so honestly STFU.

John @ Jan 8th 2008 9:51PM

Actually, even though I know you're just a pointless ranting child, I'll have to agree with you on this one. I love my PS3 and all, but this game looks very generic indeed. It already bore me since it was announced.

colin @ Jan 8th 2008 9:59PM

timeshift blows dogs for quarters. it is broken.

Noshino @ Jan 8th 2008 10:05PM

Fernando, have you heard of Goldeneye? Perfect Dark? or the TimeSplitters franchise?

If you have, and also happen to enjoy them, then you should also be excited about this game...

ok ok, I know one can bring Blue Dragon, where those masterminds made a somewhat mediocre game, but this game thus far has shown much more to offer than Blue Dragon EVER did...

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 8th 2008 10:17PM

I'm with Fernando on this one. Why are people excited for this game again? I mean I guess this'll be an okay game, but lately people have been hyping this one up to an almost AAA status. And I ask again, why? So what if it was made by the makers of Timesplitters. The last time Timesplitters was any good was TS2. TS3 was one big pile of meh.

sheppy2.0 @ Jan 8th 2008 10:23PM

Fernando, maybe you heard of this game. Goldeneye on N64. Got your attention yet? Good, because roughly half the people who made that game formed Free Radical. Even a Ninty fan like yourself needs to realize what that means. You see, several on the Goldeneye Project thought the kills in Goldeneye were just too slow. They wanted a twitch arcade shooter and likewise, the wanted infinite replayability due entirely around players being able to expand their old game.

And so they created Timesplitters, and it was good. Damn good. The only caveat was in the fact that the game essentially had zero single player because it was designed, from the ground up, as a multiplayer only game. In fact, four player coop was a feature in this phenominal PS2 launch game. But Free Radical took the criticism to heart and worked on Timesplitters 2. A game which many consider pure brilliance. In fact, despite Red Faction 2 and Timesplitters 2 getting similar scores, Penny Arcade made the comparison that Red Faction is like getting a disease after having played TS2.

Free Radical then created Second Sight which has a cult following to this day. It was an intriguing action game which forced players to deal with their actions. One particularly famous scene is you have a choice to kill a janitor or not. Kill him and later, as you're captured, his wife starts screaming at you because of the lose of her husband. It was intriguing at the time because game design was (and still is) stuck in a period where enemies are nothing more than fodder for your murderous rage. It added a human element.

TS3 came out and was great, as to be expected. Moving onto Haze...

You know that part where I talked about the Janitor's wife? That was the experiment, Haze is the result. The game has been written from the ground up to put emphasis on how we deal with the harsh realities of life. The drug, Nectar, essentially alters the users perception. Allows them the ability to cope, mentally, with killing people, by feeding them a lie. One of the earliest ideas was that Nectar would go as far as to represent allies as shining knights and enemies as hideous demons.

The story revolves around a Nectar soldier suddenly discovering all the horrible things he's done. The general feel of goal of this game and it's emotional response is to humanize the opponents and make you really start questioning the conflict at large.

In other words, imagine if there was more to Bioshock than "Eat The Baby or Go Hungry?"

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 8th 2008 10:49PM

sheppy2.0 @ Jan 8th 2008 11:05PM

Now don't take my word that I believe this is code handed down from code to work on PS3. I'm saying certain sequences in Second Sight show that this developer was aiming for something slightly higher than the usual game. And if you read any of the developer diaries on gamasutra about this game, it shows they are actively pursuing that path.

Now, whether or not you have choice in the game is beyond my knowledge, but they do want to make you feel something. Whether they accomplish this goal or not isn't really what I'm looking at. I'm looking for how close they get.

C'mon, games have GOT to grow up eventually. How come only a few developers are actually even toying with the idea of emotional response. Film got to that point within three years of it's invention. I hate to admit it, but I do crave more epic stories or at least ones which actually attempt to reach you on an emotional level. The again, I'm a big fan of well done narratives. Which is odd considering the current game I'm making actually is a vertical shooter...

phihexy27 @ Jan 9th 2008 12:41AM

"Without bashing or trolling... honestly"

Wow, you Fernando should never follow up "without bashing or trolling" with the word "honestly." We know your intentions way better than that.

