Skip to Content

AOL Games

delays posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Max Payne 3 delayed until late 2010

In a new financial earnings and projection report, Take-Two has dished out news of Max Payne 3's release. The game's been pushed back -- we like to imagine in incredibly slow and dramatic fashion -- to the company's fiscal Q4 2010. In real time, that translates to a three-month period spanning August–October, 2010. The game was previously pegged for an unlikely Winter 2009 release.

Based on what we've seen of Max Payne 3 so far, we'd say that bumping back its release is a good move. Max is in serious need of some Jazzercise and a decent dry cleaner, so this extra time will hopefully get him into better shape to handle the countless waves of bad guys he'll be indiscriminately shooting in the face.

Left 4 Dead 2 delayed in UK, due 'by Friday morning'

We'd usually say it's a good thing when a zombie invasion gets postponed, but not when we're talking about Left 4 Dead 2 releasing in the UK a couple days after the rest of the world. According to Valve's own L4D2 blog, "copies of the game are still arriving" across the pond, with assurances from the developer that it will "have everyone in the UK playing Left 4 Dead 2 by Friday morning." Wait -- everyone in the UK? Whoa now guys!

While Xbox 360 owners and PC gamers who still buy physical copies of software are out of luck, Valve says that everyone in the region who pre-ordered L4D2 via Steam can play it right now. Of course, those left waiting can pretend they're fighting to survive the scariest of all Left 4 Dead campaigns: "Delay of Game" (tagline: "Patience never killed anyone -- until now!").

Dragon Age: Origins slaying PS3 on November 17 [update]


Update: Well, folks, looks like you won't have to wait longer for the PS3 version: Dragon Age: Origins will be available on PS3 day one, November 3.

Original: Bioware is set to unleash Dragon Age: Origins on Xbox 360 and PC on November 3 (November 6 in Europe), but PS3 players will have to wait just a bit longer. EA's David Silverman confirmed to Joystiq at a recent NYC EA event that the PS3 version would release on November 17, which is in line with the "later in November" designation EA submitted when the game was delayed in August. While retailers (see: GameStop, Amazon and Best Buy) have been listing November 17 as the date for the PS3 version, as recent as October 13 -- the date of the latest Dragon Age press release -- EA was sticking with "later in November." As for the game's official website, well, it seems to insist that November 3 is the date for all platforms. Yeah, we don't blame you if you're feeling confused.

Today, Joystiq can officially confirm November 17 as the date for the PS3 version of Dragon Age: Origins. When asked what has caused the minor delay, Silverman told us Bioware "wanted more time to get [the] PS3 [version] to 'Bioware standards.'"

We're not sure what those two weeks will do for the game, but while you're waiting, why not earn yourself some phat loot? Just sayin' ...

Trine coming to US PSN today; Frozenbyte answers the obvious question

What happened? Frozenbyte has reiterated that Trine will really, for reals be available on PSN today. The PSN puzzle-platformer was supposed to be out in July, before the PC version, but it failed to meet either of those deadlines. So why is it three months late?

Essentially, as Frozenbyte has said, the delay can be attributed to stringent testing for a console release, combined with a long wait for approval of every test -- with just a dash of Sony marketing strategy. Frozenbyte's Joel Kinnunen has described the issue in a lengthy forum post.

"The reason why the US version is so late is a bit of a similar situation as the overall delay," Kinnunen wrote. "We had the US version done around the same time as the European version and I think the publisher submitted it swiftly after hearing the European version was 'ok.'" After that delay, Kinnunen believes, it was Sony's desire to "give the game a good window with regards to other PSN titles/content" that kept it off the US PlayStation Store until today.

Sega actually confirms Alpha Protocol delay

Despite seeing some semi-official evidence of an Alpha Protocol delay from Sega's website, and some circumstantial evidence in the fact that it didn't make its original release date, nothing official has been said from anyone at Sega or Obsidian regarding the too-sneaky-for-its-own-good game. Until today!

Obsidian's Feargus Urquhart has come forward to speak on the delay. "We're very happy that Sega has made the decision to hold back the shipment of the game in order to give it the best chance at becoming the publishing success that we at Obsidian and our partners at Sega are striving for," Urquhart told CVG.

