Funcom delays Age of Conan

The oft-delayed action online role-playing game put back once more; now coming March 2008 after "analysis of recent beta feedback."

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures has been pushed further down the calendar yet again. The massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the universe created by Robert E. Howard was originally due to muscle in to the market in 2006.

It was then delayed to the first quarter of 2007, before being delayed to the second quarter of 2007, and then being delayed to October 30. Gamers will perhaps not be surprised to learn that it is once again being delayed and is now due for release on March 25, 2008.

Funcom's CEO Trond Arne Aas said that the company regretted the delay, but saw it as a necessary one. He said in a statement, "After careful consideration, and analysis of recent beta feedback, we believe that the new release date is in the best interest of the gamers, our company, and our owners. We are fully committed to delivering games with absolute quality, and in the current MMO marketplace, we know that only the best is good enough to truly succeed."

For more information on Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, read GameSpot's previous coverage.

140 Comments

  • FallenOneX

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 9:18 pm PT

    A new hint & some scuttlebutt I overheard picked up. CANCELLED.

  • Tapionpoika

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:36 pm PT

    delay, delay, delay and then RELEASE !!! ...and the game sucks.
    Funcom you're doing it wrong !

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Aug 15, 2007 4:10 pm PT

    If this game keeps getting pushed back, Spore will be out before it does!

  • packernation31

    Posted Aug 14, 2007 8:11 pm PT

    Dude not cool...

  • QBall

    Posted Aug 13, 2007 1:41 pm PT

    OMG is this Shadowbane 2?

  • RK-Mara

    Posted Aug 13, 2007 10:07 am PT

    Oh the irony. I bought my PC for AoC a year before AoC is coming out.

  • Shiftfallout

    Posted Aug 13, 2007 8:04 am PT

    Actually, microsoft has thrown fits in the past about multiplatform titles coming out before on other systems before their own. I wouldnt be suprised if microsoft has done it again, wanting a joint release for both systems instead of the PC first, that way they do not lose money.

  • NeoNavarro

    Posted Aug 13, 2007 12:18 am PT

    I can only imagine the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears thats goes into making a video game. Thats why I try to be calm when it comes to news about game delays. But, lemme tell ya it's not easy...

  • ilikegodalot

    Posted Aug 12, 2007 10:05 pm PT

    this reminds me of Team Fortress 2 (the first one, the one that was going to be good)...

    The more a game is delayed the more things they implement, and when they step back at the end of the day they realize what a total piece of **** they made, this kind of things causes games to be canceled.

  • Nawras

    Posted Aug 12, 2007 10:01 pm PT

    That's good because from the videos I can see that the game still needs a lot of polishing

  • Deano

    Posted Aug 12, 2007 5:00 pm PT

    I thought you people would have learnt by now game releases are ALWAYS ETA's, so it's not a big deal when they don't make the supposed date.

    I think we'd all agree we'd rather get a product that had spent more time in in the development fine tuning stage than being rushed out with tons of bugs just to meet a deadline.

  • vaejas

    Posted Aug 12, 2007 4:18 pm PT

    MMOs can't afford to be second-rate on release. Devs now need to astonish the subset of players that will give over their lives and monthly allowances to something other than WoW and the half-dozen A-titles going strong. Now that people can compare this to Tabula Rasa, the market's getting a bit crowded again.

  • Xelioth1

    Posted Aug 12, 2007 6:52 am PT

    Merl, that's impossible. in this case. they thought the game was finished and that they were just polishing off the glitches. then come beta, they realized that the players were having an aweful time with the controls of the new combat system that's making conan what it is. when something like that is messed up, it 's gotta be fixed, so they delayed the game. it'll be the same with ANY game that finds problems in Beta stage. nothing anyone can do about that.

  • Merl57

    Posted Aug 12, 2007 5:32 am PT

    Ok ok ok ok ok OK! Game release dates should not be given at all anymore I am sick and tired of it , Spore, Huxley, Enemy Territory, Crysis, Lost Planet, and every new game to come out has the release date WRONG and I am sick of reading fictitious dates or ones that are changed, from no on can they only give Real release dates that are 100% sure cause it is pissing me off.