B1gC72 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:17AM

so what exactly makes a AAA title? 360 exclusivity? the game looks fun to me. not saying that it will be AAA but the premise and multiplayer look promising and it will be a welcomed addition to my PS3 library.

and dammit Fernando, we get it, you dont like the PS3. yet you post about PS3 more than i do and im a PS3 fanboy for crying out loud. can we chalk it up to closet fanboyism?

FOXHOUND @ Jan 9th 2008 7:50AM

I was hyped at first, given the 'fresh' angle of NECTAR and all story/gameplay wise; but given all the delays... meeehhh. By the time this game comes out, I'll be(obviously)all too anxious for MGS4's release.

License to ill @ Jan 9th 2008 1:07PM

Thats the same thing I say when I hear wii fanboys gush over No more hero's, or wii fit...

Guzzie @ Jan 8th 2008 9:27PM

Free Radical Design makes pretty good games in my opinion. TimeSplitters is all they have really done recently, but most of the team is compromised of people who originally worked for Rare on Goldeneye and Perfect Dark. Gameplay is awesome in the TS games.

Worst Review Ever @ Jan 8th 2008 9:39PM

When I first heard the title I was like, "Rush Week simulation ftw!"

colin @ Jan 8th 2008 10:02PM

rush week has absolutely nothing to do with hazing. you are thinking of hell week or "initiation" week.

RoboChamp @ Jan 8th 2008 10:49PM

I have to ask, who the hell is that on your avatar? I can't help but laugh at how much of a loathing hag she comes off as...

Brent @ Jan 8th 2008 9:48PM

Delays are fine when the game turns out fantastic...so this game better not suck.

sheppy2.0 @ Jan 8th 2008 10:26PM

It's Free Radical. This game was good the moment they said "we'll make it."

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 8th 2008 11:14PM

sheppy

That was the most chessy and pathetic comment in the histoy of Joystiq.

Noshino @ Jan 8th 2008 11:18PM

"That was the most chessy and pathetic comment in the histoy of Joystiq."

you have never read your comments have you?

colin @ Jan 8th 2008 10:01PM

rush week has absolutely nothing to do with hazing. you are thinking of hell week or "initiation" week.

Organic_Shadow @ Jan 8th 2008 10:21PM

They said before March, not April.

Dan CiTi @ Jan 8th 2008 10:44PM

I'll be picking this up. My PS3 needs a good FPS.

umm....hello??? @ Jan 8th 2008 11:05PM

am looking forward to this game. Sheppy--loved the background history of the developer--thanks. unfortunately, I didn't really care for TimeSplitters (however, GoldenEye64 remains a treasured hit in my game collection). am still looking forward to this though--will most likely be picking this up launch day.

lawrence @ Jan 8th 2008 11:40PM

fernando you are a jerkoff hacking on the ps3 .wait lets see what gae the 360 has in 2008 early...dmc4.....nothing!!!.oh lets see how much games ps3 has exclusive this year from early to winter and beyond...dmc4,lostplanet ,haze,kill zone 2,star wars force unleashed,gta4,mgs4 gt5 ..infamous and little big planet with echochrome...lets see game for 360...oh you still gonna renew your live contract in xhell -360.oh and you probably gonna be doing yoga with gates

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 8th 2008 11:55PM

Wow and you just proved that you're as bad as Fernando. Let's see, what do us xbots have.

How bout:
Alan Wake
Too Human
Gears of War 2
The Complete version of GTA4(oh Microsoft is going to luv throwing that term around)
Fable 2
Ninja Gaiden 2
and whatever else Microsoft is keeping hidden for 2008.

And I just love how half the games you listed will be found on the 360 as well.