Sega Europe managing director Alan Pritchard, the first person at Sega to officially acknowledge the Alpha Protocol release date change, added,
"By pushing Alpha Protocol to Spring 2010, we can ensure that the game will be released in the best commercial release window possible and will also receive the focus this true AAA title deserves."

While we question Spring 2010's status as "the best commercial release window possible" (given the preponderance of publishers of other games that decided the exact same thing), we're relieved that we can finally stop haranguing that Gamestop salesperson about our pre-ordered Alpha Protocol that still hasn't arrived.

Runnin' Late with the Devil: Guitar Hero Van Halen delayed on PS3

If you have a PS3 and Guitar Hero 5, you might have noticed that, well, you don't have your free copy of Guitar Hero: Van Halen. While copies of the freebie are shipping out for the other systems, all PS3 owners are getting right now is an apologetic email.

"Unfortunately, we made a printing error on the package of Guitar Hero Van Halen," the email explains. "Fortunately, we caught and remedied the error prior to sending your disc. Our effort to ensure a completely positive customer experience has resulted in a slight delay in shipping your copy of the game."

Activision promises to begin mailing the game out this week. The good news, we suppose, is that everyone affected by this delay has Guitar Hero 5 to play in the meantime. If you're an insider and can tell us what the printing error was, we have to know. Did the title say "Guitar Hero: Van Helen?" Was it rated "E" for "Eddie"?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Konami not silent about Silent Hill: Shattered Memories' European release date

Somehow, Konami managed to provide a release date for Silent Hill: Shattered Memories while still not clearing up any of the recent confusion about the release date. How? By announcing a release date for Europe. Eurogamer reports that Konami will release the re-imagined survival-horror game on Wii, PS2, and PSP in February 2010.

While the Eurogamer article references the uncertain American release date, no answer is given. Either the release date is being moved to 2010 worldwide, or Europe has the usual delay after the American date. The uncertainty is by far the scariest aspect of this game! Either that or the nightmare world that alters itself to more directly involve your worst fears. One of those.

Hooray! UK retailer deems Q4 release schedule 'sensible'


Speaking with GI.biz, UK retailer SimplyGames.com's director Neil Muspratt deems that the fourth quarter's software release schedule is the "most sensibly divided" one he's seen in 20 years. He believes that Modern Warfare 2 scared a significant number of games out of the Q4 arena, but still thinks the quarter will be important in terms of increasing the install base of all three major consoles following the recent price drops.

Muspratt, stating the obvious, notes that the benefit of console sales being the focus for the rest of this year is that "there will be a wider audience for software" in 2010. He adds that "great products ... sell through regardless" of the time of year. We totally agree with Muspratt that Q4 2009 has an incredibly sensible release schedule. However, the first half of next year is probably the most ridiculous we've seen in 20 years.

Retailers move Silent Hill: Shattered Memories release date again

Konami has yet to offer an official release date for Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, and the unofficial release dates keep shifting identities like some kind of haunted village. After Nintendo dated the game on its release schedule, we thought we could safely expect the game in November, but retailers have changed their dates once again.

GameStop now expects to have Shattered Memories in stock on December 8. GameFly, whose dates tend to differ from official ones by a few days, lists the Wii game as being available November 26, but the PS2 and PSP versions on December 31. Wal-Mart's dates put the Wii version at November 24 and the PlayStation games on Christmas Day (which is probably not the real ship date, on account of there not being any mail delivery that day).

Basically, the game is coming out later. It's not in stores right this second. That's all we can say with any degree of certainty.

[Via Kotaku]

March is the latest release date for Gray Matter

The last release date given for Jane Jensen's comeback adventure game, Gray Matter, was "2009," following delays in 2007 and 2008. However, the hot new trend for games coming out in 2009 is not coming out in 2009, and publisher dtp entertainment has adjusted its schedule accordingly.

According to a new press release, the publisher now plans to release Gray Matter in March. Eventually, we suppose, one of these release dates is going to be the real one, but we have no way of knowing which until the game comes out. At least progress is being made: dtp announced that voice work for the English version is complete.

