It looks like Sony got one over on Microsoft getting one of the biggest gaming franchises delayed for the Xbox 360, Unreal Tournament III.
Originally listed as an 11/1/2007 release (and still is on EBGames), Sony said yesterday in their press conference yesterday that UT3 was coming “exclusively for Playstation 3 and PC this year”. That set alarms off in the minds of Unreal Tournament fans expecting to get their hands on it this November.
The delay was made official today with Epic’s press release in which it states:
There are a few factors that may be the cause of the delay. The first being the blast radius of Halo 3. Even though Unreal Tournament has a huge following, Epic may be worried about sales on the Xbox 360 coming only five to six weeks have Halo 3. The other possible cause for delay is that both the PC version and the Playstation 3 version will support user generated content. From what we understand so far, the content can only be created on a PC but can/will be made available to Playstation 3 gamers via the Playstation Network. Perhaps the delay is for Epic and Microsoft to work out some method of getting that user created content into the hands of Xbox 360 gamers as well. We’ve seen this emerging on Xbox 360 with Forza and PGR4 will also have some level of support generated content support. So it looks like Microsoft is testing the waters and deciding the best way to support user generated content on it’s console. The last possible delay could be that Epic is integrating Windows Live code into Unreal Engine 3. They may be trying to get the kinks worked out of cross platform Vista/Xbox360 gaming.
Although the delay is a big disappointment, fans can at least pick it up for PC if they don’t want to wait.
The full press release:
Originally listed as an 11/1/2007 release (and still is on EBGames), Sony said yesterday in their press conference yesterday that UT3 was coming “exclusively for Playstation 3 and PC this year”. That set alarms off in the minds of Unreal Tournament fans expecting to get their hands on it this November.
The delay was made official today with Epic’s press release in which it states:
“the highly anticipated and award-winning Unreal Tournament 3 will be exclusive to the PLAYSTATION® 3 computer entertainment system and PC in 2007. Thanks to the open network of the PLAYSTATION 3 system, Unreal Tournament 3 will also be the first game to feature robust user generated content including multiplayer maps, custom game modes and much more. Developed by North Carolina-based, Epic Games Inc., Unreal Tournament 3 is scheduled to be available in November.”In fact in the entire press release, there is no mention of the Xbox 360 at all !
There are a few factors that may be the cause of the delay. The first being the blast radius of Halo 3. Even though Unreal Tournament has a huge following, Epic may be worried about sales on the Xbox 360 coming only five to six weeks have Halo 3. The other possible cause for delay is that both the PC version and the Playstation 3 version will support user generated content. From what we understand so far, the content can only be created on a PC but can/will be made available to Playstation 3 gamers via the Playstation Network. Perhaps the delay is for Epic and Microsoft to work out some method of getting that user created content into the hands of Xbox 360 gamers as well. We’ve seen this emerging on Xbox 360 with Forza and PGR4 will also have some level of support generated content support. So it looks like Microsoft is testing the waters and deciding the best way to support user generated content on it’s console. The last possible delay could be that Epic is integrating Windows Live code into Unreal Engine 3. They may be trying to get the kinks worked out of cross platform Vista/Xbox360 gaming.
Although the delay is a big disappointment, fans can at least pick it up for PC if they don’t want to wait.
The full press release:
MIDWAY, EPIC GAMES AND SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA ANNOUNCE UNREAL TOURNAMENT® 3 AS EXCLUSIVE TO PLAYSTATION®3 SYSTEM AND PC IN 2007
First Game To Offer Robust User Created Content on PLAYSTATION 3 system
CHICAGO, IL – July 11, 2007 – Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, world renowned developer Epic Games Inc., and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that the highly anticipated and award-winning Unreal Tournament 3 will be exclusive to the PLAYSTATION® 3 computer entertainment system and PC in 2007. Thanks to the open network of the PLAYSTATION 3 system, Unreal Tournament 3 will also be the first game to feature robust user generated content including multiplayer maps, custom game modes and much more. Developed by North Carolina-based, Epic Games Inc., Unreal Tournament 3 is scheduled to be available in November.
The technology behind Unreal Tournament 3, Epic's world class Unreal® Engine 3 will be fully optimized for the PLAYSTATION 3 system allowing game developers to take full advantage of the power and creativity that the engine offers.
"Midway is extremely excited to release Unreal Tournament 3 on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and PC," said Steve Allison, chief marketing officer, Midway. "We expect Unreal Tournament 3 to set the bar for what a first-person shooter and next generation game can truly be."
"We feel very confident that Unreal Tournament 3 will continue to deliver on Epic's promise to gamers to develop only the highest quality titles using our cutting-edge Unreal Engine 3 technology," said Mark Rein, vice president and co-founder, Epic Games. "The game takes full advantage of the power of the PLAYSTATION 3 system, and Unreal Tournament 3 will for the first time allow users to create robust user created content, known as "mods", on the PC version and play them on the PLAYSTATION 3 system. We're extremely excited about this and we feel this will bring a level of creativity, innovation and replayability not previously seen on home consoles."
"We expect Unreal Tournament 3 to be one of the most innovative and defining titles of this next generation," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We are extremely pleased that gamers will only be able to experience Unreal Tournament 3 on the PLAYSTATION 3 system later this year."
About Unreal Tournament 3
Unreal Tournament 3 marks the return of the world's premiere first-person shooter to the PC, and its debut on the PLAYSTATION 3 system. Unreal Tournament 3 unleashes the full power of Unreal Engine 3, taking graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level. Players engage in intense and hyper-real battles with other human players online, or against Unreal artificial intelligence that sets the industry standard. With the most powerful futuristic weapons and vehicles available, this is FPS action at its best!
More information about Unreal Tournament 3 can be found online at www.unrealtournament3.com
