Ubisoft reneges on Haze release date

78 Comments by Alexander Sliwinski Mar 27th 2008 12:30PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

Forget what Ubisoft announced yesterday about Haze clearing for a May 22 release; now the game's release is back to the full month of May. It's become so convoluted that we can't keep Haze's release date saga straight anymore, but at least there are firm answers about the game's PS3 exclusivity ... oh, wait.

We're starting to wonder if the marketing department at Ubisoft isn't on its own form of Nectar (the psychotropic drug in Haze). It really shouldn't be this hard to craft a message on one game's release date and exclusivity.

Tags: delay, free-radical, freeradical, haze, ubisfot

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Fernando Rocker: Mar 27th 2008; 12:35PM

This game will be in the same category as TimeShift and Area 51.

Generic all the way...

Jacksons: Mar 27th 2008; 12:38PM

I liked Area 51 :( (the one on ps2/xbox/pc, that is)

Vidikron (FU): Mar 27th 2008; 12:39PM

/generic Fernando comment

xFenixKnightx: Mar 27th 2008; 12:44PM

Where you been all morning Fernando? Just waiting on this Haze story to crap on it right? lulz!

I keed I keed!!

You make me laugh because on just about every Haze story you are the first to comment. Im gonna check it out either way. We shall see, Im still Hazy on the situation.

Fernando Rocker: Mar 27th 2008; 12:46PM

Fenix... I know you are this hardcore shooter gamer... heck, you are probably the most shooter gamer here in Joystiq (always playing shooters on Live).

What do you think about this game?

WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus: Mar 27th 2008; 12:52PM

There you are Fernandos
Where were you on the more shovelware for the Wii thread?
My guess is try as you might, you could not think of a positive way to spin that news eh?

Maybe you need a new pair of Mario slippers, or perhaps Zelda underpants?

xFenixKnightx: Mar 27th 2008; 12:52PM

I think Im NOT going to be buying it. In the beginning I was really hyped for this game. But for some reason Ive lost alot of interest. It went from a must play to a maybe Ill rent, like Timeshift. I still do have some interest though. Unfortunately you are right. It has generic all over it =( and with NO achievements. Hahahaha!

PS

Ive never played Timeshift and never will. Generic shooters with gimmicks FTL.

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284: Mar 27th 2008; 12:55PM

"and with NO achievements. Hahahaha!"

Don't worry, the 360 version will be out soon enough. I won't be picking up either version though.

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284: Mar 27th 2008; 12:55PM

"and with NO achievements. Hahahaha!"

Don't worry, the 360 version will be out soon enough. I won't be picking up either version though.

Fernando Rocker: Mar 27th 2008; 12:59PM

KrazyKen

I was delivering some prints...

Andrew: Mar 27th 2008; 1:15PM

Both Area 51 and Time shift were FUN shooters. WAY MORE FUN than I had with many more games last year that were getting all those "high scores". They are generic but mindless entertainment that doesn't challenge with ridiculous platforming garbage or stupid puzzles. You just know how to play it, and that's all that matters. And framerates were good (on Xbox360) so you are allowed to actually play. Way better than Crysis for example. If I want a "challenge", I show up for work (which I do every weekday anyway) instead of repeating the same crazy timed jumping sequence and reloading 50 times to get it "just right" and pass to the next "generously" spaced checkpoint, or fight the "advanced" AI where you fight against 20 guys with super aim and better weapons and armor because it's more "realistic" (sure, in real life you'd be able to defeat them easy too). If I want FUN, the last thing I need is "innovative" game with low framerates (on overclocked quad core + 8800GT) or a platforming game with no voice acting and 80's style plot (i.e. one paragraph plot) and synth music. If I want socializing, I play a coop shooter (yes, Army of Two works just fine) with a FRIEND, not hop online to play with god knows who (most likely some crazy teenagers with way too much time on their hands and youthful reflexes). If I have to get stressed out playing games and not even get paid for it, then what's the point?

Bring more of those, I say. I'm getting Dark Sector after work and all those reviewers giving games like Timeshift or Blacksite Area 51 7 or 6 can stuff it.

Yeah, so Half Life is better. So what? It lasts 10 hours after which you're going to to WHAT? Play it again, and again, and again? Just because there were some good shooters last year it doesn't mean that a competent game like Time Shift shouldn't be played. Some of us *gasp* have jobs and can pay for more than one or two games a year. Sure, COD4 is great but it lasts all of 6 hours after which you're going to do what? Play with total strangers online? Ugh, no thanks.

