Painkiller: Hell Wars in limbo

[UPDATE] DreamCatcher is "extending the development time" of Xbox port of demonic PC game; new release date set for Q3 of this year.

Xbox fans hoping this bit of news would be a "Painkiller: Hell Wars goes gold!" announcement will be sorely disappointed. The game's publisher, DreamCatcher Interactive, today revealed that the game is not going to make its previously announced street date of June 6.

The game apparently needs a bit more work under the hood, and DreamCatcher was careful not to use the "D-word." In a statement, the company says it is "extending the development time" for the game, "in order to ensure that the game meets the high standards of its predecessor."

DreamCatcher's Global Product Marketing Manager Byron Gaum promises the extra time will help the game achieve its potential. "Too often, titles are rushed to market that fall short. DreamCatcher is committed to making Painkiller: Hell Wars a must have title for the Xbox..."

"Extending the development time" is no strange phrase to fans who have been waiting for the Xbox version of Painkiller. The game was expected to hit Microsoft's current-generation console in 2004, but has been repeatedly pushed back.

The original PC version of Painkiller was a surprise hit when it was released in April 2004. Hell Wars combines the original title, tweaks and additions included in the various patches, and aspects of the Battle out of Hell PC expansion. The main premise is the same: Players start out the game as the recently deceased Daniel Garner, who must fight the demons in Hell as they invade Purgatory.

Painkiller: Hell Wars is rated M for Mature and will retail for $29.99. For more information, check out GameSpot's coverage of the Xbox version or read a review of the PC version.

[UPDATE] Though no new release date was announced in today's statement, a rep from DreamCatcher contacted GameSpot News and said Painkiller: Hell Wars is now scheduled for release in Q3 of this year.

44 Comments

  • y0bob GameSpot staff member

    Posted Aug 21, 2006 11:19 am PT

    looks like another game to blow stuff up. COOL!

  • darksword1123

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 8:32 am PT

    I'm cool with them pushing it back if they say they are going to make it a must have title for the xbox.

  • PainKiller3231

    Posted Jun 4, 2006 4:57 pm PT

    OMFG WTF!! THIS SUCKS!! This was suppost to come out after tomorrow!! ARRGHH!

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jun 4, 2006 9:18 am PT

    i didnt really like painkiler

  • gundamwing

    Posted Jun 4, 2006 12:41 am PT

    GAHH! sorry Dream catcher... you lost my money

  • claymanjuba

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 4:18 pm PT

    lol...i agree with painkiller_25....but yah, with all these delays, hell wars better be amazing

  • theKSMM

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 9:14 pm PT

    I slipped up and got the Special Edition PC version of this game for $10, thinking that I was getting a game with expansion packs included at a value price. Little did I know that the SE is just the first few levels of the full game...what a rip.

  • stanleyCG1_2

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 6:09 pm PT

    Please god dreamcatcher, scrap Painkiller for the PS2 (it just won't work) and get working on the sequel for the PC and 360!!!

  • stanleyCG1_2

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 6:04 pm PT

    Painkiller is quite possibly one of the best games ever made, i mean it just kicks ass!!!!

  • Disgaeamad

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 10:04 am PT

    This game looks very nice, another reason to buy an Xbox

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 6:16 am PT

    looks possibly casual anyways.

  • ewjim

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 12:41 am PT

    I don't like Painkiller and i don't like xbox too!

  • John_of_Fire

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 6:37 pm PT

    It would do better as a forty dollar 360 game. It just looked too old on the demo. I would have liked to have tried multiplayer since thats where I put most of my time. Hopefully it comes out and does well for Xbox users. Too bad it probably won't be BC. Thanks Peter Moore

  • alberto2045

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 6:33 pm PT

    XBOX?????

  • cyprus646

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 6:01 pm PT

    Gona go the way of star craft ghost.