[Via Eurogamer]

Sega: Alpha Protocol 'out now,' er ... 'Spring 2010'

While Sega of America's public relations team still hasn't said one word regarding an increasingly inevitable delay, Sega of America's website has finally declared that Alpha Protocol will not begin its mission until 2010. The site displays the Xbox 360 and PC launches for May 6, 2010, while the PS3 version has been left at "Spring 2010." This is a not-so-slight change from what the publisher's website showed this morning, when the release information stated the espionage RPG was "out now" -- a strange pronouncement for frustrated consumers, venting on developer Obsidian's forums, and retailers we'd spoken to.

Sega's update now fits with what several retailers have suggested about a 2010 release, including GameStop, Walmart, Amazon and GameFly.

Under Siege bumped to Spring 2010, adds motion controller support

Apparently, Seed Studios was intrigued by the PlayStation Motion Controller demo that was shown off during E3 -- particularly the part that showed how the peripheral could be used in a real-time strategy game. The developer recently announced that the release of its upcoming PSN strategy title Under Siege had been bumped to Spring 2010 in order to incorporate the sphere-tipped device into the game's control scheme.

Seed will also be working to add a few more features to the game before its dealyed launch, including a replay editor, photo mode, and picture-in-picture video chat. That last part is unfortunate -- as with all methods of motion control, we don't really want to circulate footage of us flailing about with a colorful wand grasped in our oafish claws.

Gallery: Under Siege

Assassin's Creed 2 PC delayed to 2010

Ubisoft has tweeted that the PC version of Assassin's Creed II has been delayed to 2010. Specifically, the game has been moved to the ever-so-crowded first quarter of 2010. According to the necessarily brief announcement, Ubisoft has decided to delay the PC version in order to secure "a bit more time for the dev team to deliver the best quality game."

Considering Ubisoft's own Yves Guillemot stated that early 2010 is "looking pretty crazy" and warned that some Spring 2010 titles may be delayed again, this is all very amusing. Unless you've been waiting for the PC version of Assassin's Creed II, of course.

Borderlands PC release bumped to October 26

Though Xbox 360 and PS3 owners will be able to get their hands on Gearbox's CO-OP-FPS-RPG on October 20, PC gamers will have to go without Borderlands for six long days. Speaking to IGN, a 2K representative explained that the release of the PC version had been pushed back to October 26 (and October 30 for overseas retailers) in order to allow the developer to continue "optimizing" the game.

We don't really know what that means, but the fact that our PC kinsmen will be playing a version of Borderlands with six extra days of polish behind it has instilled us with a blinding jealous rage.

Blur crossing finish line in 2010


Blur won't be making its scheduled November release, as Activision has officially pulled the arcade racer from the track, pushing it toward a 2010 launch. According to Activision CEO Mike Griffith, the move is being made to "fully optimize the vision [Bizarre] set out to create for Blur including a distinctive and groundbreaking multiplayer mode that will appeal to a broad audience." The vision for Blur!

Activision still has plenty on its plate this holiday season with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and DJ Hero. Then again, with the early part of 2010 as packed as it is with pushed releases, who knows what delays are still lurking.

Gallery: Blur

Joystiq Features





Featured Galleries

Again (DS)

Again (DS)

Beaterator (iPhone)

Beaterator (iPhone)

Dragon's Lair (iPhone)

Dragon's Lair (iPhone)

Alien Breed Evolution (12/4/09)

Alien Breed Evolution (12/4/09)

Ace Combat Xi (iPhone)

Ace Combat Xi (iPhone)

Jet Set Radio Future Wall Graphics

Jet Set Radio Future Wall Graphics

New Games This Month: December 2009

New Games This Month: December 2009

Star Wars: The Old Republic (12-03-09)

Star Wars: The Old Republic (12-03-09)

Muscle March (WiiWare)

Muscle March (WiiWare)

 


Team Joystiq

 
Chris Grant
Editor-in-Chief, Email
James Ransom-Wiley
Managing Editor, Email
Ludwig Kietzmann
Senior Editor, Email
Andrew Yoon
East Coast Editor, Email
Randy Nelson
West Coast Editor, Email
Justin McElroy
Reviews Editor, Email
Justin Glow
Developer, Email

Joystiq Podcast

New episodes every Friday! Now playing: Joystiq Podcast 115, for Friday, Oct., 30.



Archive | RSS | iTunes

Autoblog

Urlesque

Download Squad

Engadget

Massively

Asylum

WoW

Engadget HD

Big Download