The reason behind the Killzone 2 delay is anti-climactic

by Nick Doerr { May 21st 2008 at 12:30AM }

Some of you may be wondering why Killzone 2 was pushed back to February of 2009. It's not because the game is glitchy and needs extra work, or isn't performing up to the devs standards. Replying to comment #44, it seems SCEA looked at the Fall 2008 lineup and decided that there were enough high-profile titles (and two other shooters: SOCOM and Resistance 2) competing for holiday dollars. Killzone 2 was the one chosen to move into its own space next year. The decision was purely managerial. The game's fine -- the delay is pretty lame, but at least we know the title is doing just fine.

Tags: guerrilla-games, killzone-2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

paul @ May 21st 2008 12:36AM

that sucks

Dahk @ May 21st 2008 12:41AM

Eh its a smart decision. But then the problem lies in the fact that... they could've easily delayed the other two rather than Killzone 2 which was touted to be some insane killer app since E3 2005.

Then again, everyone's probably desensitized from the delays lol.

Paul (PSN: heypaul) @ May 21st 2008 11:01AM

I agree. They should've pushed out Resistance 2, since there's already been a Resistance this generation. But that would make too much sense.

wisconsinista @ May 21st 2008 12:20PM

As a launch owner I disagree. We had a serious lack of titles for what seemed like an eternity. We should be swimming in great games, not expect one per quarter. Non ps3 owners should be inundated with reasons to buy, and 1 game a quarter is laughable. KZ2 was promised to us eons ago, in that time Resistance has released 2 games.

Jason @ May 21st 2008 12:29PM

But then they made the comment at Sony Day about how Insomniac always delivers on time.

Lars @ May 21st 2008 5:49PM

Or how about this idea, delay none of them and make MORE games to release Q1-2009.

mahunoy @ May 21st 2008 12:43AM

lame

Greg Pace @ May 21st 2008 12:45AM

So there they says killzone can't stand up to the compotition??? Hell I way more exited for kz2 the r2.

Jove @ May 21st 2008 1:06AM

...¿?...lulz...

Dehshizknight @ May 21st 2008 1:09AM

I think Killzone 2 will be better but, you gotta admit, Resistance 2 is pretty humongous!!!

I think they'll get more lasting appeal from Killzone 2 if they have it last. Save the best for last, right? Lol.

Noshino @ May 21st 2008 1:43AM

they didn't say that, they said that they don't want their games to compete with each other, and since R2 already has a track record they decided to put it for the 08 holiday lineup...

R5 @ May 21st 2008 12:45AM

Good riddance! I mean that in a good way. It's bad enough I need to take out a loan just to afford all the PS3 AAA titles releasing in Q3, not having to worry about one less title is just fine with me. My wallet is also grateful.

Gaucho @ May 21st 2008 12:49AM

I would have preferred that they push SOCOM or Resistance 2 back to February.

kevin @ May 21st 2008 12:55AM

yeah i could care less about those other two KILLZONE 2 FTW WOO .

Mr.ESC @ May 21st 2008 2:21AM

Those are different teams.Nothing to do with Guerilla also I don't have anything against 1 goty per year.

Also Socom will pwn.The PSP games were great and the them pure win.

Nick @ May 21st 2008 12:59AM

I'm glad that one of the 27 awesome titles coming out this fall was pushed back. It's a shame, though, that it had to be Killzone 2. I would have been fine with Resistance 2 being pushed back. This is probably a good sign, though, because Sony thinks Killzone 2 will bring in enough sales to compensate pushing it back.

Niko_Bellic @ May 21st 2008 4:10AM

Twenty-seven? I wouldn't make you list them all. I'm not that kind of person. I'll just have to guess.

Nabiel @ May 21st 2008 12:54AM

Now they have more time to improve so i'm expecting a better game regardless the progress.

adolson @ May 21st 2008 12:55AM

I think it's good. I want Resistance NOW and if this gives them more time to polish Killzone even more, then it might be even more impressive.

Last year sucked. Do you not remember? Dozens of amazing games all launching in the latter months... It'd be better to have one high-profile game per month, rather than pack them all in right before Christmas. I have to spend money on gifts for my family at that time, not games for me, so I have to end up waiting until February anyhow to afford all the stuff I want.

The less clumped together the releases are, the better. It'd be nice if a good game actually came out in the summer, for once. July, especially, is usually pretty barren. Put something in there.

Popfrogs @ May 21st 2008 10:36AM

June is getting Metal Gear. Konami has the summer all to itself from what I've seen.

Da @ May 21st 2008 12:57AM

Thanks Captain Obvious.

Jetamo @ May 21st 2008 1:06AM

This idea fails.

If released now, before Christmas...

You can see where I'm going, right?

Da @ May 21st 2008 1:51AM

no..

Jetamo @ May 21st 2008 2:54AM

Graaagh..Christmas PS3 buyers?

Le duh?!

Jove @ May 21st 2008 1:08AM

good really. gives them more time to work with it and make it better. seriously this is one let down they cannot afford to have... at all!

Brett from Atlanta @ May 21st 2008 1:13AM

If they keep polishing and polishing til February, then Killzone will be even better. Then it might actually earn the title of Halo killer. I hope they take advantage of this delay and make the game even better than it already is.

