Dreamfall stumbles

Almost two and a half years ago to the day, Norway-based publisher-developer Funcom announced it was working on a sequel to its acclaimed PC adventure game The Longest Journey.

Today word arrived that the long-in-development sequel will be a little longer in development. Previously expected to have a fourth-quarter release, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey now has an on-shelf date of spring 2006. When it does finally come out, Dreamfall will be released simultaneously for the Xbox and PC.

Funcom said the delay "ensures the highest possible quality while making sure the game reaches the market in a more favorable time slot."

"Quality is what our company is all about and is always the core focus while we develop games," said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. "We believe that the new release window for Dreamfall will allow us to deliver a game for the ages, as opposed to a contemporary classic. At the same time, we see that the market potential for Dreamfall is greater after the busy holiday period. The new release window will mean that the title receives the attention it deserves."

For Dreamfall, Funcom is throwing action into the adventure game formula, with an interactive 3D world, stealth elements, and combat sequences. For more on Dreamfall, check out GameSpot's latest impressions.