Alpha Protocol delay to let game fulfill 'AAA potential'

In late September, retailers began listing the espionage role-playing game Alpha Protocol as shipping next summer--over half a year past its announced October 6 release date. When launch day arrived, Sega's official site began listing it as arriving in "Spring 2010," confirming the delay.

Now, after several weeks of studied silence, Sega is commenting publicly on Alpha Protocol's move into next year. Unsurprisingly, it's being described as a good thing.

"Since the inception of Alpha Protocol, Sega has recognized the potential for the game to establish itself as an AAA title," said Masanao Maeda, Sega of America's newly installed COO and president. "We've worked in conjunction with Obsidian Entertainment in making the decision to move Alpha Protocol’s ship date to spring 2010 to ensure that we have the best game possible at launch."

Obsidian CEO and Black Isle Studio veteran Feargus Urquhart echoed those comments, expressing gratitude that Sega extended Alpha Protocol's deadline.

"Alpha Protocol is a new take on the RPG genre, and from day one the team has been working to make Alpha Protocol a truly unique game for players to experience," said Urquhart. "We're very happy that Sega has made the decision to hold back the shipment of the game in order to give it the best chance at becoming the publishing success that we at Obsidian and our partners at Sega are striving for."

While cheery on the surface, Sega and Obsidian's relationship was put under serious strain earlier this year. In February, the publisher indefinitely delayed Obsidian's unnamed role-playing game based on the Alien film series, before canceling it outright in June.