Prince of Persia 'Epilogue' DLC Delayed
The DLC, which includes a new mission set after the original game's ending, is now set to hit on March 5 on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.
The DLC, which includes a new mission set after the original game's ending, is now set to hit on March 5 on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.
Original: The first screenshots of EA Redwood Shores' Dante's Inferno, described as "Dead Space meets God of War in Hell," have arrived, providing a look at the real game.
Some concept art was provided as well, giving us a better look at Dante, that scythe of Death's that he wields, and an intriguing rendition of Cerberus.The 14th century poem turned beat 'em up hits this fall. Only a PlayStation 3 version has been confirmed at this time, but PC and Xbox 360 editions are likely given EA's history.
The $10 expansion, dubbed Beneath the Ashes, takes place after the action-adventure's initial conclusion, delivering a new level and new enemies. The second promised Xbox 360-exclusive add-on, "Lara's Shadow," is apparently still slated for March 10.
"Beneath the Ashes has passed all testing at Microsoft and has been given a confirmed release date of the 24th February 2009," reads a post from Eidos' Jason Walker on the Tomb Raider Forums. "Truly appreciate all your patience on this."
Beneath the Ashes will be accompanied by a hefty patch that resolves several issues, Joystiq adds. Those changes and tweaks are listed in full below... Read more
"On Friday, NCsoft released investor materials that showed a very broad release window for Guild Wars 2, with the explanation that release timing is still 'to be announced,'" said ArenaNet's Mike O'Brien.
"ArenaNet has never given a release date for Guild Wars 2 other than 'when it's done.' NCsoft's investor materials are a reflection of that philosophy."
Beta testing for Guild Wars 2 was originally planned to begin last year. In June, ArenaNet updated its official FAQ with news that the test would not start in 2008 as scheduled.
"I know some fans had hoped for a smaller gap between the launch of Guild Wars: Eye of the North and the start of beta testing for Guild Wars 2, but we communicated last summer that it would be some time before we could commit to any beta or launch dates," said O'Brien. "Guild Wars 2 is a large and ambitious game, and we're going to take the time to do it right."
The company now expects to see a net profit of $49.6 million, instead of the previously anticipated $132.4 million. Last year, the company posted a $101.4 million profit.
Net sales expectations were only slashed by 16.9%, to $1.5 billion.
In addition, Square confirmed that the Japanese debut of Dragon Quest IX (DS) has been delayed until July 11. The oft-delayed role-playing game was previously expected on March 28, with the push stemming from the discovery of several major bugs.
Square cited the delay of Dragon Quest IX and "the severe business environment" afflicting its offline games and Taito divisions as the impetus behind the cuts. Fellow Japanese publishers Capcom and Sega recently cut expectations due to lower software sales and the exchange rate of the weak dollar to the stronger yen.
No North American release date for Dragon Quest IX has been announced.
The publisher is known to have a James Bond racing game currently in development at subsidiary Bizarre Creations. The title, described as "Mario Karts meets Forza," was previously expected to arrive on unspecified consoles in September.
However, it's uncertain if the James Bond racing game was indeed the title that was delayed, as Activision Publishing president Mike Griffith stressed that it was postponed to avoid competing with the next Call of Duty game, suggesting an action game.
The company noted that Treyarch's James Bond: Quantum of Solace and Call of Duty: World at War may have been hurt by releasing too close to one another last fall.
That means Gearbox's shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines (PC, PS3, 360) and Obsidian's Aliens RPG won't debut until 2010, at the very earliest. Colonial Marines was originally expected last year, and was recently listed as a Q1 2009 release by Sega Europe.
Rumors that Aliens: Colonial Marines was put on hold emerged amidst layoffs, but Gearbox president Randy Pitchford quickly clarified that it wasn't cancelled. Meanwhile, Sega has remained rather quiet about the Aliens RPG since it was revealed in 2006.
The new Aliens vs. Predator title will be developed by Rebellion, which handled the 1999 PC shooter Aliens versus Predator, but had no involvement in Monolith's 2001 sequel.
No further details or platforms for Aliens vs. Predator were provided, apart from a promise it will be "innovative," with Sega vowing that more details are due "very soon."
"The additional time will allow for Ironclad's development team to incorporate feedback to date and allow for another round of beta testing," said a company representative.
