Sony: Wipeout HD still on track

Sony Computer Entertainment showcased a range of first-party games at its E3 2008 press conference, including Killzone 2, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, and God of War III, but many Sony fans were left wondering why Studio Liverpool's Wipeout HD wasn't on display.

In an interview with Eurogamer, SCE Europe head David Reeves stated a specific technical problem as the reason for the game's delay, but he failed to go into details. A few days later, CVG reported that Sony's upcoming PlayStation Network racer had been delayed due to concerns over the game's risk of inducing epileptic seizures.

The publisher has since offered a different reason for the delay, citing various improvements as the real cause. In a statement issued today to GameSpot UK, a spokesman stated that "the reason for the delay of Wipeout HD on PS3 has been due to the many improvements we have been making and the numerous features we've added to the game. These include: eight reverse tracks, four extra ships, two alternative HUDs, two-player offline split-screen, and XMB [Xross Media Bar] Trophy support. We look forward to sharing Wipeout HD with you very soon."

Although SCEE didn't specifically deny that the first-party game may trigger seizures in those playing it, the spokesperson concluded by saying that "regarding the speculation about health issues, we can assure you that we take consumer safety very seriously and monitor it very carefully."

Wipeout is now expected to be released toward the end of this year.