  • PainKiller_25

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 4:30 pm PT

    yeah painkiller is cool
    but the song is cooler yeah

  • killyou44

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 4:24 pm PT

    I am angry i'm still stuck with current gen systems and good new games are starting to become more difficult to find, expecially on x-box. I was really looking forward to this one having played the pc versian which was a blast. This game better be good after all these damned delays!

  • gameloverx

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 4:02 pm PT

    well i could hold my money until the new Painkiller arives

  • reece590

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 3:00 pm PT

    They are changing it to be a 360 game...I will bet you anything they are...

  • ebonyflame

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 1:24 pm PT

    Been waiting for this game for quite a while. Would have gotten the PC version but I have yet to upgrade my PC to any respectable playing specs in regards to its performance. Would never run smoothly on my current PC.

  • Night_Frost

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 1:12 pm PT

    Just unleash the pain before I unleash some hurt

  • polsci1503

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 12:33 pm PT

    I'm just about through caring about this game. I've been waiting for 2 years for it's release and by the time it finally makes it out I'll have a 360 and be moving on.

  • SNKrock

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 12:02 pm PT

    360 better be able to play it.

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:41 am PT

    Painkiller was a big letdown for me... but it is too bad that it's being delayed for XBox users.

  • timts

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:26 am PT

    they should forget about a xbox release and focus on a xbox 360 release

  • lil_d_mack_314

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:25 am PT

    awww thats weak!

  • FelixAndrews

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:21 am PT

    This is probably due to the summer slump as much as anything else. If they push it back until after September, they're bound to sell more units...

  • Flop_DMC

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:10 am PT

    "in order to ensure that the game meets the high standards of its predecessor." the problem with painkiller pc is that they didnt support it very well. there are still many bugs in the game.

  • lageasy311

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:08 am PT

    .

  • benihya

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:04 am PT

    this game is good and does not require much, I played on full with ATI 9700 ($50 video card). so why wait for he Xbox when you can play it NOW

  • knightman

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:02 am PT

    i have to say i was moderatly excited about this game... umm yrs ago....
    but now.... forget about it... any game that has been pushed back .. for 2 yrs....
    what a waste of time... cmon guys its just a FPS ... it can't be that damn hard to create....
    sorry but i think it will suck ass when it comes out....
    but that's just my opinion.... im off to play some hitman blood money on 360...

  • nuttybar

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:58 am PT

    Its riduclous how far pushed back its been.

  • doomsoth

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:58 am PT

    The more they add to make this a better game, the more I want to play it. lol

  • bossjimbob

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:57 am PT

    They should do what Ubisoft did with Far Cry Instincts Predator and move it to 360 with the original Xbox version packed in with better graphics. Just a suggestion.

  • TheJuggla17

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:56 am PT

    This is really bad news. I was hoping for a summer release so i wouldn't have to worry about buying this near the end of the year when Wii, Playstation 3 and tons of Xbox 360's games are released.

  • ubj007

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:54 am PT

    Good news.

  • decebal

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:53 am PT

    whatever

  • keiblerfan69

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:43 am PT

    This game is gonna be one of those games that is done but won't make any profit for the company so they cancel it and right it off for taxes. Like Valve did for Half-Life on the DC.

  • Kuruption84

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:40 am PT

    By that time will anyone care? After playing the demo a few months ago, I forgot all about it.

  • RPGRPGRPG

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:37 am PT

    Maybe they are making BS extra content you have to buy on Xbox live like Bethseda did for Oblivion, or maybe it is being preped to put on the 360 since the xbox is about to go the way of the buffalo.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:32 am PT

    Will they ever release it...........

  • juanfraino

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:32 am PT

    cool game! but why the xbox only (b/c i dont have one), o well pc version for me

  • Benny_is_here

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:31 am PT

    Painkiller's cool. I have nothing else to say on this matter Hehe...

  • Metroid_16

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:26 am PT

    first! i think
    wow, that was a good game, but why are they pushing it back? I hope its stilll gonna be good

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