Brothers in Arms not deploying until 2005

Gamers can cross another game off their holiday 2004 shopping lists. Ubisoft confirmed to GameSpot that Brothers in Arms, Gearbox's WWII shooter, will not be released until "early 2005." The news was initially announced at a press event in Paris yesterday, where Ubisoft was showing the game to the European press for the first time.

Ubi reps told GameSpot that the new plan is to have Brothers in Arms deploy simultaneously for the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 2. However, they would not comment on speculation that the delay was due to development issues with the PlayStation 2 version of the game. The spokespeople did stress that the new date was not a delay but rather a "finalization" of the heretofore unset release date.

Brothers in Arms made quite an impression when it was displayed at this year's E3, even warranting a visit by Steven Spielberg. The game will combine first-person-shooter action with Full Spectrum Warrior-style tactics as it follows a platoon of American GIs into France during the invasion of Normandy. Founded on a true story, the game will feature re-creations of European locales, based on aerial reconnaissance and combat photography. GameSpot's latest preview has more information on Brothers in Arms.