Added Ironclad's Blair Fraser: "It's of paramount importance to everyone that what we're releasing is the best and most robust content we can."Entrenchment is available for preorder on Stardock's digital distribution service Impulse, for the price of $9.95.
"An unexpected technical issue means that Beneath the Ashes will not be available to download on 10th February as planned," Eidos told Strategy Informer.
The $10 expansion takes place after the conclusion of Crystal Dynamics' action-adventure game, packing a new levels and new enemies. The second promised Xbox 360-exclusive add-on, "Lara's Shadow," is apparently still slated for March 10.
"We apologize for this delay and we are doing everything we can to bring you this exciting new content for Tomb Raider: Underworld as soon as possible," added Eidos.
"The next DLC for Fallout 3, The Pitt, will be out in March," Bethesda marketing VP Pete Hines told GameSpot. "Broken Steel will be out the following month, in April."
The Pitt has players exploring a post-apocalyptic version of Pittsburgh, while Broken Steel picks up after the main game concludes and raises the level cap to 30.
The first batch of DLC, Operation Anchorage, arrived in late January, allowing PC and Xbox 360 owners of the action-RPG to experience the liberation of Anchorage for $10.
Ricitiello further stated that the RPG will arrive in the company's third quarter, which runs from October 1 to December 31.
Original: Once slated to arrive in early 2009, the PC version of BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins will now arrive alongside the console versions in the second half of 2009.
BioWare did not specify if the PC version was being held back until the console editions were completed, or if the PC release simply needed more development time.
"I'm really proud of our team, who are working very hard to make Dragon Age: Origins the biggest and most exciting BioWare game yet, and we will work to ensure it not only meets, but exceeds the expectations of our loyal audience," said CEO Ray Muzyka.
The anticipated sequel was previously expected February 20.
"The June launch combined with the break-through game the team is building gives us the perfect runway to create awareness for The Sims 3," said EA marketing VP Russell Arons. "The Sims 3 will be the original IP summer blockbuster of 2009 as we build off the success of the best-selling PC franchise of all time to create awareness."
The new release dates follow below:
Atlus further noted that the self-aware super computer now has "a hunger for manflesh" and is "plotting to take over the world," with an unnamed engineer adding that "every working day for us passes in constant fear, terror, and paranoia with the knowledge that our primary computer is now plotting to destroy us."
The $10 Pure Time Trial Map Pack is now expected to hit PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in February, with the free PS3-exclusive "Synethesia" map still coming tomorrow.
Original: Once expected tomorrow, the downloadable content for Mirror's Edge may have suffered a slight delay, according to a PlayStation.Blog post by producer Tom Farrer.
A free PlayStation 3-exclusive map for the parkour game will be released tomorrow, he wrote, noting that the full "Pure Time Trial Map Pack" wouldn't hit until early February.Publisher Electronic Arts had previously specified a January 29 release for the $10 pack, which adds seven maps and nine races to the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.
The boxed set will pack a soundtrack CD, originally intended as a pre-order bonus. Only first-run copies of the title will sport the fancy box and included soundtrack album.
"No one cares because boxes releases are awesome," reads the announcement. "Atlus quickly slips new release date of February 24th, then deftly avoids questions."
Based on the Nihon Falcom-developed PC originals, the Interchannel-helmed DS remake adds new graphics and multiplayer modes to the top-down hack 'n slash RPG.
Stardock also sent along some new screenshots of the expansion, showing off the Starbase defense platforms and other weaponry that will entrench the game's races.
Entrenchment is available for preorder on Stardock's digital distribution service Impulse, for the price of $9.95.The official UK site for the anticipated PC lifestyle simulation sequel now lists a "TBA" release date, with the official US site promising that it's "coming in 2009."
While retailer listings are often an indication of a delay, online retailer Amazon.com shows both versions arriving during the week of February 15, with GameStop and Best Buy likewise indicating a North American release in the days following February 20.
Though the company only yesterday said that Darkworks' first-person survival game I Am Alive would arrive in March, the game has been delayed, with Ubisoft noting that it "will require further development time and will now bolster the line-up for 2009-10."
Overall, 2009-10 will see Ubisoft deliver 7 titles in existing game franchises, launch 3 new brands (including I Am Alive), release 4 license-based tie-ins (including James Cameron's Avatar and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and provide additional entries in the Petz, Imagine, My Coach and PlayZone casual game series.
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