PS3 SmackDown! smacked down until late '07

By Tim Surette, GameSpotPosted Jul 24, 2006 10:28 am PT

THQ's "goal of delivering highest quality content" delays first PlayStation 3 installment of wrestling franchise to Q4 2007--will other games follow?

When THQ announced WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2007 in March, many wrestling fans sized the grappler up as a PlayStation 3 launch title, as that version was scheduled to launch alongside the console this fall. Unfortunately, those same gamers were given a serious unitard wedgie today, when THQ revealed that the first PS3 entry in the series won't hit the mat until late next year.

"Consistent with our goal of delivering the highest quality content across all next-gen platforms, we have decided to postpone the debut of the Smackdown series on PlayStation 3 until the holiday 2007 timeframe," a THQ rep told GameSpot. Luckily, only the PS3 version was affected by the delay, and the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PSP versions remain on schedule for a November 2006 release.

THQ appears to be approaching developing games for the PS3 cautiously in the console's formative years. Company CEO Brian Farrell has stated that developing for the PS3 and Xbox 360 was more difficult and expensive than the other next-gen console, the Wii. "One of the things we like about [the Wii] is the development costs...on the Wii are nowhere near what they are on the PS3 and Xbox 360," he said just before E3.

Back in May, Bloomberg cautioned that several games originally slated for release as PS3 launch titles could fall off the 2006 calendar simply because dev kits weren't sent to companies soon enough. Indeed, Farrell told the news service that the reason its big-license game The Sopranos wasn't in development for the PS3 was because "it was too risky" and "made no sense."

Such trepidation isn't limited to THQ. Sega of America president Simon Jeffrey warned, "There certainly will not be a lot of [PS3] titles available [at launch]." For the record, Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Kaz Hirai has stated that he believes there will be approximately 15 launch titles available when the PS3 goes on sale in the fall.

However, postponements such as the Smackdown delay aren't limited to the PS3. The Xbox 360 faced similar problems when it went on sale last fall, when highly anticipated launch titles such as Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Dead or Alive 4 were all postponed due to quality-assurance issues.

109 Comments

  • MartinMan

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 10:20 pm PT

    I know this article is a bit old but I'm still pretty dissapointed that I couldn't get my hands on a next gen version of SvR2007 on my ps3.

  • theone86

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 1:04 pm PT

    When the next-gen console race began Sony was predicting it would win because of its game titles, Blu-ray technology, and quality assurance. Now, not only do they have a reduced lineup of games, but they have lost many of their best PS exclusive franchises. GTA and SVR are being released on 360 and the MSG and Final Fantasy series branched onto the gamecube in the last console generation. If Sony loses MSG and FF they have no franchise games such as Mario or Halo. Not only that, the Wii's new gameplay mechanics seem like more of a selling point than Blu-ray. Sony has argued that PS3 will be the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market and that you'll be paying a little extra for better quality, but you can get the same quality at a reduced price on the 360 and a more diverse experience on the Wii. That being said, the PS3 is nothing but a cheap Blu-ray player and an overpriced game console, especially if you only end up playing a couple of key games which might be ported or sent to other sytems completely.

  • davidboggsm2006

    Posted Aug 2, 2006 8:44 am PT

    u pathetic earthlings u will all bow down to the power and leadership of ZIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • davidboggsm2006

    Posted Aug 1, 2006 8:18 am PT

    you all should just get the xbox 360 i mean come on with MASS AFECT
    FABLE 2 HALO 3 SDVR 2007 AND SO MUCH MORE YOUED BE BETTER OF JUST GETING THE 360 IF SOMEBODY GETS THE PS3 THEN THEIR JUST A PS FAN BOY THATS TO STUBURIN TO ADMITE IT AND THEY WILL PROBALY READ THIS AND GET MAD AND SAY BAD THINGS TO ME BUT THAT WONT CHANGE THAT OR MY BAD SPELLING SONY IS ONE OF THE MOST OVERRATED OVER PRICED CHEAP ALWAYS BRIKS STUF.IT MAY BE A OPOINE BUT IT MAY BE FACT.WOW THE PS3 HAS A TAD BIT BETTER GRAFIX WOW I COULD CARE LESS SONY IS ALWAYS TRYIG TO GET MONEY FROM EVERY ONE OH PS FAN BOYS I WIN U LOSE I WIN U LOSE U LOSE I WIN U LOSE I WIN U LOSE MUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I WIN YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS I AM THE MAN I AM THE MAN I RULE WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HA HA HA HA HA HA HA AHHHH IS LITTLE PS FAN BOY ANGRY IS HE GO NA POOP DIPIE MUAAAA I RULE XBOX HAS ALWAYS RULED HA HA HA HA I AM JUST THAT FREAKING GOOD I AM BETTER THEN PS FANS I RULE XBOX RULES FOREVER ECHO IN BACK ROUND REPEAST IT.AND JUST TO LET U KNOW IM NOT GOING TO READ ANY OF THE MESSAGES THAT ANYONE POSTS ABOUT ME SO I RULE U SUCK I WIN ALL TEH XBOX FAN BOYS RULES I AM TEH HEAD CHEIF HAVE A NICE DAY. P.S PS FAN BOYS YOU CANT SEE ME

