No 'Halo II' in 2003

[Adam Tyner]

From Bungie (http://www.bungie.net/perlbin/blam.pl?file=/site/1/news/news_detail.html&id=A72CE2BD-7BBB-496A-893A-21E608758142):


There has been much speculation regarding Halo 2's release date since we announced the game last year. The fact is we don't like announcing release dates unless we're certain we'll meet the deadline.

We're still not ready to pick a specific release date, but we do want to state for the record that Halo 2 will not ship in 2003. This game is a vast undertaking, considerably more complex than any of our previous efforts, and there is just no way to squeeze all of the necessary work into this calendar year. We know many of you were hoping to get your hands on Halo 2 during the holiday season, and we're sorry to disappoint you - but making this game as good as we possibly can is our paramount concern. Microsoft understands and supports our decision, and we hope you will too. Our ultimate goal is to make Halo 2 a great game; when the game comes out next year, we think you'll agree we made the right choice.

Of course, you'll be able to get a small taste of the glories we have in store when we show Halo 2 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in May. And there is Halo for Mac and PC, still on track for a 2003 release with several new features and content. There is lots of exciting stuff on the way for Halo fans.

As always, we invite you to check back with us here at Bungie.net regularly for the official word on all things Halo, straight from the developers.

[Perfect Cell]

Well its certainly a big blow for the Xbox. Arguably its biggest title for Christmass, and probably the biggest title amont all 3 consoles and its delayed till 04.

[Adam Tyner]

Good games aren't in short supply for any of the 'big three'.

I'm curious how its delay will affect XBox Live, as many subscribers' accounts will be up for renewal at the end of the year, when Halo II was initially rumored to be released. That's obviously the sort of killer app that could keep many of those subscribers onboard as well as attracting fresh blood. I'm personally on the fence about renewal, though this may change as more XBox Live-capable games are released.

[NachoHat]

Oh well. This just means that I won't be borrowing it from my brother this year. Compared to Star Wars:KOTOR, Spike Out X-treme, PSO, Psychonauts, Fable, True Fantasy Live Online, Ninja Gaiden, Virtua Cop 3, and Shenmue 3, this is small beans to me.

[Zapages]

I hope the game comes out perfect for the Xbox whenever it ships...

Jinjo that was a very fanboy like of comment against the Xbox. Only game sheesh... :rolleyes:

[The Dork Knight]

I'm kinda upset that this is happening, but the longer the wait, the better.

- The Dork Knight

[Kaner]

Awwww nuts. I guess it's back to the gratuitous fun of DOA volleball.

[UltimateGirFan]

Damn! That's all I can say.

[Kaner]

I think enough people are waiting for Halo 2 that it will sell well any time it comes out.

[Shnay]

[My comment got moved to the spin-off thread, but it really belongs in here. I deleted the other one, and I guess I'll just repost in here.]

While this delay is bad for business, seeing as how it'll miss the holiday season, it's definitely what's best for the game. The first one was definitely a bit rushed, with the repeated environments and limited enemies. But it looks like they're going to do all they can to take their time with the second game.

I can't wait to see the what Bungie comes up with. Now that they have the first game's engine already built, the characters already established, gamer and industry feedback from the first game, Xbox Live up and running, and all the time they need, this should be something really incredible.

[The Jinjo]

Holding it over a little while will make it better, just like Nintendo did with The Wind Waker.

[UltimateGirFan]

I thought Halo was a great game. And the Covenant and Marines were quite funny.

[turbomog007]

What Halo 2 not out this year :eek: O well more time to perfect my Halo skills before I go online I guess ;)

[cross blues]

Those guys are insane.. it's a shame more game companies aren't as dedicated to creating good games as they are. Still, there aren't many good games at all for Xbox and I was only keeping it for Halo2, so either it'll be going in my closet or be traded in for a better system (any other system).

[Skiptastic]

Yes, it is insane to withhold your game so that you can turn it into as perfect as you can. What the hell are they thinking? Why would any company do this? I mean, Rare does it constantly, and look at how their games turn out. Really dumb.

[Orlis_baby_grrl]

Hey, I didn't even know the game was coming out and I play Halo almost everyday, and now your telling me that they're delaying it's release? :rolleyes: what is up with this world! :confused:

[Zapages]

look at what happened with Prince of Persia 3D, they should have waited till the spring of 2004 to fix their errors with the game... I think its a good idea to with hold Halo 2.

[Skiptastic]

Precisely.