JaffaBoy @ May 21st 2008 8:31AM

Are they going to keep polishing it then, or just get a release candidate ready for 2009?

They arn't going to want to further delay it and any extra work needs testing etc etc and puts risk on a fixed date.

Mr.ESC @ May 21st 2008 2:19AM

Well I'm finishing b*tch slapping Anticrawl in the DBZ post in xbox 360 fanboy.

If you ask me time will come anyway and there are so many good games to look foward I could tolerate a delay on this game even if it means waiting to Holiday of 2009 as long as it delivers awesomeness.

JimmyD @ May 21st 2008 5:12AM

They everyone ps3 owner to buy k2 and r2 and releasing so close isn't very sensible as well as there also being call of duty 5 out before christmas and trying to sell other non-fps games like little big planet - I can understand why they've done it and February is normally a dead time for games.

anthonyjh @ May 21st 2008 5:24AM

Being one of the few (?) people that absolutely loved the first KZ, I'm pretty bummed about the delay. But at least now MGS4 has some more time to dominate my free time. Friends be damned.

Seb @ May 21st 2008 5:42AM

Would be alot smarter to move back R2 or SOCOM, I think more people would buy a PS3 for KZ2 than any other title during the holiday.

Ves @ May 21st 2008 6:09AM

I hope they keep polishing up the graphics in the meanwhile.

Nick @ May 21st 2008 6:27AM

Why couldn't they just put Resistance 2 out in Sep and Killzone 2 as a Dec release?

LJ @ May 21st 2008 8:04AM

I guess 2009 is gonna be so bad for the PS3 that they needs to push back 2008 games. SAD! I want as many games i i can right now.. :P

I'm sure 2009 is also gonna be great... is just that delays suck! Do not announce a release date if you are not sure you are really going to deliver.

Now... What about sucker-punch and INFAMOUS???

anthonyjh @ May 21st 2008 5:28PM

KZ never had a release date.

LJ @ May 22nd 2008 12:42AM

Really? according to SCEA it was supose to be released on September 2008... hmmm thats a date.

If there was no release date, then i don't understand how can there be delay.

marauder800 @ May 21st 2008 8:04AM

Sounds like a good decision to me.

LJ @ May 21st 2008 8:04AM

"they needs" lolz

Seriously, what about INFAMOUS?

DubbedinEnglish @ May 21st 2008 8:23AM

I'd say th reason we didn't SOCOM or R2 delayed is because both franchises have had a proven track for most. Killzone 2 on the other hand has the most riding on it, it essentially is the game that embodies what the PS3 that do (for better or worse) . So it does make more sense to allow Killzone 2 to take that extra time to make sure everything is in top shape, because it will be the title most scrutinized from the public.

Dom @ May 21st 2008 8:27AM

This is dumb. Why not push a new IP this Holiday? R2 doesn't need a holiday bump since its established. Damnit Sony WT F!! Oh and Socom? Well thats a PSN game so I dont see how they came up with that right there. They should have delayed Socom and R2 and gave us KZ2 this Christmas.

Galley @ May 21st 2008 8:41AM

The movie and music industry shifts release dates all the time.

Jetz @ May 21st 2008 8:46AM

This doesn't suck at all, this only confirms that PS3 AAA titles will continue on to the next year.

Also more time means the word about the game will continue and more people will buy the game, also more time for advertising the game.

Cornerman8 @ May 21st 2008 9:22AM

I'm glad to see the game is coming along well. If they pushed it back to February and its purely due to schedule placing, I think its fine (as opposed to being buggy and being held back). If things are going well, then its more likely the game can be further polished (and maybe new features added). While I do think R2 and K2 can co-exist in the same fall schedule, I do think it wise to stagger games on a month to month basis. R2 will likely be huge, and if you want people to get hooked into multiplayer, then you've got to allow room for that. Plus you'll have LBP in Oct. You need breathing room for people to create, and get lost within that title. And not to mention all the big games we'll be seeing from 3rd parties (some of which I think will get pushed into 09) Alot of those games will be having multiplayers and such (FarCry, CoD5, Ghostbusters, Bad Company, etc, etc). and that's just the shooters. if any of those "blow up" it'll be an even tighter schedule. With Killzone really trying to push the PS3, it makes sense for it to slide out. There's a danger to that though, a big game this Fall could set a new "standard" and if Killzone falls behind it'll be viewed harshly as a result. Logically though, it should be the one to slip into '09. It just better not slip again.

JoJo @ May 21st 2008 9:34AM

That makes sense.
And thats a nice move!

Phantom309 @ May 21st 2008 9:55AM

Looks like a couple of my Christmas gift cards will be going toward K2, that is if K2 has the scrotus to compete with Resistance2.

Hopefully I'll have my first level of Little Big Planet created by Quarter1 of 09.

Too many games, too much money, too little time....(If they would knock these games down to $39. I would buy more of them - as it is only the top tier apps get my cash - it's a monopoly I say!)

O.K. - I'm done rambling, thank you's will be accepted in advance.

Dadidito @ May 21st 2008 10:09AM

This isn't something to be happy about. Doesn't say much about the confidence in there game. Normally the big games will go out there and stand there ground. Can't be good. On the other hand. Resistance 2 is guarnateed to rock if it scared off Killzone 2.