  • august_king

    Posted Aug 12, 2007 4:36 am PT

    Noooooo! Game release delays suck! At least they are taking the time to fix any problems with it and improve the game. 2008 is going to be an awesome year for gamers. MGS4, AOC, GTA4, Mass Effect, Fallout 3, etc.

  • SinceThe80s

    Posted Aug 12, 2007 3:29 am PT

    um, gamespot this is a gaming site, i don't want to be harrassed with movie ad's for WAR and Rush Hour 3. Why don' t you guys "keep it real" and give us gaming news and not pop up ad's that get turned off instantly once thy pop in in our face?

  • SmArTaLeC1321

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 10:47 pm PT

    Now this game really will be perfect and definitely the best MMO. Five months isnt so bad i guess just to make the game a lot better.

  • Xitarus-Kol

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 10:20 pm PT

    Lies leads to Hell ....

  • savage1903

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 9:53 pm PT

    oh come on, not another delay damn i couldn't wait for 30/8 and now they delayed it even more, i hope come up with the best and not ruin the new things that this game will offer. and that Blizz wont buy them :/

  • dethtrain

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 5:29 pm PT

    They didn't listen during Anarchy Online. So its good that they finally listened for this game. Theyre learning

  • Prtofdacrowd

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 4:44 pm PT

    Its nice to see that Funcom can listin to the Beta testers and hopefully bungie will!!!

    But im not interested in Conan what so ever so meh

  • FearlessVampire

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 2:43 pm PT

    I completely agree with a lot of the stuff I am reading below.
    Its great that Funcom are listening to the feedback from Beta Teasters.
    This is a teatament to the passion and drive they have to make the best game possible.
    If you think about it, they know they will take a lot of criticism for the delay but they are willing to sacrafice that in order to make the game the best that it can be.
    Rock!

  • FuriaRi0T

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 1:59 pm PT

    Well, Age of Conan is still one of the coolest ideas I've seen for a game in a long time, MMO or not. Maybe they decided to delay it a bit long to fully integrate dx10, with crysis coming out in November. Maybe they decided that waiting would give players time to play the new games coming out, and give them time to get tired of them and play something new.

    Either way, I'm still going to play this game.

  • CodeMunki

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 6:35 am PT

    Launch day is make or break for MMOGs. Funcom learned that lesson with the nearly unplayable launch of Anarchy Online. They made the right decision here.

  • Freaken_Feline

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 3:57 am PT

    awww that sucks

  • Xassk

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 3:41 am PT

    I just pre-ordered it like 2 days ago too......well at least they might make the attack animations look a little better or something. At least it won't be like Anarchy Online and be buggy at launch. I hope.

  • abadgirl84

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 1:58 am PT

    So many delays..it's good that Hellgate: London is coming this year..hope that they will not anounce a delay too,i'll be really angry then!

  • devilscry

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 12:26 am PT

    seems like the gaming industry is starting to seem like chess. SUre companies say a games being pushed back for one reason or another, but it really is about strategy. Your release date can make or break your game, regardless of content. They're wise to delay the game until next year. they can iron out some kinks, and they don't have to go up against games like Halo 3, Guitar hero 3 and Rock Band just to name a few. theres so many games coming out that 4th quarter, if you didn't think you're game was where you wanted it, the fans didn't think so either and you were goin up against some heavy weights....a strategic retreat is very wise. I'm interested in this game and hope it does well, so get on it guys, and make it good!

  • wolvie1313

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 9:00 pm PT

    lame...weak

  • RockySquirrel

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 7:12 pm PT

    People take the stabilty, performance, and content of WoW for granted. Vanguard learned the hard way with early release... it had no way to functionally compete.

    Other MMOs in development have the bar set very high now. I doubt that any will ever be completed to compare with WoW.

  • mr_killer_man

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 6:20 pm PT

    Well since it's coming out next year I'll have plenty of time to save up the money needed to rent or buy it. So you most of you!