  • DanC1989

    Posted Aug 1, 2006 4:41 am PT

    Thank God that I don't care about the game...

  • Shabudalz

    Posted Jul 30, 2006 3:36 pm PT

    Will the next smackdown game on ps3 be called 07 or 08

  • Siz2005

    Posted Jul 30, 2006 2:07 pm PT

    Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 will be better on PS3 and I am still getting a ps3 anyway and not 360, so what of SvR 2007 does not come this year on ps3 there will be another ps3 games coming out this year.

    P.S (1) I not must of an xbox fan so I dont care if more people going to the 360 for the next gen wreasting game and (2) I am more in to shooters and horrors games anyway.

  • phSychO_AtDawn

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 6:03 pm PT

    I don't think the PS3 is getting a "price drop" anytime soon(untill 2009 or late 200 and my friend mike_mgoblue is right the PS3 only has SIX games in their line-up! that's not a good line-up for the holidays that's stupid! suicide! and might I add that the XBox 360 is last years PS2,look at it,Microsoft followed the same process as the PS2 and it works!they sold 5 million units in less than a year! so for those waiting for the "PS3" just buy a Xbox360, cause it's great console overall(XboxLive,Media capabilities,can play online with PC's,games that were once thought exclusive for the PS3 are now on the xbox 360)and it's a man's console.So come join the Funbus my friends and play online.

  • zerocloudEX2

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 5:05 am PT

    grrrrr WHY! the smackdown's were olny ps games and now its not comeing OUT! SCEW THE X BOX 360 VERISON THEY shouldnt have made it fro it anyways SCEW X BOX I HATE IT! IM BUYING THE PS2 version..and psp now )7 was the reason i was going to buy A PS3!

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 5:40 pm PT

    HAAA HAAA !!!

  • RVD61903

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 3:51 pm PT

    ugh this stinks, im just gonna have to get it for PS2, hopefully its better than Smack Vs. Raw 2006, it was boring. But at least theyre trying to make it better

  • redomegaz

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    deanie25 if thats the case then why is it still coming out on PS2 and PSP at the same time of the 360 surely if this was the case then they would have delayed all releases for the sony platforms, plus it wouldnt make much sense as it has been a sony favourite since its first release

  • deanie25

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 10:33 am PT

    this was there plan all along they got a deal with xbox to dely the ps3 one so the 360 can do somthing agains the ps3 cause ps3 would of out sell thevbox easy

  • darknferno12

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 1:33 am PT

    That sucks i was leaning towards getting SD!vsRaw for the PS3 but now i have no choice i want a next gen game and i'm not waiting until late 2007. O well the Xbox 360 version is fine hopfully they'll make the LIVE gameplay awsome

  • jasongm

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 1:29 pm PT

    Not coming for the PS3 this year?!

    Damn, i need my next gen wrestling fix...

    Now the 360 version looks more attractive,
    Xbox 360 smackdown... here I come!

    (Of course you realize this will sell more 360's to )

  • cesarotromundo

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 11:26 am PT

    wtf nnnnooooooooooooooooooooo!

  • satyrderk

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 10:38 am PT

    I am glad to see companies taking their time and making the game as good as it can be before releasing it. I wish all companies would do this. I can wait a little longer for a high profile game if it's going to be better quality. This is actually good news for gamers.

  • hellscovern

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 10:09 am PT

    The way i see it is if they are moaning about cost with doing both PS3 and the 360 versions then they should have kept it on Playstation like it's always been i dont see whay we should suffer just because THQ want's it to go multi platform, i think they are using the PS3 as an excuse many other devs have been able to get some good things from it for launch.

  • WESLY_SNYPES

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 9:16 am PT

    Why did you even take time to post on this news faridmon? and what is goo?

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