Xboxist

Bioshock 2 Delayed Until 2010

What is it with developers suddenly missing their release dates? First, the Quantic Dream CEO reported that Heavy Rain would not be released on the PS3 this holiday as expected. Then an independent analyst predicted that Activision would likewise miss its 2009 release window on Starcraft 2. Now, Take Two has stated that it will delay the release of BioShock 2 into the first quarter (Winter) of 2010.

In a financial conference call today, Take-Two reduced its fiscal 2009 outlook to reflect several factors, most significant of which is the movement of the launch of BioShock 2 from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2010, in order to provide additional development time for the title.

Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two, stated, "We recognize that our revised outlook for the balance of fiscal year 2009, due to both internal and external factors, is a disappointment. That said, we concluded that moving the release of BioShock 2 into fiscal year 2010 was the right decision for the product. We believe the result will be a more compelling consumer experience and a better performing product in the marketplace. At the same time, near term retail conditions have proven to be more challenging for our business than the assumptions built into our prior outlook. We remain confident in the long term potential for Take-Two's business, and our ability to capitalize on that potential through our exceptional creative talent and solid balance sheet."

Ouch. Hopefully this additional development time pays off for the publisher, and Bioshock 2 doesn't disappoint when it does finally arrive. At this rate, the amount of competition in early 2010 will be more intense than during the traditional holiday season!

This is a screenshot from multiplayer deathmatch in Bioshock 2. We're serious.

[Source: Take Two]