That said, I'm pissed off with this date shuffling crap. I will wait for a few months for Haze to drop in price, specifically to punish the publisher. If I got

Myke: Mar 27th 2008; 3:53PM

@ Fernando

Why are you always negative? Do you have anger issues or molested as a child, i mean, Damn! What the hell! I think everybody gets the hint that you dont care about this game or the PS3. Just let it go!!!

Anyway, HAZE has always been a game that I wanted to get because of the devs and the "nectar" gimmick. Its something different and very interesting to me. Anyway, with all the confusion with this game release date(S), regardless of it being an PS3 exclusive or not, the curiosity for it is fading fast. FRD/Ubisoft need to get there shit together with this game. They must be puffing on some HAZE cause they dont know what the hell is going on with this game!

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284: Mar 27th 2008; 12:37PM

Ubisoft needs to realize that people are going to stop and have already stopped caring about this game. I was interested when it first came out, but now the only new news about it is that it's been delayed, then a couple days later it gets delayed again...I could care less about this game, by the time it comes out I will be playing MGS4, Killzone 2, Final Fantasy XIII, GT5 and pretty much any other big title that has been announced since the PS3 released.

Jacksons: Mar 27th 2008; 12:37PM

"May" is good enough for me.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Mar 27th 2008; 12:39PM

Ok that's it. Fuck this game. And fuck you Ubisoft. FUCK YOU!!!

ComicShaman: Mar 27th 2008; 12:41PM

Slow, deep breaths, man.

Jtenma: Mar 27th 2008; 12:52PM

No, he has every right to be made, Ubi is just a big fuckup. Hell, even I could manage a release date better than that!

Someone should and will be fired! IT WOULDNT BE SO BAD IF THEY HADN'T JUST STATED A MAY 22ND RELEASE!!!

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284: Mar 27th 2008; 12:57PM

But does he have every right to be mad?

WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus: Mar 27th 2008; 12:44PM

"We're starting to wonder if the marketing department at Ubisoft isn't on its own form of Nectar (the psychotropic drug in Haze). It really shouldn't be this hard to craft a message on one game's release date and exclusivity."

Alexander, they HAVE to be smoking or injecting something. All the evidence you need is in those movies they release from time to time.
Awesome comment Alexander. Well done indeed.

xFenixKnightx: Mar 27th 2008; 2:45PM

Now I dont know why, but I love seeing Killjebus and Fernando fight.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Mar 27th 2008; 10:01PM

Ok I'm going to blow your minds...

Fernando and Killjebus.

Same person.

Think about it.

Hyams: Mar 27th 2008; 12:44PM

Maybe this means it'll be released May 1st. ^_^

Or is that too optimistic?

whistlepig: Mar 27th 2008; 12:45PM

this whole release thing is just beyond retarded anymore .

deaftly: Mar 27th 2008; 12:50PM

May 2010

whistlepig: Mar 27th 2008; 4:42PM

lol

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284: Mar 27th 2008; 7:24PM

Nice job stealing Jay's comment from yesterday and adding a year.

NATO_Duke: Mar 27th 2008; 12:51PM

Well, May 22 to May in general doesn't seem like a big deal to me. That adds another 9 days at worst - I would think people could wait that long without a losing interest if they already had it.

koehler83: Mar 27th 2008; 12:52PM

Nobody cares anymore.. Lets just ignore Ubisoft and their crap. The game is just Duke Nukem Forever on drugs.

If it ever does hit shelves, we all know thats where the game will stay. Lets just all laugh at Ubisoft and tell them not to bother at all.

Jacksons: Mar 27th 2008; 12:58PM

Ubisoft is just the publisher this time. It's Free Radical Design's project, and they've turned out pretty decent games so far.

Fernando Rocker: Mar 27th 2008; 1:02PM

Jacksons

So, you think the game will be good because is Free Radical?

So, if you are backing this game because the developers name, then, why Sony fanboys are all hyped for Killzone 2, calling the game Halo killer? Guerilla past games sucks.

Vidikron (FU): Mar 27th 2008; 1:14PM

@Fernando

Except you're wrong. Killzone: Liberation was a good game. And be realistic, people are excited about games for different reasons. Sometimes it's because they simply think a game looks good, regardless of the developer, and sometimes a game gets the benefit of the doubt because of the developer's history. I think Haze falls into the latter category for many people. You can't claim that people have to look forward to all games for the same reason.

