F.E.A.R. 3 retreats to May

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Day 1 Studios are certainly being skittish about the release date for F.E.A.R. 3. Today, GameSpot confirmed with the publisher that the horror-steeped first-person shooter has been delayed for a second time, with its release date shifting from March 22 to sometime in May. Previously, the game had been scheduled to arrive for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC last fall.

According to the WBIE representative, F.E.A.R. 3's delay was brought about as part of Day 1's effort to "deliver the best possible game for our consumers." The publisher issued no additional comment as to the state of the game's development.

F.E.A.R. 3 will be the third full-fledged installment in the first-person shooter series, which began in 2005. The forthcoming game will continue the franchise's storyline but will add an all-new "divergent co-op" mode that will let players assume the role of one of two characters. Players can step into the shoes of Point Man, the genetically engineered supersoldier who appeared in the first F.E.A.R. or his brother, Paxton Fettel, who has telekinetic powers.

In an effort to enhance the horror element of F.E.A.R. 3, Warner Bros. has enlisted horror film director John Carpenter to advise on development of the game. After coming to prominence with the 1978 cult hit Halloween, the filmmaker has been behind the camera on such cult hits as Escape From New York, the remake of The Thing, and They Live.

F.E.A.R. 3 preorder incentives are currently available through online retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop. For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of F.E.A.R. 3.