  • NoneOther

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 6:03 pm PT

    Even though I initially was rather disappointed, I have now come to terms with the delay. With the extra five months of development the game will certainly be better at launch and since the reason behind the delay was at least partially because of a steep learning curve, I'm actually gratefully. Thinking back at AO, who by no means was a bad game, had great depth but at the cost of a incredibly long and sometimes painful learning process. Now that the beginner areas are being reworked along with a slight revamp of the combat system (read all about it in their official forums), we will se a more beginner friendly game at launch. Some might say this is not such a big deal, but with AO it indeed was.

    Just so you know the xbox version will not ship simultaneously with the pc version in march. It's coming some months after that.

  • ppau08223

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 5:33 pm PT

    surprised? whose surprised?? we're frustrated thats what. 4 delays and 2 years late makes people angry and frustrated gamespot not surprised!!

  • uberjannie

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 5:08 pm PT

    Well, I just hope they dont lose their investors because of this. If they do, they wont be able to launch the game, because funcom dont have any income xD

  • axia_777

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 4:45 pm PT

    Personally I think it is really encouraging that the reason that they held it back is because of Bate Tester Feedback. That is GREAT. The Beta Testers told FunCom that some things sucked and FunCom actually listened. SUPER!!!

  • NatchoKing

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 4:36 pm PT

    id rather have a great game later thean a good game now

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 4:34 pm PT

    It is good that they actually listen to feedback and are willing the delay the game that much for the sake of quality.

  • Agulf

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 3:56 pm PT

    They shouldn't regret the delay. I hope they take all the time they need on this game, lest they end up with a launch like AOs. That is, if they want this game to succeed at all. All the stuff I've been hearing lately has me interested - specifically real time combat & fully voiced/adventure game like dialogue... If the game will feature voIP and cross-platform compatibility that would make it even better. But as said, I'll pass my judgement on it when it comes out. But right now it sounds really good.

  • Expo_Smacko

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 3:49 pm PT

    Looks like I am getting Warhammer Online first

  • E3BigC

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 3:46 pm PT

    I don't know if Im just missing what is good about this game, but I don't see anything special here, especially when I look at Warhammer Online, which has me psyched. But Ill let it come out and then make a judgement on it.

  • Gladestone1

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 3:41 pm PT

    Lets not forget..Ao was a damn good game..It still is played today...It may have started buggish..It ended up as one of the best first space genre mmorpgs...So say what you may about ao its still a great game...

    Im a tad jealous to you guys who played the beta for hellgate..Ive been waiting for a invite on that myself sigh..Ah well guess ill have to wait till oct 31st to play hellgate )...
    Let the creaters fix whats wrong though..They want to make a good game if it needs to be pushed back...Than so be it...

  • CannibalFerox

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 3:38 pm PT

    Good, given their reasons. It's better to get it right than just to get it out. Like many here have said, there's plenty of games coming out to keep me occupied while waiting.

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 3:33 pm PT

    Hooray for vaporware! What's next? Alan Wake delayed?

  • kennykaos317

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 3:29 pm PT

    If this ends up anything like Funcom's Anarchy Online, don't expect the delay to necessarily be a good one. AO was delayed multiple times, and at release it was still buggy. It took months before AO was playable. Then again, perhaps they have learned their lesson and will not release AoC until it is ready.

  • runstalker

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 3:15 pm PT

    I wouldn't lump Hellgate: London into the "MMO" category, having played the beta. It's more like "online action RPG" in a 3D/FPS-ish Diablo sense than typical MMO template. And it's quite nice.

  • DukeEdwardI

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 2:23 pm PT

    ah, this delay is good news to me. 1) it'll make the game even better and more optimized and 2) it frees up more time to play the other great games coming out this fall/winter!

  • Netherscourge

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 2:20 pm PT

    Looks like Hellgate: London will be the only new MMO coming out for the rest of the year now...

    EDIT - the only new GOOD MMO coming out the rest of the year

  • Matty_gamer

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 2:16 pm PT

    i dont know how good this game will turn out to be .... but hell Funcom is a hell of a developer i hope Ragnar Tornquist is involved in the game some how... heck he is responsible for the best games ever made by Funcom i.e. The Longest journey and Dreamfall !! and to be honest i care less about Age of Conan or for that matter i dont care at all but i want a sequel to dreamfall and i want it fast..!

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