Jacksons: Mar 27th 2008; 12:56PM

Funny how "May" is automatically assumed as meaning "later than 22nd". In all honesty, it's hard not to assume that, seeing how many times it's been pushed back. Here's hoping for May 1st!

erac3rx: Mar 27th 2008; 1:00PM

The team developing Haze is just making a lot of stupid choices. How good can we expect it to be when the devs can't even decide when they want to have it done?

I can see why they went from May 22 back to 'the month of May' though (despite the obvious stupidity of ever announcing May 22 then). Why? Because it doesn't take a genius to understand that releasing on say May 30th with MGS 4 due 2 weeks later is complete idiocy.

Synner: Mar 27th 2008; 1:06PM

Damn Wasn't someone mentioning on a different thread how There aren't delays for the PS3?

xFenixKnightx: Mar 27th 2008; 1:38PM

N Duke

I see you still have that quote saved, good stuff! +1

name123: Mar 27th 2008; 1:18PM

Halo 3 was delayed 18 months:

"The day Sony launches [the new PlayStation], and they walk right into Halo 3." - Bill Gates, (when the PS3 was supposed to be launched Spring, 2006).

Microsoft uses pre-rendered/fake images on xbox.com:

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/viewer.aspx?productId=1084&assetTypeId=1&shotId=1
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/viewer.aspx?productId=1075&assetTypeId=1&shotId=1

Microsoft sucks. Xbox 360 owners/Sony bashers are just too dumb to see it.

NATO_Duke: Mar 27th 2008; 1:32PM

Wow - that seals the deal. All 360 owners should cry in shame.

Yeah, no.

Besides - when you are trying to lay down the law, remember those of us here who saw you post this trash:

"This is why PC gaming and the Xbox 360 will never be mainstream. PC/360 gamers are all hardcore, stupid, worthless, low-life, hostile trash who all have this pathetic "l33t" attitude towards gaming"

Superstar90: Mar 27th 2008; 1:34PM

Yes, because we are too blind to see ratings and sales... Sony fanboys are just pissed off because they don't know how to react to not owning the top selling system for the first time ever.

Cyro: Mar 27th 2008; 1:38PM

Pwnd! lolz.

xFenixKnightx: Mar 27th 2008; 1:38PM

N Duke

I see you still have that quote saved, good stuff! +1

NATO_Duke: Mar 27th 2008; 1:43PM

Just remembered it when I saw his name.

Knight Marquise: Mar 27th 2008; 1:48PM

name123 - your comment is an utter failure.

Nato - +10

SugarDaddy: Mar 27th 2008; 1:49PM

Haha, I love how you call 360 owners "Sony Bashers". Aren't you bashing Microsoft right now? You're just a microsoft basher, ya big hypocrite.

Now don't get me wrong, Microsoft sucks in a lot of ways, but the 360 is a fine gaming machine. You can't deny it.

The PS3 is also a fine gaming machine. It just doesn't have any games. So really it's just a $500 Blu-Ray player.

Get over this bullshit people! The PS3 and 360 can coexist!

deaftly: Mar 27th 2008; 2:18PM

WOW, after reading name123's comment history, I think we have a candidate for the darwin awards.

ThePremierAssassin: Mar 27th 2008; 3:31PM

LMAO

The typical stupidity and arrogance of a sony fanboy...

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Mar 28th 2008; 12:06PM

And people like name123 are the reasons why fanboys need to have their consoles taken away from them, and their fingers individually broken.

bigd7387: Mar 27th 2008; 1:44PM

So when will Ubisoft come clean? Are the delays because of the PS3 being hard to design for like many other programmers have stated. I like my PS3 but I think the Sony hype suckered me again, like with the PS2.

SugarDaddy: Mar 27th 2008; 1:46PM

Are there any gameplay movies of this game? All I've seen are pre-rendered trailers? I don't know what to expect. And really I can't get too excited about another shooter -- especially a PS3 exclusive one.

Vidikron (FU): Mar 27th 2008; 2:17PM

There's several around. I've watched a couple of trailers and a developer commentary that had footage of the actual game. I got them off the PSN store, but they are likely floating around online.

SugarDaddy: Mar 27th 2008; 2:29PM

Cool. I checked out the dev diary on GameTrailers. It actually looks pretty cool -- almost like the Halo of the PS3. That seems to be why it's a PS3 exclusive. It looks almost like a cross between Halo and Crysis. Anyway, it looks fun. I can't really knock it, but I'm not going to write home about it. It's just another shooter with some new gimmicks.

They better get this game out before GTA rolls in -- not that I own a PS3 to care anyway...

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