A lot of gamers, including those at Team Digit, are set to be disappointed with the announcement that the launches of three of the most highly anticipated games of 2009 have been indefinitely postponed. BioShock 2, Max Payne 3 and Mafia 2 will not meet their pre-November release dates.
Distributor Take Two released a statement on Monday noting that these three games, along with the western shoot-’em-up Red Dead Redemption, will be launching in the “first half of fiscal year 2010” – which the company defines as November 2009 to April 2010. There is still a chance that the games might see a 2009 calendar year release, but it is highly unlikely.
Take Two CEO Ben Feder said: “The decision to shift a release date is never an easy one, especially with a product as highly anticipated as BioShock 2. We felt that it was essential to invest the additional time to ensure that this title will deliver what its fans expect and deserve. As a result, we will now be launching sequels to several of our strongest franchises – including BioShock 2, Mafia II, Max Payne 3 and Red Dead Redemption – during the next fiscal year.”
“We believe the result will be a more compelling consumer experience and a better performing product in the marketplace,” said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two.
Talking to Eurogamer, Feder also laid rest to any rumours that a new, multi-platform Grand Theft Auto game will be releasing in 2010.
“Our goals for fiscal 2010 include operating the company on a profitable basis without the release of a new Grand Theft Auto multi-platform release,” he noted.