B1gC72 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:25AM

yea seriously Lawrence, im with Vegeta on this one. please do some research before you post. you sound like a 10 year old jackass. and at least Fernando proof reads on occasion. ill ask that you gather your things and leave your SDF badge on the counter on your way out. we'll reissue it to someone more deserving. thanks.

Matt B @ Jan 9th 2008 9:44AM

HAHA!!

Now its the xbots turn for "wait til...(insert game)"

Superstar90 @ Jan 9th 2008 10:48AM

Dude, Lost Planet is a 1 year old port. DMC4 and Star Wars: Force Unleashed are multi-platform, and so is GTA 4.

And what is with Killzone? The first was was "meh", Killzone Liberation was bad, so what makes Killzone 2 so special? It's 5000 shades of HD grey?

Mr.ESC @ Jan 9th 2008 11:46AM

"Killzone Liberation was bad"
LOLwut?

That game is freaking awesome,is like god damn Contra in 3D and if you don't like you must be stupid(No offense).

lawrence @ Jan 8th 2008 11:41PM

and blu went through in 2008 afterall,...

lawrence @ Jan 8th 2008 11:41PM

and blu went through in 2008 afterall,...

XGM @ Jan 9th 2008 12:25AM

Woa fanboys and trolls battle it out. Honestly this game seems pretty run of the mill.

As for the battle of PS3 vs 360 up there, you guys forgot the Wii and PC. Since the Wii is selling out like hot cakes, and PC's are the best for FPS.

Alright got them covered, back to PS3 vs 360. lol

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 9th 2008 12:53AM

PC best for FPS my ass. Fuck the pc, fuck it's fanbase, fuck Half-Life, you know what fuck anything pc gaming related.

Yeah I'm fucking raging. Only PC fanboy can do that. And I hate PC fanboys almost as much as I hate Nazis.

Cyro @ Jan 9th 2008 3:29PM

Calm down Vegeta.....

I also share your opinion btw.

phihexy27 @ Jan 9th 2008 12:25AM

I should know better, but I continue to click on these posts just to find that some retarded fanboy is on here pounding their chest over nothing. Now, as I have stated before I own all 3 consoles, I see the positives that each of these offer and the negatives as well. So it's hard for me to understand all of the hate.

I agree with an earlier post that this year seems to be shaping up better for the PS3. The Ps3 has the major multi-platform releases as well as some pretty big exclusives such as: Haze, LBP, MGS4, GT5 Prologue, Killzone etc. Last year was MS's year of big releases, I just feel fortunate enough to own both consoles.

The idiots on here who refuse to acknowledge the fact that the Ps3 is a good console that is beginning to catch steam, should be slapped. They for whatever reason, act as if Sony raped their mother and spit in their face. I have a lot of faith in Sony simply based on what I have seen in the past and what they are beginning to show with the Ps3 now. If you really hate the Ps3 that much just avoid these posts, because you:

1.) Don't own the console, so this is really of no concern to you.

2.) Have no plans of owning the console, so THIS IS REALLY OF NO CONCERN TO YOU.

B1gC72 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:47AM

the most intelligent comment ive seen on this thread. i own PS3 and Wii. i dont own or plan on owning a 360. i do however give the respect to the 360 that it deserves since it is certainly selling very well. just because i dont like the stuff they offer doesnt mean everyone else has to dislike it also. 360 had a great year last year, and PS3 seems to be poised to have a similar year in '08. that's not to say that 360 doesnt still have some big titles dropping this year though.

i mean if the PS3 is so bad and you guys dont care about it, then why does it matter what we do over here? and back to this particular post, if the game looks so generic and boring, then why do the 360 people keep starting rumors about it being a timed exclusive when the devs have stated numerous times that it isnt? you dont have to be a PS3 lover, all im saying is that bashing the thing constantly only lets us know you care about what happens to the PS3.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 9th 2008 3:36AM

You know it isn't the ps3 I have a problem with, and I'll play a ps3 game as long as it's fun, I have problem with the people who makes the damn console, Sony.

Though personally the reason why I feel this game is going multiplatform is not so much because I hate sony, but this is a game that will probably go unnoticed by everyone else.